It was a record-breaking day at the Southdown Sheep Society’s Premier Sale, Worcester, on Saturday (3rd August) when Chaileybrook His Nibs 24/02116 topped the sale and set a new breed ram lamb record at 2000gns.

This son of the homebred sire Chaileybrook 18/00272 from Jonathan Long, Bishops Frome, Herefordshire, is out of a homebred dam by the imported sire, Dartagnan and had stood male and reserve overall champion in the pre-sale show.

After spirited bidding, this lamb which had been male and reserve overall champion at the breed’s National Show and part of the reserve interbreed pairs champions at Royal Three Counties earlier in the summer, was knocked down to young breeder Scarlett Hale for her Sacombe flock, Herts, with the breeder retaining a half share in him.

Second best in the males was a 1000gns call for the second prize ram lamb from the pre-sale show from Annabel Halcrow’s Calley Castle flock. This was Calley Castle 24/00365, a son of Brant 21/00790 and out of a De Pibrac Max daughter. Having stood second at the National Show earlier in the year, this one caught the eye of Stephen Cobbald for the Lavenham flock, Suffolk.

Also making 1000gns was the best of the shearling rams on the day, East Dean 23/06237 from Stephen and Paul Humphrey, Chichester, West Sussex. He’s by the homebred East Dean 15/02345 and out of a homebred dam and was taken by Gareth Lloyd Hughes, Aberystwyth, for his Sarn flock.

Next in line at 800gns was another of the ram lambs, this time Northumbria 24/00367 from Gordon and Matthew Sparke, Buckinghamshire. Sired by the homebred Northumbria Taranis and out of an Offham dam, he is the top ranked performance recorded lamb in the breed this year and headed home with Roland Williams for the Greenlands flock, Aberystwyth.

Following him at 700gns was Littlebrook Fernandez from Sophie Long, Bishops Frome, Herefordshire, with this ram lamb being a son of Chaileybrook 23/01755 out of a dam by the imported sire Macron. He is full brother to the flock’s successful show ewe lamb this year and was bought by Goodwood Estate, Chichester, for the Goodwood flock.

The day’s reserve male champion then made 550gns in the form of shearling ram Lavenham 23/03946 from Stephen Cobbald. This son of Brant 18/00517 is out of Brant 21/00775, herself a 1700gns purchase from the Brant flock reduction sale in 2022. This one was bought by Dyfrig and Lona Owen, Abergele for the Plas Owen flock.

The same money secured ram lamb Lavenham 24/04048 from the same home, with this one being an Offham Astronaught son out of a Brant dam by Brant 18/00517. He was the pick of Peter and Ann-Mari Payne for their Mymswood flock, Herts.

Females

Leading the female trade at 1600gns was shearling ewe Beiliau Treasure from Louise and James Trumper, Abergavenny. Sired by Beiliau Rex and out of a dam by De Pibrac 18/00299 she had been female and overall champion in the pre-sale show and found a new home with Stephen Cobbald, Lavenham.

Next best was another from the same home, Beiliau Toffee 23/14521, selling for 1200gns. This one is another by Beiliau Rex and out of another dam by the De Pibrac sire. She was the pick of previous buyer Goodwood Estate.

The second prize shearling ewe from the pre-sale show, Blackfriar 23/00912 from Will Morton, Lincolnshire, then made 600gns. This Calley Castle Bramble daughter is out of a Northumbria-bred dam by Golden Valley Cyril and went home with the Trumper family.

A pair of shearling ewes then made 500gns, with the first one being Fulfen Florence from Emily Yates, Staffordshire. This Dartagnan daughter is out of a Brant dam by another imported sire, Ibanez, and was bought by Jessica Stanger for her Meadow flock, Newark.

The other at this level was another from the Trumpers, Beiliau Thea 23/14488. By the De Pibrac sire and out of a dam by East Dean 18/3644, she sold to Goodwood Estate.

Best call in a small offering of ewe lambs was 400gns for Calley Castle 24/00373 from Annabel Halcrow. This one is by Brant 21/00790 and out of a dam by Oakfield Bertie. She was another to head home to Newark with Jessica Stanger.

Averages: 16 shearling ewes £486.28, 5 ewe lambs £304.50, 11 shearling rams £458.18, 14 ram lambs £626.25 (McCartneys).