Mule Shearlings created the usual buzz and buyers were keen to replenish their breeding flocks, the very best end of sheep £170 to £220, with plenty of sheep in the nice runs making from £140 to £160, whilst a commercial sheep was from £120 to £135. The show sheep saw John Greenhalgh win the Edgar Boothman Memorial Trophy for his champion pen and these sold for £220 per head. James Hall Darnbrook took 2^nd prize at £198. Fox Farms Clitheroe made to £180 with the 3^rd prize pen, J Thornber of Pendleton topped his run at £180, T&S Binns, Downham topped at £185, JE Thwaite from Barden topped at £175, RW Airey of Trawden and WA,VJ&JA Towler, Grindleton both sold to £170, H Harvey & Son Waxham Hall made to £155 and F Roberts of Bolton by Bowland made £150 along with M&B Allen of Staithes. Seven runs of Mule sheep averaged over £140.
The Masham Sheep Breeders Association held their Annual Show & Sale of Gimmer Shearlings for Association Members at Skipton this year, and WD Dowthwaite of Kirkby Overblow took championship honours with their pen of ten later selling for £165, also making £145 £135 and £130 of additional pens. KA Liddle from Stainburn, Otley topped their run at £140. The show for non members sheep saw James Hall of Darnbrook take first prize making £130.

Continental Sheep were in strong demand, topping at £210 for the first prize pen from Lambert & Joy Coverdale of Beckwithshaw, A Sharp of Mellor making to £190, Tim Jackson Goosnargh to £185, Lucas & Nairey to £180 and TA Harrison Cowling also to £180.
Several nice runs of Suffolk Mules found a ready ringside as their popularity in this region increases and prices ranged from £130 to £148 av £142.

SHOW RESULTS

Judges – Mr Geoff Booth and Mr Geoff Lawn

Mule Shearlings (Pens of 10)

1^st J&E Greenhalgh selling for £220

2^nd JW Hall selling for £198

3^rd P&E Fox selling for £180

Continental Shearlings (Pens of 10)

Judges Miss Ruby Wright and Mr John Wright

1^st LW&EJ Coverdale selling for £210

2^nd T Jackson selling for £185

3^rd LW&EJ Coverdale selling for £160

Masham Shearlings from Members of The MSBA (Pens of 10)

Judge Mr David Wilson  
1^st WD Douthwaite selling for £165

2^nd WD Douthwaite selling for £145

3^rd K Liddle selling for £140

Masham Shearlings (Non Members)

Judge Mr Andrew Fisher

1^st JW Hall selling for £130

2^nd M Middleton selling for £132

3^rd Stocks Enterprises selling for £120

OVERALL AVERAGE is £139.84

BREED AVERAGES;

Mule Shearlings                               av £137.33           +£15.85               

Masham Shearlings                        av £124.98           - £2.40 

Texel Shearlings                               av £158.45           + £23.44              

Suffolk Shearlings                           av £142.07           +£28.69

Cheviot Mule Shearlings              av £149.57           +£19.57

Beltex Shearlings                             av £156.67          + £42.17

PRINCIPLE PRICES

Mule-

J&E Greenhalgh                £220, £188

JW Hall                                  £198 £188

T&S Binns                            £185

JT Thornber                        £180

Fox Farm                              £180

Masham-

WD Douthwaite                £165, £145, £135, £130

K Liddle                                £140, £128, £125

M Middleton                      £132

Texel-

LW&EJ Coverdale             £210

A Sharp                                 £190, £180

T Jackson                             £185

Lucas & Nairey                  £180

Suffolk-

TJ Burke                               £148, £142 x2

Bob Lancaster                    £145, £142, £140, £138

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