On Tuesday Penrith & District Farmers’ Mart LLP held their Annual Prize Show & Sale of 597 Suffolk, Texel, Beltex, Charollais and Continental Breeding Rams, generously sponsored by Jelf Insurance.
An exceptional show of tups were forward, both in the sale and the show ring, with power and quality being exceptionally good to sell throughout, a lot of people were commenting on the quality of stock being a credit to vendors.
Topping the sale at £1,100 was a Texel shearling from Mr J Winter, Clickham, purchased by Mr J Nattrass.
An exceptional run of eleven pure Texel shearlings with serious power and strength from Messrs BS & J Strong & Son, Hewer Hill achieved a fantastic average of £574.55.
Some exceptional Suffolks were forward with Messrs J Woodburn & Partners, Mansriggs Hall, selling shearlings to £1,000, bought by Messrs JD Bowness, Cliburn Hall. Miss L Hutchinson, Redgate sold a ram lamb for £700 to the Suffolk ram judge Mr DW Cannon, Low Abbey.
Four shear Texels sold to £450 from Mr P Chester, Grassgill Lodge, selling to Mr T Brogden. This run of thirty exceptionally well-bred Texel X Beltex shearlings and aged rams averaged £541 and topped at £1,050, purchased by Messrs Lightfoot, Gillside.
The early morning prize show drew much interest. The Texel and Continental Ram judging was in the capable hands of George Bewley, Jerusalam Farm, who awarded champion honours to Page Farms Partnership, Rookwith House, with their first placed Texel shearling, this ram was also awarded the Challenge Trophy, given by the Solway & Tyne Texel Breeders Club. Suffolks were judged by David Cannon, Low Abbey, who awarded champion honours to Mr J Hewson, Burgh Head with his first placed Suffolk ram lamb, this ram was also awarded the Hughie Rebanks Memorial Trophy.
The following awards were given:-
Class One – Texel Ram (Shearling & Over)
1st Page Farms Partnership, Rookwith House
2nd Messrs A & C Watson, Sanderson House
3rd Messrs A & C Watson, Sanderson House
Class Two – Texel Ram Lamb
1st Mr J Hewson, Burgh Head
2nd Messrs A & C Watson, Sanderson House
3rd Mr G Pyman, Park View
Class Three – Continental Ram (Shearling)
1st B Teasdale, Ling Cottage (Texel X Beltex)
2nd B Teasdale, Ling Cottage (Texel X Beltex)
3rd Messrs Smith, Barmurrie (Texel X Beltex)
Class Four – Continental Ram Lamb
1st Mr S H Pickthall, Swallow Heights (Charollais)
2nd Mr S H Pickthall, Swallow Heights (Charollais)
Class Five – Suffolk Ram (Shearling & Over)
1st B Teasdale, Ling Cottage
2nd Messrs Carlile, Fowrass
3rd B Teasdale, Ling Cottage
Class Six – Suffolk Ram Lamb
1st Mr J Hewson, Burgh Head
2nd Miss L Hutchinson, Howgill Foot
3rd Mr A Ryder, Holme House
Champion Texel (Receiving the Challenge Trophy, given by the Solway & Tyne Texel Breeders Club) – Page Farms Partnership, Rookwith House
Reserve Champion Texel – Mr J Hewson, Burgh Head
Champion Suffolk (Receiving the Hughie Rebanks Memorial Trophy) – Mr J Hewson, Burgh Head
Reserve Champion Suffolk – B Teasdale, Ling Cottage
Breed Averages & Top Price
Suffolk Shearlings – Breed av. £395, top price, £1000 (J Woodburn & Partners, Mansriggs Hall)
Beltex Shearlings – Breed av. £363, top price £920 (Messrs Bindloss, Shap Abbey)
Texel Shearlings – Breed av. £395, top price £1100 (J Winter, Clickham)
Charollais Shearlings – Breed av. £326, top price £480 (Messrs Wales, Thackwood)
Suffolk Ram Lambs – Breed av. £366, top price £700 (Miss L Hutchinson, Howgill Foot)
Texel Ram Lambs – Breed av. £328, top price £400 (Mr G Pyman, Park View)
Leading Prices
Shearlings
Texel – £1100, £650 (2) & £500 Clickham; £1050, £850, £820, £800 (2), £780, £600 (3), £520 (2) & £500 Grassgill Lodge; £920, £700, £650, £600, £550 (2) & £520 Hewer Hill; £850, £700 & £600 Dearham Hall Bungalow; £850, £800 (2), £600 (2), £580, £550 & £500 Plumpton Cottage Farm; £700 (3) & £620 Rookwith House Farm; £700 Gaitsgill Hall; £650, £580, £550 (2) & £520 Park View; £650 & £550 The Barn (Whitfield); £600 & £550 Sanderson House; £500 Town End (Sayer)
Suffolk – £1000, £900 & £660 Mansriggs Hall; £750 & £700 East Cliff; £600 & £500 Honeypot; £550 Fowrass
Beltex – £920, £600 (3) & £500 (2) Shap Abbey; £700 & £500 Townfoot (Thompson); £640, £600, £550 & £500 (3) Far Broom; £500 Waterside House; £500 Fowrass; £500 Ling Cottage; £500 Barmurrie; £500 Ainstable Hall
Charollais – £480 Thackwood; £450 Swallow Heights
Rouge – £440 Hewer Hill
2 Shear
Texel – £350 Lingstubbs; £300 Mansriggs Hall
Charollais – £350 Swallow Heights; £300 Bank Farm (Bowness)
4 Shear
Texel – £450 Grassgill Lodge
Lambs
Suffolk – £700 Howgill Foot; £500, £480 & £450 Holme House; £450 Clifton Gardens; £420 & £400 East Cliff
Texel – £400 & £380 Park View