Kirkby Stephen SSBA In Lamb Ewe Sale

On Thursday evening Harrison & Hetherington Ltd held the Annual Prize Show and Sale of Individual Crowned Swaledale Ewes, Shearlings and Gimmer Hoggs on behalf of the Swaledale Sheep Breeders Association at Kirkby Stephen Mart.

Topping the sale at £5,000 was a homebred gimmer shearling scanned for twins which was park of the dispersal from Messrs Sowerby, High Croft which after much frantic bidding ended going home to Burncroft Farm, Eggleston.

The pre sale show was judged by Mr J Prichard, Eveistones Farm, Rochester and awarded the overall championship to a 3 shear ewe scanned for twins consigned by Messrs Hutchinson, Valley Farm which went on to sell for £2000 to Messrs Walker, Brennand Farm, Clitheroe.

champion Swaledale inlamb ewe (l-r Robert Hutchinson - Consignor and James Pritchard - Judge)

The overall reserve championship was taken by a Shearling scanned for twins from Messrs Dalton, South Wellhope Farm selling for £3000 purchased by Messrs Pritchard, Eveistone Farm, Rochester.

Show Results

Class 1 Ewe
1^st                     No   23             R Hutchinson & Son, Valley Farm                 
2^nd                    No     8             M/s Buckle, Buckles Farm                                            
3^rd                    No   16             JR Dalton, South Wellhope
Com                 No   51             P&KA Sowerby, Oakbank Farm

Class 2 Gimmer Shearling
1^st                     No   20             JR Dalton, South Wellhope
2^nd                    No     7             D&M Brown, Lummas House            
3^rd                    No   46             KG Sowerby, High Croft
Com                 No   32             D Humble, Burtree Ford

Class 3 Gimmer Hogg
1^st                     No   50             K&M Sowerby, Ghyll Brow

Class 4 Conformation
1^st                    No  20              JR Dalton, South Wellhope   
2^nd                   No  39              C Nelson & Sons, Lainger House
3^rd                    No  12              I Collinson, Billing Shield
Com                 No  38              C Nelson & Sons, Lainger House

CHAMPION

No     23           R Hutchinson & Son, Valley Farm

RESERVE CHAMPION

No     20           JR Dalton, South Wellhope    

Next selling at £4200 was a 4 shear ewe scanned for triplets once again consigned by Messrs Sowerby, High Croft with the successful purchasers being P&KA Sowerby & E Haughey.

Messrs Buckle, Buckles Farm sold a 2 shear ewe scanned for twins to make £3800 selling to Messrs Nicholson, Slip Cottage, Kirkby Stephen.

For what was one of the best shows of individual Swaledale inlamb sheep seen for a while attracted massive ringside of potential purchasers who created a buzzing atmosphere. Trade was fantastic throughout with an overall sale average of £1109.20 being achieved for 40 sold.

210 Swaledale flock books were on offer with the very first addition (1920) selling for £1000.

The presale show was kindly sponsored by Carrs Billington, Eden Farm Supplies, H Pigney & Son, H&H Reeds, Paul Armer Fabrication and Castle Sculptures.

Leading Prices

Gimmer Shearlings: £5000 High Croft; £3000, £900, £800 South Wellhope; £1600, £500 Allergill Cottage; £900 Lummas House; £900 Billing Shield Farm; £800 Bail Hill; £650 Helbeck(S&P).

Ewes: £4200, £1000(2) High Croft; £3800 Buckles Farm; £2000, £1900 Valley Farm; £1800, £800 South Wellhope; £1500 Oakbank Farm; £1100 Allergill Cottage; £1000 Ghyll Brow; £900, £700, £500 Helbeck (T), £800 Helbeck (S&P); £600, £500 Lainger House.

Flock Books

1920 - £1000
1922 - £750
1921 - £700
1923 - £700
1930-1935 - £550
1924 - £400
1925-1926 -£400
1927-1929 - £380
1950-1959 - £210
1925 - £200
1936-1938 - £120
1931 - £100
1932 - £100