21,000gns top call at Shrewsbury Suffolk sale

Prices hit a high of 21,000gns at the Suffolk Society’s National Sale at Shrewsbury last week (24 July), where strong demand for lambs saw a 21% increase in numbers sold on the year.

Taking the day’s top price of 21,000gns was the best of the day from Myfyr Evans’ Rhaeadr pen, with this being A12:15:01299, a son of the 90,000gns Ardlea Arbennig. Having stood second in the open lamb ram class, this lamb sold to Mary-Julia Cornish, Devon. His dam is a Thurston Calzaghe sired ewe that has previously bred lambs to 2000gns.

Following that at 6,500gns was another from the same pen, the pre-sale champion A12:15:01298. This one is a Rookery Best of the Best son and was part of the winning pen of three. He sold to Pamela Lupton, for the Kexbeck flock, Ripon.

Next at 4,000gns was the best of the day from Chris Holmes and family’s Rookery pen. This was DND:15:00455, a Rhaeadr Dynamic son out of a homebred dam by Rhaeadr Obsession. Buying this one were Roger and Michael Weaver, for the Perrinpit flock.

Worcestershires’ John Sinnett was next in the money at 3,600gns with 72H:15:03148. This Rookery Barry son was one of the second prize pen of three. His dam is a Stockton Thriller The Second daughter. Taking this one home was Gordon Troup, Sauchen, for the Whitestone flock.

Just shy of this at 3,400gns was the lead lamb from Jimmy Douglas’ Cairness flock. This was 33H:15:02190, an Annakisha Apache son out of the Cairness New Approach sired dam that also bred the 21,000gns Cairness Great Expectations. He was the choice of Angus and Sue Howie, Meeth, Devon.

A pair of lambs then traded at 3000gns. The first of these was BLN:15:00009 from the Delves family’s Bridgeview pen. He is a Solwaybank Black Series lamb, out of a dam by Solwaybank Skyfall. Buyers were Iain and Judith Barbour for the Solwaybank flock, Annan.

Next at the same money was CAL:15:01378, a Cairness Great Expectations son from Messrs Robin Irwin and family’s Kings pen. His dam is a homebred Cairness Carbon daughter. This one headed back to his home county with the Elsworthy family, Monkleigh, Devon.

Females

Females traded up to 2,100gns for John Sinnett’s female champion 72H:14:0258. This shearling ewe is by Rhaeadr Mad Man and is out of a Stockton Thriller the Second daughter. The successful bidder was Stephen Ovenden, Littlestone, Kent, for the Beckets flock.

Next best at 2,000gns was 72H:14:02632, a Whitestone Footprint sired shearling gimmer that stood second in the show. This one sold to the same buyer as the female leader.

Best price for ewe lambs was 1,300gns for the first prize-winner from Jill Tooze. This was DYX:15:00186, a Davishill Decision daughter out of a Plasllewelyn Panache sired ewe. Buying her was Stephen Cobbald, who is re-establishing a flock of Suffolks at Acton, Suffolk.

Averages; 135 ram lambs, £1143.10; four shearling rams, £826.88; five shearling ewes, £1155; eight ewe lambs, £784.88.

(Halls with J Straker Chadwick).