The final official Southdown Sheep Society Show & Sale of the year took place at Melton Mowbray Market as part of the Traditional Native Breeds Show & Sale on September 8th -9th.
Support for the sale from the vendors’ point of view was encouraging, with in excess of 100 sheep entered for the show and sale. Buyers were selective in their choice of animals, with those animals that had achieved success in the pre-sale show finding ready homes at good prices.
Champion and Reserve Champions at 2017 Melton Mowbray Show & sale
Show champion was a ram lamb from the Sutherland flock of Mrs Amy Readhead-Higgins, of Leiston, Suffolk, Sutherland 17/00299, sired by Ridings 14/02126, out of a home bred ewe. This lamb was purchased by Ruth Judson of Bingley, Yorkshire, for 460 guineas. Judge Mr Adam Brown commented on the correctness and style of the ram lamb and considered it a worthy winner.
Reserve Champion in the show line-up was a shearling ewe from the East Dean flock of D, S & P Humphrey. East Dean 16/02778 was sired by East Dean 09/2131, and is out of an East Dean ewe 14/01655. She sold for 265 guineas to M J Dickens, of Bicester, near Oxon.
Taking the top price of the day was the first placed shearling ram from Miss Jessica Middleditch of Sudbury, Suffolk. Wakes Hall Jimmy Choo 16/00428 was sired by Chaileybrook 14/00005, out of a Goodwood ewe. This shearling ram was shown at the National Southdown Show at the Suffolk Show earlier this year and was placed Reserve Champion by judge Mrs Alexandra Long. He sold for the top price of 650 guineas to D A Geary, of Olney, Buckinghamshire.
There was keen interest in the ewe lambs. Placed first in her class, Sutherland Misty 17/00308, from Mrs Amy Readhead-Higgins, sold for 170 guineas to D A Geary. This was the top ewe lamb price.
Regular vendor Peter Oven from Ashbourne, Derbyshire, saw a total clearance of his large consignment of Harehill shearling ewes, the majority of which were purchased to start a new flock in Leicestershire.
Averages:
1 aged ewe 80 guineas
24 shearling ewes 141 guineas
11 ewe lambs 108 guineas
2 aged rams 130 guineas
6 shearling rams 295 guineas
3 ram lambs 236 guineas
