THE annual show and sale of uncrossed registered and unregistered Swaledale ewes and gimmer shearlings at Middleton-in-Teesdale Auction Mart attracted a marvellous entry of 4,383 on Monday, October 1.
An unrivalled entry of draft ewes was shown in excellent bloom and prior to the sale the judge, John Tully, Burncroft Farm, Eggleston, awarded the Champion Perpetual Trophy, donated by the Stephenson Family, along with a £50 Chris Stamp voucher to Messrs CR Raine & Son, Stanhope Gate Farm, Laneside, whose superb pen of 10 ewes went on to make £290 and were purchased by the judge.
The second prize pen of draft ewes and the day’s reserve champion pen, winning the Varley Shield along with a £30 Chris Stamp voucher, was awarded to Messrs F & MP Allinson & son, West Briscoe, Baldersdale. Their top quality pen realised £230 and were purchased by Messrs Iceton, East Thorngarth Hill, Baldersdale.
Ewes were shown in excellent bloom, trade proved to be selective throughout, however it was the very best pens that suffered the greatest fall in value after last year’s extreme trade as only 30 pens broke the £100 barrier following a sale average of £111 in 2017.
Shearling ewes were a very mixed selection and only quality well grown sorts sold readily.
Results
Ewes
1 & champion pen: Stanhope Gate (CR Raine & Sons), £290 purchased by Burncroft Farms; 2 & reserve champion pen: West Briscoe (F&MP Allinson & Son), £230 purchased by Messrs W&C Iceton & Son, East Thorngarth Hill; 3, Newton Lodge (JR&G Walton & Sons), £130 purchased by JW Robinson, New House Holwick.
Shearling ewes
1, Hunt House (M Graham) £100; 2, Stanhope Gate (CR Raine & Son) £122; 3, Shield Hurst (SC Wilkinson) £118.
The Show was generously sponsored by For Farmers, CA Stamp and Eden Farm Supplies.
