Alternative dates for Kelso Ram Sales announced
© Tim Scrivener Following the cancellation of Kelso Ram Sales, auctioneers Harrison & Hetherington have released dates for its rescheduled ram sales.
Instead of taking place at Kelso Showground, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, alternative market venues and dates have been found to host the sales of the thousands of rams still to be traded.
Scott Donaldson, joint managing director of Harrison & Hetherington, said: “It’s a real shame Kelso Ram Sales have been cancelled and are not going to take place this year. Given the circumstances, H&H have worked hard to divide the sales, as it is our responsibility to schedule events so that producers can present their lambs to a large audience through our auction system and maintain social distancing. We have entries from across the British Isles and we still anticipate people coming from all over.”
See also: Industry warns farmers to abide by Covid-19 rules at markets
Entries are up at just over 2,000. Mr Donaldson said only two people will be allowed to prepare and sell the tups, and only one buyer from each business will be allowed into the ring. Non-buying visitors will be refused entry.
Alternative sale dates
Saturday 5 September – St Boswell’s Mart, Newtown St Boswells
Suffolk’s (non-MV) 426
Crosses (non-MV) 103
Texels (non-MV) 146
North Country Cheviots (non-MV) 22
Beltex (non-MV) 3
Hampshire Down (non-MV) 7
Thursday 10 September – Borderway Mart, Carlisle
Suffolk shearling and lamb rams (MV) 405
Friday 11 September Lockerbie Mart
Border Leicesters (MV) 51
Lleyns (MV) 86
Berrichons (MV) 7
Hampshire Down (MV) 18
Roussin (MV) 4
Saturday 12 September – Borderway Mart, Carlisle
Beltex (MV) 255
Dutch Texel, Blue Texel, Dutch Spotted, Badgerface Texel, Texel (MV) 85
Crosses (MV) 325
Tuesday 15 September – Wooler Mart, Northumberland
Texel and Beltex (non-MV) 150
Suffolk and AOB (non-MV) 25