However it was the breeders sheep that really caught the eye, especially a pen of strong rams and females brought for sale by George Cropper. Out of this pen came the leading sale price of 9,500gns for the supreme champion, a shearling ram. Out of a ewe sired by the 18,000gns Dooley Napal, and sired by Hudhey Rockafella, which itself was 1^st Prize aged ram and Reserve Champion at the sale, it sold in a two way split between Brian Hall, Ainstable, Carlisle and Henry Jewitt, Romaldkirk, Barnard Castle.

The same vendor also sold a shearling ram at 2400gn, sired by Dooley Napal, to MJ Daniels & Son, Norwich, Norfolk and another shearling at 2000gns, sired by Cree Sparticus, to R Hall & Son, Dalston, Carlisle.

The sale itself set off at a blistering pace with Hudhey Rockafella consigned by Sean Forshaw being the first lot to be sold. In the show it had stood first prize aged ram and reserve supreme champion. Itself being the sire of the supreme champion, it created a vast amount of interest pre sale and the successful bid of 2600gn was made by RW Mickleburgh of Norwich.

Dooley Napal also featured again as the sire of the first prize aged ewe consigned by George Cropper, and this stylish ewe was snapped up at 2,500gn by Mr H Wood, Longridge, Preston.

John Wood, North Valley who was dispersing his flock weighed in with the 4^th prize ewe and second highest price ewe at 1000gns. Sired by Buckles Masterpiece it was knocked down to DE Owen, Conwy, North Wales.

Back in the ram section, Messrs Jones and Roberts made the long journey from South Wales with a nice pen of shearling rams, and making sales with a pair of Matts Playboy sired rams, at 1750gns to S&RE Williamson, Hamsterley, Co Durham and 1700gns to J Whitton, Spaldington, Goole.  

Forward: 346 head;

4 Aged Rams; 156 Shearling Rams; 38 Lamb Rams; 28 Aged Ewes; 97 Shearling Ewes; 23 Ewe Lambs

SHOW RESULTS

Judge – Mr Andrew Graham, Wigton, Cumbria.

Aged Ram –

1^st S Forshaw Lot 1

2^nd E&D Barrow Lot 2

3^rd P&A Moss Lot 5

Shearling Ram –

1^st G Cropper Lot 163

2^nd G Cropper Lot 164

3^rd E McAlister Lot 129

4^th A Story Lot 56

5^th JR Critchley Lot 183

6^th E McAlister Lot 126

Ram Lamb –

1^st PN&VJ Noble Lot 202

2^nd PN&VJ Noble Lot 201

3^rd MR Davis Lot 193

4^th B&F Staveley Lot 223

5^th MR Davis Lot 194

6^th S Forshaw Lot 217

Aged Ewe –

1^st G cropper Lot 258

2^nd H Wood Lot 252

3^rd G Cropper Lot 260

4^th J Wood Lot 278

Shearling Ewe –

1^st E McAlister Lot 391

2^nd S Currie Lot 335

3^rd H Wood Lot 317

4^th E McAlister Lot 389

5^th B&F Staveley Lot 289

6^th MR Davis

Ewe Lamb –

1^st G Cropper Lot 416

2^nd H Wood Lot 408

3^rd D Towers Lot 405

4^th S Currie Lot 411

5^th B&F Staveley Lot 423

6^th MR Davis Lot 413

Champion Male - G Cropper Lot 163

Reserve Male - S Forshaw Lot 1

Champion Female - E McAlister Lot 391

Reserve Female - G Cropper Lot 416

Supreme Champion - G Cropper Lot 163

Reserve Supreme Champion - S Forshaw Lot 1

Averages & Prices –

Gimmer Lambs – Av £407.17 (2013 £420.00)

Shearling Gimmers – Av £395.03 (2013 £445.73)

Aged Ewes – Av £537.06 (2013 £417.90)

Ram Lamb – Av £406.79 (2013 £475.65)

Shearling Ram – Av £726.49 (2013 £585.71)

Aged Ram – Av £1325.63 (2013 £609.00)

G Cropper                            9500gns 2500gns 2400gns 2000gns 1400gns

S Forshaw                           2600gns

Jones & Roberts                 1750gns 1700gns

J Wood                                 1600gns

D Towers                             1300gns

KCB Shuttleworth               1300gns 1200gns             

H Wood                               1200gns

JH BarRow & Son               1100gns

J&E Hedley                         1050gns

Today’s Sale Sponsors –

Windle Beech Winthrop & JG Animal Health