Hexham Mule ewe lamb trade stronger than expected

A slight increased entry of lambs to last year met trade above expectations at Hexham Auction Mart’s Mule ewe lamb show and sale last Friday (4 September) with the average down £7.20 on last year.

A good average top price went to a pen of five lambs from the Ridley family, sold in aid of the Stay Strong Stu charity and realised £157 from MW and CM Ridley, Shitlington Hall.

Blackface ewe lambs 

An increased entry of over 1,000 Blackface ewe lambs were presented by breeders from across the region.

Judge Roland Telford, Branton East Side, Powburn, awarded first prize and The Gordon Swan Trophy for the best pen of Hexham Type ewe lambs to A Murray and Sons, Sewingshields and later took them home for £140 a head.

First prize pen of Blackface ewe lambs A Murray and Sons

Buyers proved very selective in their purchases and whilst the best of each consignment sold to similar rates to those seen last year, secondary types were harder to place, many selling from £60 – £80 a head.

Breeding Lambs

A small select entry of pure bred and crossbred ewe lambs were presented, and in the main sold well to an active ringside. Texel and Texel-cross types led the trade at £130 a head, although Suffolk-cross sold to a dearer trade than seen at other centres earlier in the week at £90 a head.

Show results

Joe Vickers, Rennington South, an expert judge of Mules, awarded the trophy for the champion pen for the third consecutive year to an outstanding pen of 25 to Robin and Martyn Archer, Carry House.

Champion pen of Mule lambs from Carry House with Judge Joe Vickers and Martyn Archer from Carry House

They were later awarded by Frank Cowan and James Heaton, The Robson and Cowan Trophy and sold for £135 to Messrs Haywood, Newtonstead.

The run of 100 or more ewe lambs was also won by Robin and Martyn Archer, Carry House, who were awarded a new trophy, kindly donated by The Ridley Family in memory of their son Stuart. The Stuart Ridley Memorial Trophy will be awarded annually at this sale.

Stephen Ridley – Kevin Ridley – Martyn Archer (winner) – Celia Ridley and Melvin Ridley