Annual Lakeland Show & Sale of Herdwick Draft Ewes & Registered Herdwick Rams

6th October 2023

Market Report Friday 6th & Saturday 7th September

The first day of the Herdwick Sheep fair saw a catalogued entry of 8617, and all vendors left the mart on a high with a super buzz around the ring all day. Trade defied all expectations being dearer on the year and all classes in keen demand.

 

The pre-sale show was ably judged by Mr Thomas Postlethwaite, Eskdale and kindly sponsored TW Relph & Son, Robinson & Co, TL Dallas Insurance and Hundith Hill Hotel.

 

Show Results

Ewes             1st        Messrs Bland, Clea Hall

                    2nd       AD Harrison, Brotherilkeld

                        3rd      J Bland, Yew Tree

Shearlings     1st      A Hartley, Turner Hall

                        2nd     A & A Whittle, Knott End

                        3rd      A Hartley, Turner Hall

Gim. Lambs   1st      JN & P Stanley, Dalegarth   

                   2nd     K Hartley, Barfield

                        3rd      N Race, Penny Hill

 

The Championship was awarded to the 1st prize pen of ewes from Messrs Bland, Clea Hall which later sold for the day’s top price of £800 per head, to Mr RD Hodgkiss, West Browncastle. Reserve honours went to the 1st prized Shearlings from A Hartley, Turner Hall which sold for £600 per head, also purchased by Mr RD Hodgkiss. Next leading price of £550 per head was achieved for 3 different pens from the Flock Reduction of AD Harrison, Brotherilkeld. Ewe Lambs were the dearest trade ever witnessed topping at £170 from CI Hartley, Barfield whilst the 1st prize pen sold to £100 from JN&P Stanley, Dalegarth.

 

Leading Prices – Ewes: 800, Clea Hall. 550, 550, 550, 450, 320, 320, 270, 140, Brotherilkeld. 350, Glencoyne. 300, 102, Gatesgarth. 270, Anns Cottage. 260, 250, 110, 100, 100, Knott Houses. 220, Kirkland House. 220, 175, 140, 130, 120, Yew Tree. 180, 110, E Weir - Hollins, 140, East House. 125, Fold Head. 110, Hazel Holme. 100, Stybeck. Gimmer Shearlings: 600, 480, 350, 320, 260, Turner Hall. 380, 350, 280, Knott End. 300, Howbeck Lodge. 170, E Weir – Hollins. 160, Anns Cottage. 120, Yew Tree. Gimmer Lambs – 170, 82, Barfield. 100, 82, Croft House. 100, 74, Ponsonby Old Hall. 88, West Head. 88, Anns Cottage. 80, 80, 78, Clea Hall. 80, 78, 74, Penny Hill. 78, 72, Birk Howe. 72, Foot O’Green. 70, Howside. 70, Brotherilkeld.

 

In the other breed ewe section, a top of £152 was achieved for North Country Cheviot ewes from AE & LK Harrison, Taw House.  Continental Rams sold to £900 twice, both times from Messrs Elliott, Askrigg Hall and achieved a 93% clearance rate. Cheviot Rams to £600 for a 2shear from P Edmondson & J Loan, Seathwaite Farm.

Leading Prices –

Ewes: Texel – 180, 160, 155, Derwent House. Cheviot – 152, 116, 116, Taw House. 124, 120, Lanefoot. 120, Easthwaite.

 

Gimmer Shearlings: Texel – 170, Derwent House. 168, Fangs Brow. Cheviot – 130, Easthwaite. 122, Lanefoot.

 

Rams: Texel x Beltex – 450, Wood Farm. Beltex – 500, Clea Hall. Beltex x Charolais – 700, 600, 500, 400, Swallow Heights. Texel x BFL – 420, 420, Mosser Mains. 350, Strudda Bank. Texel – 900, 900, 850, 800, 750, 750, 700, Askrigg Hall. 650, 650, 500, Summerhill. 500, Strudda Bank. Cheviot – 500, Taw House. 350, Stonecroft. Dutch Texel – 350, 320, The Laurels.

 

Day 2 of the Herdwick weekend came to a close with the annual 'Keswick Fair' of Registered Herdwick Rams. Excitement throughout the Lakes and beyond culminated in the pre-sale show which was ably judged by Mr Leigh Whitaker and Miss Margaret Wilson and kindly judged by Hundith Hill Hotel, Robinson & Co, TW Relph & Son, TL Dallas Insurance and Mitchells.

 

The 'Andrew Nicholson' Trophy for Champion Ram was awarded to the Shearling from AD Harrison, Brotherilkeld which later sold for 3500gns. The days top price was 5000gns achieved on two occasions; firstly for a Shearling from M&J Potter, Ulcatrow, and then again from Anthony Hartley, Turner Hall.

 

Show Results

 

Aged            1st      RD Hodgkiss, West Browncastle      

                        2nd     M & GM Fox, Crosbythwaite

                        3rd     Messrs Bland, Clea Hall

                        4th      AG & KF Nicholson, Swinside End

 

2 Shear        1st      WS & C Jackson, Croft House

                        2nd     J Weir, Elva Plain

                        3rd     WS & C Jackson, Croft House

                        4th      J Rebanks, Racy Ghyll

 

Shearling      1st      AD Harrison, Brotherilkeld

                        2nd     WS & C Jackson, Croft House

                        3rd     G Harryman, The Gallion

                        4th      R Wilkinson & R Tennant, Gatesgarth

 

Leading Prices – 5000, 2000, 1800, Turner Hall. 5000, Ulcatrow. 4500, 3500, 2500, Croft House. 4000, 2500, 2400, 2000, 2000, Swinside End. 4000, 3000, 2000, Cockley Beck. 4000, 1700, Yew Tree. 4000, Racy Ghyll. 3500, Brockstones. 3500, Brotherilkeld. 2800, Clea Hall. 2400, 1500, Little Cross. 2400, Gatesgarth. 2200, Taw House. 2000, Brookfield. 1800, 1800, The Gallion. 1500, Brimmer Head.