Champion - shearling ram Sheepcote Elvis 20/00118 sold for a record 1140 guineas
Judge Jim Cresswell selected a shearling ram, Sheepcote Elvis 20/00118 from Ben Slack and Katy Gibson, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, as his show Champion. This ram is a son of Holly Bar Rascal 17/00262, out of Marshland Ragged Robin 15/00349. Following fierce bidding he was purchased by David Belfield for 1140gns and heads home to the newly formed Copse Field flock in Buxton, Derbyshire. Judge Jim Cresswell commented that his champion was a “well put together ram, a solid, traditional Southdown with a strong head and excellent conformation”.
Buyers followed the judge’s selection throughout much of the sale, with the Reserve Champion of the pre-sale show, Calley Castle Berry 20/00228, selling for 310gns to long-standing Southdown breeder Mr R Cox, of Stoney Stanton, Leicestershire. This ewe is sired by de Pibrac Max 17/00257, out of home-bred Calley Castle Holly 18/00127.
Three females shared the top price of the day: a shearling ewe from the Calley Castle flock, Calley Castle Rhubarb 20/00226, sired by de Pibrac Max, out of Wattisfield Rosemary 17/00321, was knocked down to Mrs S Lea 370gns.
Young flock master and breeder Freddy Bethley from Nowton, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, saw buyers compete for both his shearling ewes. High Green Cleo 20/00044, sired by Webb Ellis Collier and out of a home-bred dam, High Green Aurelia 18/00015, shared the top female price and was purchased for 370gns by B Alderson and J Murphy, whilst High Green Coral 20/00048, sired by Brant 18/00508 and out of Beckbred Top Totty 13/00015, was knocked down to the same buyer for 280gns.
The first placed ram lamb in the pre-sale show was also from Freddy Bethley’s High Green flock. This ram lamb, High Green Dylan 21/00065, a triplet sired by Brant 18/00508 and out of a home-bred ewe, High Green Tootsie 17/00003, was purchased by O T Jones & Partners for 320gns and heads back to join their Anglesey flock on the Isle of Anglesey.
The third female to share the day’s top price was a ewe lamb from the Blackfriar flock of Will Morton from Lincoln. This ewe lamb, Blackfriar 21/00634, is sired by Blackfriar 18/00244, out of a home-bred ewe Blackfriar 19/00363. She was purchased for 370gns by young flock master Arthur Lomas of Leicestershire.
It was the first placed ewe lamb in the show that made the second highest ewe lamb bid on the day. High Green Darcey 21/00068 from Freddy Bethley’s flock was taken home by Mr Williams following his winning bid of 300gns. This ewe lamb is sired by Webb Ellis Collier 17/00411 and is out of a home-bred ewe, High Green Abigail 18/00020.
A trio of shearling ewes from the Avenue Farm flock of Mrs Lorraine Clements found eager buyers: Avenue Farm Lacey 20/00327 was the second prize shearling ewe and was purchased by J B Thompson for 260gns; Avenue Farm Lucy 20/00290 at 240gns was knocked down to D, S & P Humphrey, whilst Avenue Farm Lucinda 20/00331 was bought for 190gns by Mr R Cox of Stoney Stanton.
Averages: one aged ewe 80gns, fourteen shearling ewes 247.50gns, eighteen ewe lambs 179.45gns, four shearling rams 528.75gns, two ram lambs 247.50gns.
Images below
(1) Reserve Champion – shearling ewe Calley Castle Berry 20/00228
(2) First prize ewe lamb High Green Darcey 21/00068 and first placed ram lamb High Green Dylan 21/00065
(3) Ewe lamb Blackfriar 21/00634 which sold for 370 guineas, the highest priced ewe lamb
