Dalesbred Sheep Breeders’ chairman David Wilson, who trades with his father Michael at Crimple Head Farm, Beckwithshaw, hit 260gns with his second prize shearling ram, a winner at several of local shows as a lamb last year. Sired by a home-bred tup, it sold to Martin Brown in Ramsgill.

The very same sire, now a 4-shear and having successfully done its job on the Wilson flock for the past three years, also took its place in the show arena and was adjudged the first prize aged ram and reserve champion by co-judges, Derek Harker, of Middlesmoor, and Darnbrook’s Tom Hall. This also headed the class prices at 120gns when again selling to Martin Brown.

The other 260gns joint top price fell to another shearling ram from JT&J Kelsall, of Cold Cotes, Clapham. It was bred by a Capstick tup, out of a ewe sired by a ram from Wigglesworth father and daughter Godfrey and Alison Haygarth, who had sent out the champion at the Skipton breed highlight for the previous three years. The Kelsall ram returned to North Craven with Horton-in-Ribbledale’s Neil Jackson.

Show champion was the first prize shearling ram from first-time event winners, father-and-son Trevor and Joe Stoney, of White Wood Farm, Bewerley, Pateley Bridge. Breed stalwarts for the past 60 years, they currently run a flock of 550 pure Dalesbreds, along with 100 early lambing Dales Mules.

Awarded the Royston Baxter Trophy, presented annually by the former Skipton Auction Mart foreman, who lives in Steeton, the victor sold for 80gns to P Atkinson, of Briercliffe, Burnley. The Stoneys were also responsible for the third prize aged ram, which made 100gns on joining the same buyer.

The second prize aged ram from Raydale’s AD&CH Lambert sold away at 90gns to a regular buyer of Dalesbreds at Skipton, John Fisher, of Withnell, Chorley. Mr Fisher cast his net a second time when paying 100gns for the third prize shearling ram from RA Lambert, also from the Raydale farming family.

Of the other shearling rams sold, regular consignee Barry Liddle, from Pateley Bridge, had one at 220gns, while the Haygarths achieved 190gs and 150gns, with Kevin Wilson, of Blubberhouses, also producing 160gns and 110gns sales.

Pedigree shearling rams averaged £101.89 per head and pedigree aged rams £94.50.
 
While not shown, Dalesbred females sold to a top of 122gns for a Stainforth-based Coates brothers’ ewe, which joined Barry Liddle. Shearling ewes peaked at £83 for a Paul Bowdin Buckden entry, with this section averaging £70. The total Dalesbred entry was 222.
 
Gimmer lambs, 2,380 in total, were also on the same day’s agenda for their fourth fortnightly sale and attracted an extremely busy ringside of customers keen for sheep late in the season. A few pens of Mules topped £100 per head, with Kevin Wilson leading the way at £108, while Silsden’s Jack Berry, trading as JH Throup, achieved £100, with other leading pens in the £90s.

Overall, there were 2,152 Mules entered and they averaged £72.41 per head, with NEMSA entries coming in at an average of £74.09 (+£2.33) and other Mules at £71.76 (+£1.00).

Mashams, though short in numbers, found a good enquiry to produce a strong average of £73.88, with a section high of £82 from the Verity family in West End. White Faced Lambs were also keenly contested, leaving with a sale average of £74.

Potential vendors and buyers are asked to note that CCM Auctions will continue to hold fortnightly gimmer lamb sales during November on Wednesday lunchtime in the Lingfields Ring, in conjunction with store lamb sales. The next is on November 2, where an entry of 1,200 to 1,500 is anticipated.