Kirkby Stephen Breeding Sheep Sale

Harrison & Hetherington Ltd, Kirkby Stephen Mart held their sale of 3,800 Registered and Unregistered Swaledale Ewes, Gimmer Shearlings and Gimmer Lambs.

Topping the ewes at £1700 per head were a pen of five 3 crop bonny ewes from Messrs Hutchinson, Valley Farm, Barnard Castle which sold to Messrs Pears, Sheffield.

Another pen of five 3 crop ewes sold to make £1400 also shown by Messrs Hutchinson, Valley Farm which also sold to Messrs Pears.

The pre sale show judging was carried out by recent fresh enthusiast to the Swaledale breed Mr Ted Fox, Biggar, who had a tremendous show of ewes and shearlings put infront of him, and carried out the judging in a able and professional manner.

The overall championship was awarded to a pen of ten bright 3 crop ewes from Messrs Hutchinson, Old Spital Farm, Barnard Castle which went on to sell for £480 to Messrs Handley, Gunnerfleet Farm, Chapel le Dale.

champion pen of ewes. (L-R) Craig Hutchinson (Consignor), Aaron Kirby (Eden Farm Supplies), Catherine Raine (I’Ansons) Ted Fox (Judge) David Pigney & David Woof (Pigneys) Paul Davies (J Noel Paul & Co)

Taking the Overall Reserve prize was the second placed pen of ten 3 crop ewes shown by Messrs Wilson, Arngill House, Lunedale which went on to sell for £310 to Lilburn Estates Farming, Wooler.

The pre sale show which was kindly sponsored by I’ansons, Eden Farm Supplies, H Pigney & Son and J Noel Paul & Co Accountants.

Class 1 – Pen of 10 Ewes
1^st & Champion    DC&KL Hutchinson, Old Spital Farm
2^nd & Reserve Champion M&EM Wilson, Arngill House
3^rd           BR Lawson & Son, Buddle House

Class 2 – Pen of 10 Shearlings
1^st            B Walton,  Goodlie Hill
2^nd           J.A. Alderson, Barras Farm
3^rd           G Calvert & Son, Hoggarths

Next selling at £265 was a pen of twelve 3 crop ewes from Messrs Beckwith, New Hall, Barras which sold to Messrs Dixon, Hartley Castle, Kirkby Stephen, with another pen of twenty ewes making £205 also from this home.

Topping the shearlings at £240 were the first placed pen of ten from Messrs Walton, Goodlie Hill Farm, Great Asby which went on to sell to Lilburn Estates Farming, Wooler.

Trade right from the start was blistering with an ewe average of £166.17 (up £31.59 on the year) and a shearling average of £145.11 (up £29.60 on the year).

14 pens of ewes and shearlings sold between £200-£1700.

83 active buyers from many different parts of the country from Brechin in the north to Cornwall in the South were present with others going home empty handed.

Leading Averages
87     @      £354.37 Valley Farm
10     @      £240 Goodlie Hill Farm
10     @      £220 Buddle House
113   @      £191.30 New Hall
63     @      £185.08 Arngill House
110   @      £182.36 Old Spital Farm
50     @      £181.20 Helbeck Farm (S&P Brogden)
60     @      £191.63 Barras
11     @      £170 Helbeck Farm (T Brogden)
87     @      £169.01 Cotegill
161   @      £166.43 Hoggarths Farm
10     @      £165 The Croft
39     @      £163.97 High Stennerskeugh

LEADING PRICES

Ewes : £1700, £1400, £500, £200, £190, £170 Valley Farm; £480, £172(2) Old Spital Farm; £310, £178, £170 Arngill House; £265, £205, £185, £180 New Hall; £220 Buddle House; £220, £210 Helbeck (S&P Brogden); £195, £180, £170 Barras Farm; £192, £178, £172 Cotegill; £185, £180 Croft Farm; £185 Bridge Farm House; £182, £170(2) Hoggarths Farm; £180, £170 Frith Holme; £180 High Stennerskeugh; £170 West Stoney Keld; £170 Helbeck Farm (T Brogden); £170 High Croft:

Gimmer Shearlings : £240 Goodlie Hill Farm; £218, £208 Barras; £178, £170, £152, £150 Hoggarths Farm; £172 The Croft; £170, £160 Croft Farm; £160 Mount Pleasant Farm; £155 New Hall; £150 Quarry Farm.