It was certainly a day to remember for the Owens family’s Woodhouse flock of Kerry Hills at the annual sale at Ludlow, as John, Philippa and daughters Hannah and Ellie topped the yearling ram and yearling ewe sections and smashed the breed record setting a new high of 6200gns.
The family, who farm at Shobdon, Herefordshire, won the yearling ram class and then went on to take the male and overall championship under judge Linda Barnard of Malton, North Yorkshire, who later backed her judgement by securing the top for the day’s top price for her Welham flock. Home bred on both sides, Woodhouse 2 Ace goes back to Clayfield and Fronarth breeding on either side.
The family also secured the second highest price of the sale with Woodhouse 2 Arkle, a yearling ram this time by a Clayfield ram out of a homebred ewe by a Pengwern tup. This one sold for 4000gns to W Evans and J Etheridge, Tenby, Pembrokeshire.
Continuing as strong a trade for yearling tups as the breed has seen in recent years, a bid of 3400gns secured a Crugiau tup from Crymych, Pembrokeshire-based G Myrset Davies. This one is by a Calcot tup out of a home bred female and found a new home with F W Jones and Son, Church Stretton, Shropshire.
Back with the Woodhouse pen and David Morrison made the journey down from Girvan, Ayrshire to secure two tups. The first was Woodhouse 2 Almighty at 3000gns, which is homebred on both sides, while his second purchase was Woodhouse 2 Amazon at 2000gns, a son of the Clayfield tup.
Leading the aged ram section at 1800gns was Tom Evans with a 2019-born tup from his Calcot flock, based at Four Crosses, Powys. This one is by a homebred tup and out of a Fairfield ewe carrying Woodhouse breeding on both sides. He was knocked down to Thrimby Farms Ltd, Penrith, Cumbria.
Topping the ram lamb offering for the third year running was Leominster, Herefordshire-based Jim Rowe with one from his Downwood flock. By a Glenro tup out of a homebred female carrying Parkgate bloodlines, he found a new home with C Perkins, Caerphilly, Glamorgan.
His next best was a similar way bred lamb, again by the Glenro tup and out of a homebred female. This one sold for 1100gns to Tangent Estates Ltd, Malmesbury, Wiltshire.
Next up selling for 1000gns was a ram lamb from Helen and Dr Ian Macleod, Malvern, Worcestershire. Carpenters Bob is by a Woodhouse tup out of a homebred ewe and was knocked down to A Fisher, Harrogate, North Yorkshire.
The Owens family were back in action leading the way in the shearling ewe section with a top call of 1500gns for one that’s homebred on both sides. She also made the way up to Ayrshire with David Morrison.
Their next best was one by a Pentrenent ram out of a homebred dam by a Clayfield tup which sold for 1250gns to Michael Nolan, Taunton, Somerset.
Meanwhile, the pre-sale female and reserve overall champion, a shearling ewe from Freddie Probert’s Leinthall flock then sold for 1050gns. This one is by a Parkgate ram out of a Dorddu bred female and caught the eye of M Carter, Cheshire.
Mr Probert then re-invested some of his previous earnings in the best from Cindy Steen’s pen Moffat, Dumfriesshire. Catching his eye at 1000gns was a Leinthall sired shearling ewe.
Ewe lamb trade also peaked at 1500gns for New Abbey, Dumfries, based Angie Burgess’ reserve female champion, Top Spot Bossy Boots. This one is by a Marlbrook tup and out of a Crochmaid, bred ewe who joined the female champion back to Cheshire with M Carter.
Next best at 750gns was the first ewe lamb into the ring from Kate Esler and Ed Simmons, Kingston Seymour, North Somerset. Kingswater Betty Boo is by a Pantmaenog ram and out of the Woodhouse sired Kingswater Megan. She caught the eye of Sion Jones, Llanon, Ceredigion, for his Fronarth flock.
Averages: 63 shearling ewes £513; 48 ewe lambs £377.78; 5 ages rams £627.90; 36 shearling rams £1038; 11 ram lambs £453.40 (McCartneys).
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