Herdwick tups to 4800gns at Broughton in Furness

Although Herdwick breeders carefully sorted through the entry of tups at the breed association’s autumn show and sale at Broughton in Furness in southern Lakeland, bidding was keen for the best on offer and produced a top price of 4800gns for a shearling consigned by leading flock owner Anthony Hartley of Turner Hall, Seathwaite, Cumbria.

The shearling was sired by a tup that Anthony Hartley bought from Jonathan Bland, Borrrowdale and was knocked down to Sam and Candida Hodgson for their flock at Glencoyne Farm, Glenridding, Penrith.

Harrison and Hetherington auctioneer David Thomlinson found no shortage of buyers for the best end of the tups on offer but agreed it was harder work lower down.

“There was a cracking trade for the really good tups although buyers were very selective throughout the day,” said Mr Thomlinson.

George Harryman’s flock from Hawkshead near Lake Windermere earned the day’s second highest call of 4500gns for a tup sold to Messrs Harrison, Brotherilkeld, Holmrook, west Cumbria while Jonathan Bland from Borrowdale sold a tup at 1800gns to Peter Edmondson, Seathwaite and another at 1700gns to Mr Birkett, Little Langdale.

Best for W G Wilkinson, Tilberthwaite was a 1600gns deal for a shearling claimed by James Rebanks, Newby, Penrith.

Averages: 46 shearling tups £548 and 86 senior tups £375.

(Harrison and Hetherington).