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 9th-10th. A good number of breeders, both new and established, ensured that bidding was brisk and interest was high. Trade for all females was excellent: aged ewes, shearling ewes and ewe lambs all sold and competition was keen with breeders determined to take home females from the last of the season’s sales.
Taking top price of the day was a shearling ewe from Mrs Alison Allen from Norfolk. Marshland 15/00344 was sired by Goodwood Bentley 12/01382, out of a homebred Marshland ewe, and sold for 400gns to G Hill of Tamworth, Staffs. Mrs Allen’s large entry saw a total clearance following a brisk trade.
Judge Neil Stainthorpe awarded the Reserve Champion rosette to a shearling ram bred by Mrs Sophie Arlott, Montecristo 15/15081. This ram was sired by Ridings 13/01453, and was out of a homebred ewe. He was sold for 370gns to H Wilson of Stamford, Lincs.
Regular vendor and buyer Mrs Loraine Clements also returned home with an empty trailer, having achieved top price for an aged ram Wigginton Freddie 12/00019, bred by Gay Hargreaves Jones. This four year old ram, sired by East Dean Hector 05/0297, and out of Buckland Dolly 04/0004, was sold for 360gns and headed home to join the Caer Owen flock of Lynne Rowlands.
Champion in the pre-sale show was a shearling ewe from the East Dean flock of D S & P Humphrey, East Dean 15/02359, sired by a home bred tup, East Dean 14/01744, and out of a home bred ewe. This ewe was purchased by Mrs Loraine Clements for 350gns.
Ewe lambs were much in demand. Taking first prize in the pre-sale competition was a ewe lamb from D S & P Humphrey, East Dean 16/02887, sired by Montecristo 15/15088, out of an Ashmole ewe, which sold to new member Debbie Geary, Olney, Bucks, for the top ewe lamb price of 160 guineas.
Buyers were selective when it came to the ram lambs on offer. Top price was paid for the first prize winner, Caer Owen 16/00020, from Lynne Rowlands of Anglesey, which then headed back home to Wales with Dylan Williams of Cilau Aeron, Ceredigeon.
Averages:
3 aged ewes 238 guineas
15 shearling ewes 240 guineas
8 ewe lambs 148 guineas
1 aged ram 360 guineas
5 shearling rams 274 guineas
3 ram lambs 173 guineas
