The action starts this weekend on Saturday, September 5, with a trio of annual breed highlights, one of which is the keynote Beltex pedigree fixture again being staged under the auspices of The Beltex Sheep Society.

It has attracted a solid entry of 349 head, comprising 193 shearling rams, 90 shearling ewes, 15 ewe lambs, six aged rams and a single aged ewe. A total of 37 individual vendors are due to be represented, among them some renowned Beltex breeders from across the north and midlands, up into Scotland and over to Ireland.  Returning will be some familiar faces from previous years, including past champions, regular prize winners and leading price achievers.

The evening prior to the sale a live preview video will be available via Facebook, along with buyer viewing periods right up to the sale, which is scheduled to begin at 10am. Online bidding will be available.

Also on the same day’s agenda are annual fixtures for both the Jacob Sheep Society and Wensleydale Longwool Sheep Breeders Association.

The former, the 45th annual Northern Area sale only, has attracted an entry of 144 registered Jacob sheep from some 30 members across many parts of the country, again including leading breeders, show and sale principals and familiar faces from past years. The sale is scheduled to start at 12 noon.

The 129th Wensleydale highlight has attracted an entry of 79 rams, ram lambs and females from association stalwarts and will feature all the usual show classes from 9.30, with safe distancing judging in place, followed by the sale at 12.30.

WLSBA secretary Anna Pennell said: “Demand for the Wensleydale Longwool continues to grow, as the popularity and call for its wool, as well as its high value crossing-sire traits, is being increasingly recognised by both farmers and small-holders alike. We look forward to welcoming both new and old members, both as vendors and prospective purchasers.”

Turning to breeding sheep, keenly anticipated is the opening sale of North of England Mule gimmer lambs next Tuesday (Sept 8), which remains one of the leading fixtures of its kind and one of the earliest to be staged in NEMSA’s annual high profile members-only autumn ewe lamb sale season.

There is another solid entry of over 7,300 head from leading breeders and prize shows will be staged. As usual, the second gimmer lamb sale follows a fortnight later. The mart says it is looking into the possibility of offering remote live internet bidding on both NEMSA sales.

Back with the pedigrees, another important date for the diary on Saturday, September 12, is a special one-off and much anticipated double dispersal sale of Texel females on behalf of two renowned multi award-winning pedigree holdings - Richard Wilson and family’s Crimple Head flock in Beckwithshaw, Harrogate, and the Meifod flock from Gareth Jones and family in the Vale of Clwyd, North Wales.

Between them, the duo are offering for sale a total of 121 quality females – shearling ewes, aged ewes and ewe lambs, many from lop bloodlines. For Mr Jones it represents the dispersal of the entire adult flock. Again there is a pre-sale viewing facility on the eve of the sale and online bidding will be available.

Another ever-popular up-and-coming hardy annual is the two-day sale of pedigree rams and females on behalf of Northern Area Texel Sheep Breeders on Thursday and Friday, September 18 & 19. A solid entry of 422 sheep representing 51 different breeders from near and far, many at the top of their game who return year on year, again augurs well for the sale only fixture. As usual females go under the hammer on Thursday evening, rams the following morning. Once again there will be a Facebook preview, plus another bolt-on online bidding facility.

Catalogues for all sales, together with full details and instructions for both vendors and buyers, are posted at www.ccmauctions.com