Shearling Ram Woodhouse 2 Carlisle, bred by J & P Owens, claimed the top spot, selling for £2500 at this Saturday’s Society sale forming part of H & H’s Rare Breed Sale at Borderway Mart, Carlisle. 

Woodhouse 2 Carlisle (43922) £2500

The aptly named Woodhouse 2 Carlisle (43922) took top honors in an extremely large shearling ram class, before going on to be tapped out as Male and Overall Breed Champion, by Welsh Judge Mr Sion Jones of the Fronarth Flock, Ceredigion. Sired by Dalwyne Avicii (43397) out of a homebred ewe by a Pengwern tup, the final bid of £2500 for “Carlisle” was placed by Sophie MacGill, who’s Coull flock is based on the Isle of Islay. 

Joint second highest price for the day of £1300 was shared by a shearling ram, Hassockrigg (43870), and a ram lamb, Downwood Dodger (44116), who stood Reserve Male and Reserve Overall Champion. 

Hassockrigg (44116) was bred by Lanarkshire based Sophie McCarlie, stood third in the presale show and is by a Pentrenant ram out of a Whitcastles ewe. After swift bidding he was knocked down online, to be shared between the Somerset based Kingswater flock of Kate Esler & Ed Simmons, and James McClintock’s Antrim based Reidstown Flock. 

Herefordshire based breeders Jim Rowe & Tom Webb also achieved £1300 for Reserve Champion Downwood Dodger (44116). He is sired by the ram Purclewam Callum and out of a homebred Downwood ewe. This strong February born lamb caught the eye of Cumbrian breeder Roy Fishwick and joins his Thornship flock. 

Downwood Dodger (44116) £1300

Trade for rams was selective but several ram lambs also broke the £1000 mark. Dumfries based local breeders Angie and Stuart Burgess saw £1200 for their second placed ram lamb, Top Spot Danny Boy (44028), he was sold to Pauline Hambleton’s Clayfield flock in Derbyshire. 

Top Spot Danny Boy (44028) £1200

Chris Adamson’s Great Yorkshire and Royal Welsh winning ram lamb, Whitfield Deja Vu also hit £1000 selling to the Bearda Hill Flock owned by Maisie Carter based in Chesire. 

Whitfield Deja Vu £1000

A shearling ram Woodhouse 2 Chaos (43906) bred by J & P Owen’s Woodhouse 2 flock also made £1000, and will head to Northern Ireland’s Adam McConnell for his Doon The Glen Flock. 

A strong trade for females was led by Robert and Jean Price’s Pentrenant Flock, whose first prize ewe lamb stood Female Champion. This February born lamb, Pentrenant (27386), was sired by Fronarth Arbenning (42992) and is out of a homebred Pentrenant ewe. The final successful bid of £1200 was made by Maisie Carter for her Bearda Hill Flock. 

The next highest female bid of £800 was for a shearling ewe, Hassockrigg (26234), bred by Sophie McCarlie, she is sired by a Pentrenant (42112) ram and out of a Whitcastles ewe. The ewe heads south to Pembrokeshire and will join Will Evans and James Etheridge’s Lowlands Flock. 

Next best price of £650 for females was achieved by three breeders. 

The first was Worcestershire based Helen Macleod whose shearling ewe Carpenters Chammomile (25719) stood 3rd in the presale show and heads to P Thompson’s Wolsingham flock in Co. Durham. 

Making the journey from Somerset, the Scott Family’s, Orchard Fascinate (25395) also made £650 and heads north to David Morrison’s Dalwyne flock. 

The second highest priced ewe lamb was Ladywood Destiny (27504) at £650. Destiny stood 3rd in her class and was bred by Buxton based Helen Bright, and was snapped up by Grace Hawkins for her newly formed Kenslow flock. 

Averages; Aged ewes (8) £272.50, Shearling Ewes (79) £320.13, Ewe Lambs (23) £357.83, Aged Rams (2) £460, Shearling Rams (22) £531.36, Ram Lambs (11) £524.55.