Photos: Thame Sheep Fair pulls in the crowds

Buyers and sellers flocked to the first day of the annual Shearwell Thame Summer Sheep Fair on Thursday (6 August), when almost 7,000 White Faced cross and Suffolk cross theaves went under the hammer.

Organised by Thame Farmers Mart, senior auctioneer Simon Draper said the trade was strong, with prices typically up £30-£40 a head on last year.

See also: Thame farmers’ market given go-ahead to relocate and expand

There were plenty of local buyers, together with a strong showing from the South West, and a few returning from Wales after their attendance last year was curtailed by bluetongue movement restrictions.

A nice breeze kept the temperature under control, though it was still dusty work for the auctioneers and pen handlers alike as thousands of sheep trotted across the bone-dry ground.

Farmers Weekly went along, armed with a camera to capture a flavour of the day.

Some of the White Faced cross theaves just couldn’t get into the ring quickly enough © MAG/Phil Clarke

Senior auctioneer Simon Draper was conducting his last Thame Sheep Fair before retiring © MAG/Phil Clarke

Time for a chinwag at ringside between the lots © MAG/Phil Clarke

Suffolk cross theaves were in strong demand thanks to their early lambing potential and strong cull ewe potential © MAG/Phil Clarke

These Blue Texel theaves travelled from Swanbourne in neighbouring Buckinghamshire to be at the fair © MAG/PhilClarke

A spot of colour made these Beltex rams stand out at the small ram sale on the site © MAG/Phil Clarke

It was hot work for the handlers moving a constant stream of livestock through the pens MAG/Phil Clarke

Sometimes one ice cream just isn’t enough… © MAG/Phil Clarke

On their way to a new home, another lot of valuable breeding stock is loaded up © MAG/Phil Clarke

Look out for a full sales report on Monday 10 August, and in next week’s magazine