Kirkby Stephen Registered and Unregistered Swaledale Ewes, Gimmers and Gimmer Lambs

Harrison & Hetherington Ltd, Kirkby Stephen Mart held their catalogued sale of 2,042 Registered and Unregistered Swaledale Ewes, Gimmer Shearlings and Gimmer Lambs.

A new centre record of £800 was achieved for the overall champion pen of ten two and three crop ewes from Messrs Hutchinson, Valley Farm, Bowes and were purchased by Messrs Richardson Buxton.

This home also went on to sell a pen of sixteen two and three crop ewes at £265 selling to Messrs White, Derbyshire and a pen of twelve at £250 to Tom Eccles, Barnard Castle. The consignment of 90 two and three crop ewes from Valley Farm to average a phenomenal £293.28!

Next achieving £360 was a pen of ten two and three crop ewes from Messrs Beckwith, New Hall, Barras selling to Messrs Walker, Skipton with this home also selling another pen of twelve two and three crop ewes to make £280 selling to Messrs White, Derbyshire and another pen of twelve at £260 selling to Messrs Dent, Greenriggs, Kirkby Stephen. This consignment of 88 ewes sold to average £244.93.

Messrs Bland, Cotegill, sold a pen of twelve two and three crop ewes to make £285 selling to Messrs White, Derbyshire with a pen of nineteen two and three crop again selling to £225 to Messrs Dobson, Bishop Auckland.

Messrs Rukin, Gatehouse Farm, sold a pen of twelve two and three crop ewes to £250 to Messrs Taylor, Swathburn,

Messrs Calvert, Hoggarths Farm, Keld topped their trade topped at £242 for a pen of ten two crop ewes purchased by Messrs Lawson, Workington, with another pen of ten two and three crop ewes selling to £240 to Messrs Storer, Macclesfield. With this home also selling a pen of twenty-one to make £225 also selling to Messrs Lawson.

Topping the shearlings at £260 was a pen of 6 from G Tunstall, Highfield House, brough which was purchased by Messrs Metcalfe, Otterburn.

The gimmer lambs topped at £155 for the champion pen of ten from D Birbeck, Kirkby Stephen and was purchased by Messrs Wilkinson, Bishop Auckland.

The sale of Swaledale breeding sheep was a resounding success and greatly rewarded all breeders who supported, with an overall ewe average of £203.61 being achieved which is up £37.49 on the year with this greatly surpassing all other sales reported and the dearest overall sale average achieved for a Swaledale female sale. Shearlings averaged £176.56 which is up £28.44 on the year. Gimmer lambs averaged £100.56 which is up £26 on the year.  

The pre sale show was ably judged by Swaledale enthusiasts Joseph and Terrance Nattrass and was kindly sponsored by I’ansons, Eden Farm Supplies, H Pigney & Son and Stable Thompson & Briscoe Accountants

Show Results

Class 1 – Pen of 10 Ewes

1^st & Champion R Hutchinson & Son, Valley Farm - £800

2^nd G Calvert & Sons, Hoggarths Farm - £240

3^rd R Hutchinson, Valley Farm - £220

Class 2 – Pen of 10 Shearlings

1^st           B Thornborrow, Brystone - £210

2^nd          G Calvert & Sons, Hoggarths Farm - £245

3^rd           G Calvert & Sons, Hoggarths Farm - £185

Winning to best run of 60 or more ewes and shearlings was Messrs Dixon, Garnthwaite, Barningham.

Swaledale Gimmer Lambs (Pens of 10 or More)

1^st and receiving the Eden Farm Supplies (Brough) Trophy   D Birbeck, The Close - £155

2^nd          G Calvert & Sons, Hoggarths - £148

3^rd           G Calvert & Sons, Hoggarths - £120

Leading Consignment Averages (Ewes)

90	@	£293.28	Valley Farm
88	@	£244.93	New Hall
35	@	£218.29	Prospect House
42	@	£211.90	Gatehouse Farm
80	@	£210.09	Helbeck Farm
17	@	£207.94	Rudd Hills
34	@	£207.53	High Stennerskeugh
95	@	£207.21	Cotegill
15	@	£204.67	Quarry Farm
102	@	£204.26	Hoggarths Farm

LEADING PRICES

Ewes:  £800, £265, £250, £238, £220, £215 Valley Farm,  £360, Barras,  £285, £225 Cotegill,  £280, £260, £220, £215, £202 New Hall,  £250, £220 Gatehouse Farm,  £242, £240, £225 Hoggarths Farm,  £235, £215, £212, £210 Helbeck Farm,  £235, £220 Prospect House,  £230 High Stennerskeugh,  £222 Quarry Farm,  £220, £210 Garnthwaite,  £215, £205 Rudd Hills,  £205 Ellergill,  £200 Mount Pleasant Farm,  £200 West Stoney Keld,

Gimmer Shearlings : £260 Highfield House,  £245, £200, £185, £182 Hoggarths Farm,  £210 Brystone,

Gimmer Lambs:

£155, £125, £122 The Close,  £148, £140, £120 Hoggarths Farm,  £145 Helbeck Farm,  £135, £128 Woolpits Hill,  £130 Prospect House,  £128, £125 High Stennerskeugh,  £128 Holly Cottage Barn.