Solid clearance rate and strong selling averages at CCM Skipton Swaledale rams highlight
Skipton Auction Mart’s annual evening fixture for registered Swaledale rams attracted a tremendous turnout of 72 head, a dozen more than last year, recording an extremely high clearance rate and increased averages. (Mon, Oct 12)
All 28 aged rams forward sold to a top of £1,400 and a solid overall average of £539.29 per head, up on the previous year’s £504.55, while shearlings rams saw an 85% clearance, a top call of £1,500 and an average of £406.22, compared to 2019’s £372.96.
Yet again, the top price shearling was consigned by Kevin Huck, of Knowle Bank Farm, Bordley, It is by a David Allinson West Briscoe ram purchased for £22,000 and shared with neighbour and fellow Swaledale breeder John Tennant.
Out of a ewe by Mr Huck’s old Long Green tup, the top price performer sold to JB&LJ Shirt, of Edale in the Derbyshire Peak District, who also paid among the leading prices at last year’s fixture for another well-bred Huck shearling ram. He also sold a 5 shear aged ram bred by Raymond Calvert at Hoggarths and going back to a Douglas Barningham Hillside tup at £900.
The well-known Dales breeder is no stranger to success at the Skipton Swaledale highlight, having sent out multiple leading price performers and show champions in recent years. He also made his mark with the females of the breed, presenting the champion pen of ten Swaledale gimmer lambs for the second year running at the previous week’s third seasonal gimmer lamb pen-judged prize show and sale.
The same shared West Briscoe tup was also responsible for the second top price £1,200 shearling ram from John Tennant and his daughter, Rose, of Low Bucker House Farm, Bordley. It sold to SE Lord, of Roeburndale, Lancaster. The Tennants also sold an aged ram bred by Matt Mason at Low Hall, Appletreewick, for £1,000.
The £1,400 top price ram came from North Craven father and son, Johnny and Neil Cowperthwaite, of Eldroth, The 4 shear, bred by Martin Allen, of Dufton, Appleby, remained in the area when joining Litton brothers Stuart and Stephen Lund.
Mart regulars John and Claire Mason, from Embsay, also did well when hitting £1,200 with another 4 shear ram bred at Long Green and sired by a Naby tup, out of a Hallam got ewe, while Mark Walker, of Hartlington, sold a 2017-born ram bred by a Peter Lightfoot Gillside tup for £1,000. Kirkby Stephen’s Wilf Buckle also sold a shearing ram at £1,050.