Mitchells Auction Mart held its annual two day Show and Sale of 4973 Breeding Sheep on Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th September 2020.
Breeding Rams
The Show was kindly sponsored by Robinson & Co and Macmin Ltd. The judge in the Ram section were Mr Steven Powley, Green Marsh who conducted an expert job and commented on the great quality before him. The Championship rosette was awarded to FC Wharton, Somerfield House, Thursby with a Black Beltex Shearling later selling for £1,000. Reserve honours went to Woodhow Farm, Wasdale with a Beltex shearling selling for £620.
Trade was roaring from the outset with all types and breeds wanted to produce an overall average of £520 per head and a clearance rate of over 93%. The evenings top price of £1250 was paid for a Texel Shearling from the outstanding consignment forward from A Ashburner, Summerhill. This great pen of Texel Rams averaged an impressive £883.
Show Results
Texel Shearling
1st A Ashburner, Summerhill Sold for £1,100
2nd A Ashburner, Summerhill Sold for £1,000
3rd J Hird, Westray Farm Sold for £800
Beltex x Texel Shearling
1st FC Wharton, Sommerfield House Sold for £1,000
2nd KJ & CS Wilson, Wood Farm Sold for £750
3rd RJ & AY Armstrong, Terrace Farm Sold for £500
Any Other Continental Shearling
1st Woodhow Farm Sold for £620
2nd AJ Brown, Parkhouse Farm Sold for £500
3rd SH Pickthall, Swallow Heights Sold for £500
Suffolk Shearling
1st M/s Steel, Lesson Hall Sold for £400
2nd M/s Hewson, Burgh Head Sold for £620
3rd SH Pickthall, Swallow Heights Sold for £520
Ram Lamb
1st G Reed, Orchard House Sold for £800
2nd A Kirkbride, Flimby Hall Sold for £280
3rd E Horton, Waverton House Sold for £220
Leading Prices
Shearling Rams
Texel - £1250, £1150, £1100, £1000, £950, £900 (3), £700, £650 Summerhill, £1200, £1000(2), £900 (2), £800(2), £700(2), £600 Terrace Farm, £1000, £800(2), £750 Corney Hall, £800, £700, £650 Parkhouse Farm, £800 Westray Farm, £700(2), £600 Arkleby House, £700, £600 Orchard House, £650 Wardwarrow, £650, £600 Chapel House Farm.
Beltex - £1000, £450 Somerfield House, £900, £800(2), £750(2), £700(3), 650, £520, £480 Wood Farm, £900, £620 Woodhow Farm, £600, £500(2) Parkhouse Farm, £550 Somerfield House, £520 Burgh Head Farm, £480 Rietfontein,
Suffolk - £650, £620, £450 Burgh Head Farm, £400 Lesson Hall, £300 Low House, £300 The Croft.
Dutch Texel - £650, £550(3), £500, £400(2) Aspatria Hall.
Charollais - £600, £520, £500(2), £480, £420(2), £400 Swallow Heights, £500, £420 Lesson Hall,
Blue Texel - £400, £380, £300 Horrace Farm.
Kerry Hill - £200 Fearon Place.
Ram Lambs
Texel - £800 Orchard House, £280 Flimby Hall, £250, £220 Waverton House, £200 Low Farm.
Suffolk - £400 Low House, £280 The Croft.
Breeding Sheep
The show again was kindly sponsored by Robinson & Co Accountants and Macmin Ltd with judging in the capable hands of noted local breeder, Mr Andrew McTear, Bewaldeth. After some deliberation Andrew selected the first prize pen of Mule Shearlings as his Champion pen. This quality pen of 10 came from the good home of David and Cath Mattinson and family, Cragg Farm, Eaglesfield; this being the second time in successive years that the Bill Skelton Memorial Trophy has been presented to them. This champion pen received much admiration and sold for the joint top price of £200. The Mattinson family also claimed Reserve Champion honours with their second prized Mule Shearlings which sold for £190.
Outwith the show all classes of sheep met frenzied bidding producing an outstanding trade. Seeing was believing as prices soared beyond expectations. The days overall top price of £340 was paid for a pair of CharollaisxBeltex Shearlings from H Wilson, Swallow Heights.
Ewes topped at £260 for Texels from James Hunter, Fieldside.
Show Results
Mule 2 Shear
1st M/s Marrs, Manor Farm Sold for £145
2nd JM Mawson, Holebeck Sold for £155
3rd M/s Batty, Flimby Hall Sold for £170
Mule Shearling
1st M/s Mattinson, Cragg Farm Sold for £200
2nd M/s Mattinson, Cragg Farm Sold for £190
3rd J & ME Ackerley, Milton Mains Sold for £175
Continental Shearling
1st J Almond & L Crosland, Irton Hse Sold for £200
Leading Prices
Ewe 2 Shear or above
Texel – £260, £230, £220, £208, £195, £185, £180, £175(2), £170 Fieldside Farm, £220, £210, £185, £170 Wardwarrow, £172, £170 Eirinntalla, £155 Simonscales Mill.
Bleu du Maine – £185 Fieldside Farm.
Beltex – £175, £155 Eirinntalla.
Mule – £170 Flimby Hall, £160(4), £155(4), £150 Shatton Lodge, £155, 150 Hole Beck, £152 Fieldside Farm, £148, £145 Manor Farm, £140 Hill Top, £140 Crookdake Cottages, £135(2) Clappers, £135 Carlisle Gate.
Cheviot - £155(2) Simonscales
Suffolk – £150(2) Fieldside Farm, £145 Foulsyke Farm, £ 92 Mill Street.
Kerry Hill - £100 Foulsyke Farm.
Shearlings
Charollais - £340, £205 Swallow Heights.
Texel - £220, £190(2), £185 Moss Kennels, £215, £210 Fieldside Farm, £215, £212, £205, £200(2), £195, £185, £182 Irton House, £210, £200 Baggrow Farm, £200, £182 Shatton Lodge Farm, £185, £182 Ghyll House.
Beltex - £210 Fieldside Farm, £185 Irton House Farm, £185 Hill Top Farm.
Mule - £200, £190, £185, £180(2), £175(2), £170 Cragg Farm, £200, £180(2), £172 Westray Farm, £190 Moss Kennels, £175(2), £172 West Field, £175, £172 Broom Hill, £170(2) Hole Beck.
Suffolk - £190, £155 Baggrow Farm, £152 Simonscales Mill.
Cheviot - £172, £158 Simonscales Mill.