440gns top at CCM Skipton Wensleydale Longwool highlight
Top call of 440gns at the 133st annual show and sale of Wensleydale Longwool sheep staged on behalf of Wensleydale Longwool Sheep Breeders Association at CCM Skipton Auction Mart was the second prize shearling ram from breed stalwart Mark Elliott, who, in partnership with mum, Judy, runs the Providence flock, Ferrensby, Knaresborough. (Sat, Aug 31)
The top price performer is by the the Nosterfield Blue Boy son, West End Basil, bred by John and Sheila Prescott, West End flock, Longhorsely, and successfully used for the past two seasons by the Elliotts, Out of a home-bred dam by Carperby Pastures Wheatsheaf, from Nick Oliver, the shearling caught his eye, returning to his base near Leyburn.
The Elliotts also sold their third prize shearling ram, this by Nosterfield Fred, for 260gns, with Nick Oliver heading the ram lambs prices at 220gns with a Nipna Tom son, out of a home-bred dam by Endrigs Celebration, claimed by P&JE Bailey, Appleby.
Females met a solid demand, two hitting joint top 340gns and both joining the same buyers A&DM Duffield, Husthwaite, York. First at this price was a shearling ewe from the Harrison Spinks Farms flock, Bolton Percy, York, by Wenham Tyson, out of a home-bred Beacon Banks Bruce-sired dam.
The second at 340gns was the first prize aged ewe, a 2-shear from Laura Beaton, Hammerton flock, Hopperton, Knaresborough, with a 2022 twin by Carperby Pastures Chief, whose home-bred dam relates directly back to the flock’s founding ewe and was a prolific prize winner, including a Great Yorkshire Show 1st.
Harrison Spinks was also responsible for the red rosette-winning shearling ewe and champion female, very similarly bred to their leading performer on price and a 300gns purchase by Harewood Farming, plus others, again similarly bred, at 270gns and 260gns.
The reserve female champion was the first prize ewe lamb from the Pennell family’s Nipna flock, Richmond, run by mum Julie and her daughter Anna, WLSBA secretary. Their Manor House, Carperby Pastures daughter – his own sire is Providence Sampson – out of a home-bred Nipna dam, made 300gns when heading to Great Yarmouth with Marion Starkings,
The Pennells also stood runners-up in the same show class with a 2024 lamb by the same sire, out of a home-bred ewe by Endrigs Norman, which made 310gns, joining LR Farming, Ainsworth, Bolton.
From Wales, Paul Woodall, Belan flock, Welshpool, finished second and third in the aged ewe show class with 2022 and 2021 home-breds, the former by Providence Jo, the latter by Howe Gallant, both joining Karen Hodgson, Bakewell, at 230gns and 210gns respectively.
Show judge was David Ford, Bedale, who ran the Harnby Moor flock and is a former Skipton, Great Yorkshire and Royal England champion. His overall champion, a ram lamb from the Elliotts, and reserve, a shearling ram from defending champion Ernie Sherwin, Nosterfield flock, Well, south of Bedale, returned home.
Chief prices and averages, all but ewe lambs showing an increase on the previous year, were: Shearling Rams to 440gns, av £336 (2023 £243), Ram Lambs to 220gns, av £142 (£130), Aged Ewes to 340gns, av £227 (£135), Shearling Ewes to 340gns, av £252 (£190), ewe lambs to 310gns, av £259 (£285). Full results and trophy winners are at www.wlsba.co.uk
