Jacobs boost Skipton rare and native breeds fixture

The twice-rescheduled annual Rare & Native Breeds Stockbreeder Auction finally went ahead on Sunday at Skipton Auction Mart.

It was well worth the wait, as the popular show and sale of rare, minority and traditional breeds, staged in association with the Dales Support Group of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, also incorporated a new pedigree fixture on behalf of the Northern Region of the Jacob Sheep Breeders Society.

Native breeds champion was an Oxford Down shearling ram from Scottish breeder Pat Delday, of Monkshill Croft, Fyvie, Aberdeenshire, who was making a debut appearance at Skipton.

The title winner sold locally for the day’s top price of 210gns to Tom Boothman and Son, Linton.

Reserve champion was a five-year-old Herdwick ewe from Cumbrian exhibitors I K and A M Grisedale, Milnthorpe. The family keeps some 50 pure-bred Herdwicks.

The male and overall show champion was a home-bred ram lamb from Sid Moore’s Willmors flock at Newton-le-Willows, Bedale. The victor, Willmors Gambler, sold for the show-topping price of 200gns to SouthYorkshire buyer J E Pears.

The female and reserve show champion was a home-bred ewe lamb from Clive Richardson’s Border flock in Ulverston, Cumbria. By a ram from the Dorset-based Knowlton flock, the runner-up was another Tom Boothman and Son purchase at 115gns.

An excellent show of shearling ewes saw judge Mark Wakelin, of Aberystwyth, award Sid Moore a one-two in the class, the first prize going on to sell for 100gns. Top price in the class went to the Border flock with a bid of 150gns from the association’s field officer Jean Blacknell, Stafford.

Top price Jacob senior ram was Sid Moore’s Willmors Falcon, sired by a Helen Baillie tup, Hyndshaw Darcy. He sold for 180gns to D M Slinger, Lancs. A ram lamb from Mrs Blacknell also sold well at 180gns to Sid Moore.

A small store lamb entry peaked at £29.40 for a pen of Jacob ram lambs from Sid Moore, a fair reflection on the store lamb trade at the present time.