Bluefaced Leicesters sell to £5,000 at Hawes

Trade peaked at £5,000 at the annual in lamb Bluefaced Leicester sale at Hawes on Saturday (17 Jan).

Topping trade was a gimmer hogg from the noted Hewgill flock, run by the Lord brothers, Stainmore, near Kirkby Stephen. This stylish lamb is the full sister to E47 Hewgill, which has sired the flocks’ show lambs for the last couple of years. A spell of frantic bidding eventually saw auctioneer, Raymond Lund, drop the hammer at £5000. Successful bidder was Richard Hutchinson from the Kirkby Redgate flock.

The Lords also took the days champion with a gimmer hogg by E47 Hewgill, out of a ewe by Z14 Hewgill. This one sold to Paul Brown, Oak House for £3,000.

It was a good day out for the Booth team from the Smearsett flock, Austwick. Their consignment topped at £3,400 for a ewe by D15 Smearsett out of a dam by V33 Lunesdale. She sold carrying triplets to D17 Hewgill. Buyer was J and K Harker, Pateley Bridge, N Yorkshire.

They also secured a bid of £3,200 for a D17 Smearsett hogg out of a Z4 Hundith ewe. Buyer was David Hill, White Walls.

They also won the reserve championship with a ewe by A6 Smearsett and in lamb to V33 Lunesdale. She later sold for £2,000 to Ashley Caton, Skipton.

Paul Fairburn, Thornton Steward, enjoyed a great days’ trade, with two powerful gimmer hogs. One, by the £12,000 E1 Smearsett and out of a ewe by C1 Tan House, took third prize in the pre sale show, and sold for £2,800 in a two way split to Messrs McKeegan and McKenna for their Glenane and Glenshane flocks, Northern Ireland.

Its pen mate, by the £14,000 F19 Cottage and out of a ewe by Z8 Thirwall, sold to the same buyers for £2,600.

Then Paul Brown, Oak House, Ravenstonedale, made £2,400 when selling a stylish gimmer hogg – the first through the ring. She had similar bloodlines as the tup he sold two years ago for £10,000.

By D7 Hewgill, which has made a massive impact on the Oak House flock over the past few years, she is out of a ewe by the noted W1 Keer. She was knocked down to the Midlock flock.

Averages: 68 sheep, £930.

(Hawes Farmers Auction Mart).