Record 1,000gns Hampshire Down ram at Skipton

A centre record ram price of 1,000gns was set at Skipton at the Hampshire Down Sheep Breeders’ Association official show and sale on Friday.

Leading the sale at 1,000gns was the reserve champion, a shearling ram from K P and A E McCarthy, Comber, County Down.

Sired by Glanrafon George and out of a home-bred ewe, this one was knocked down sold to I Kelly, Marown, Isle of Man. The same breeders went on to sell another shearling ram at 720gns. This one was by Ballycreelly Nobleman and out of a home-bred ewe, selling to Denton Park Estate, Ilkley, West Yorkshire, for 720gns. Sold to the same buyer at 550gns was another shearling ram, also by Nobleman.

The McCarthys continued their success into the female trade with a ewe lamb at 500gns by Glanrafon George and out of a home-bred ewe. She was secured by A and G Pink, York, North Yorkshire. The same breeders also sold a two shear ewe for 450gns. This one was by Moneycarragh Millionaire, out of a home-bred ewe and in-lamb to Yarcombe Topper. She sold to D and T Blenkharn, Penrith, Cumbria.

Next at 600gns was a shearling ewe from J Galbraith and Son, Kendal, Cumbria, by Kelsey Gigolo and out of a home-bred ewe. She was in-lamb to Lindsey Excel and purchased by M Curry, Morpeth, Northumberland. The same breeders went on to sell two ewe lambs for 550gns and 520gns, the overall champion by Graylen D’Artagnan and another by Gigolo respectively. Both sold to G Mountain, North Rigton, West Yorkshire.

A bid of 480gns secured a three shear ewe from S Williams, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire. In-lamb to Owslebury Crusader, this one by Lindsey Fridolf and out of a Merrybanks ewe was secured by J N Smith, New Cumnock, Ayrshire.

Averages: 10 in-lamb aged ewes £327.60; 9 in-lamb shearling ewes £341.83; 11 ewe lambs £337.91; 4 shearling rams £711.36. (CCM Auctions)