Woodhouse 2 and Wester lead the way at Christmas Cracker
The annual society Christmas Cracker Sale of in-lamb ewes and ewe lambs saw a strong entry as almost 150 Kerry Hill sheep went under the hammer, including the dispersal sale of Derek and Cindy Steen’s Whitcastles flock.
Top price of the Christmas Cracker was shared between two strong but stylish shearling gimmers, both hitting 2500gns.
First through the ring, and champion in the pre-sale show, judged by Andrew Fisher, was Woodhouse 2 31589 from J.&P. Owens, Leominster. Sired by Woodhouse 2 Diamond and out of a Sallens ewe, it was knocked down to Messrs Morrison, Girvan. The gimmer was also scanned in-lamb to Pentrenant Dayfed.
Hitting the same mark was Wester Ella, from Miss A Smith, Wester Crosswoodhill Farm, West Calder. The joint sale topper is sired by Kingwater Arizona and out of a Purclewan ewe. Scanned in-lamb to Top Spot Enderman, it was knocked down to Messrs Cunningham, Broughton.
The reserve champion in the pre-sale show from S. McCarlie, Shotts, was next best. Selling for 2400gns, Hassockrigg First Class is sired by a Pentrenant ram and out of a homebred ewe. A powerful March-born ewe lamb, it won a high-quality, 15-strong class and was only narrowly beaten to the championship by a strong gimmer from the Owens family. It sold to Messrs Kinloch, Dumbarton.
Dispersal of the Whitcastles flock
Top price for the dispersal of Derek and Cindy Steen’s flock, and topping trade overall on the day, was their stock ram, Plaish 43956, bred by F.W. Jones and Sons. Selling for 3,800gns, the 2022-born ram is sired by a Crugiau ram and out of a Plaish ewe. It sold to J. Croose of the Marlbrook flock, Leominster.
Next best was Whitcastles 27822, a ewe which sold for 2700gns. Sired by a Pengwern ram, it is out of a homebred ewe and was knocked down to Joshua Farrell, East Lothian. The ewe has been scanned in-lamb to the top-priced stock ram, Plaish 43956.
Sale clearance: 96%
Averages
Christmas Cracker
18 shearling gimmers: av. £1341.67
46 ewe lambs: av. £572.48
Whitcastles flock dispersal
27 ewes: av. £1144.11
13 shearling ewes: av. £848.08
25 ewe lambs: av. £666.54
4 stock rams: av. £1456.88
