Having set a new breed record for the Kerry Hill breed at last year’s sale, the Owens family of John, Philippa and daughters Hannah and Ellie, were back in action again to lift the roof off Ludlow Market selling a shearling ram for 10,500gns to Belgian breeder, Luc Verheyden.
Woodhouse 2 Bullet is by a Pentrenant ram out of a homebred female bred by a Clayfield tup. After heated bidding the hammer finally fell to the determined Belgian breeder who runs 65 ewes just outside of Antwerpe and along with managing his own flock, acts as an exporter across Germany, Luxemburg and France.
Second highest price on the day and setting a flock record for the Pengwern flock of father and daughter team Geraint and Alys Roberts, Denbigh, Denbighshire, at 5200gns was Pengwern 43476. By a Leinthall tup and out of a homebred female by a Pentrenant tup, this one heads to Blairgowrie, Perthshire, with Robbie Morris for his Overbuttergask flock.
Reinvesting some of their earnings, the Roberts family secured the second highest price tup from the Woodhouse pen in the form of Woodhouse 2 Bonanza. By a Fronarth tup out of a Whitcastles sired dam, this one sold for 4000gns.
Next selling for 2150gns was the reserve male champion, Top Spot Belter from Angie Burgess, New Abbey, Dumfries. By a Marlbrook tup and out of Top Spot Angela, this one found a new home with Freddie Probert, Ludlow, Shropshire.
Ram lambs
Leading the ram lamb section at 2200gns was the male champion from Sion Jones’ Fronarth flock, based at Llanon, Ceredigion. This one is homebred on both sides and carries Reidstown bloodlines on the dam line. Taking this one back home to Woodhouse were the Owens family.
Next best here was the male champion from this year’s Royal Welsh Show in the form of Top Spot Caledonian from Angie Burgess. By Reidstown Rambo and out of a homebred female by Wrotham Clifford, he was knocked down at 1800gns to Heather Jones, Knighton, Powys.
Aged rams
Demand was also high for strong aged rams, with the leader of this section coming in at 1700gns for North Somerset-based Kate Esler and Ed Simmons’ show ram from this year, Kingswater Arizona. By a Glenro tup, this one is out of Kingswater Dotty and had already picked up a first at the National Show at Royal Norfolk and won the aged ram class at the pre-sale show, judged by Tim Ward. Taking this one home to West Calder, West Lothian, was Anna Smith.
Next best here at 1250gns was a Leinthall-bred ram offered by Geraint Roberts. By a homebred tup out of a Pantmaenog ewe carrying Marlbrook breeding, this one sold to H and I Macleod, Malvern, Wells for the Carpenters flock.
Ewe lambs
Ewe lambs met a top call of 1100gns for the female and overall champion from the pre-sale show from Angie Burgess. Top Spot Caroline is by a Marlbrook tup out of a Tannybrake-sired Pennie female. She sold to previous buyer Freddie Probert for his Leinthall flock.
Next up at 900gns was the reserve female and reserve overall champion, Hilltop Clementine from Robert Stott, Carlisle, Cumbria. By Birsca Black Magic and out of a homebred female by a Pentrenant tup, this one sold to Andrew Fisher, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, for his Nidderdale flock.
Shearling ewes
Meanwhile, shearling ewe trade saw a top price of 1050gns for one from Freddie Probert’s Leinthall flock. By a Parkgate tup and out of a Woodhouse female, this one joins the Top Spot flock of Angie Burgess.
The Woodhouse team were back in action selling one of their shearling ewes for 800gns. By a Pentrenant tup and out of a homebred female, this one sold on the internet to Sophie MacGill, Bruichladdich, Isle of Islay, for her Coull flock.
The reserve female champion from Andrew Groffiths was knocked down at 720gns. Pentrehen Tiffany is by Carpenters Albert and out of a homebred female by a Tuthill ram. Taking this one home was R and C Dulson, Wrexham, North Wales.
Averages: 12 aged rams £641.37; 35 shearling rams £1058.70; 2 ram lambs £2100; 91 shearling ewes £374.13; 35 ewe lambs £359.10 (McCartneys).
