A great entry, a great atmosphere and great quality of sheep made for a great day at the HDSBA Premier Sale with averages up on last year and 13 lots making over 1000gns. Sheep went all over the country with a good number of buyers from Ireland present as well as lots of buyers bidding via Marteye.

2600gns was the top price of the day and realised by Graham & Judith Galbraith of the Graylen Flock at Kendal. This ram lamb won the Recorded Ram Lamb class in the show and is one of the fastest growing lambs produced at Graylen. Sired by the new stock ram Normanby Outlaw, the lamb is in the top 10% for growth and top 5% for CT Gigot muscularity. This impressive ram will make his way to Northern Ireland to join Michael Pattons Tullybane flock.

2000gns was the next highest price and achieved by another ram lamb, this time from Austyn Chapman & Nikki Wadkins from North Yorkshire. This Eppleby lamb came from a much admired pen of lambs and is sired by the AI sire Chaddlehanger King Eric and is out of a Graylen ewe and heads to Brecon for Mr K Phillips.

The Chapman & Wadkins team had a cracking day gaining Overall Champion and realising the top price for females of 1200gns with a very sweet ewe lamb. Judge Martin Sivill of the Glanrafon Flock said she caught his eye from the moment she entered the ring and was as good when handled too. This lamb was again sired by Chaddlehanger King Eric, this time was out of a Lecropt bred ewe and will make her way back to Yorkshire for I & S Clough.

1000gns was the top price shearling ram and this went to Sophie Manners & Joe Dilibero from the Seawell Flock in Towcester who had a good run of sheep for their first Premier Sale. This ram is sired by Ballycreelly 007 and is out of a Yarcombe bred ewe and has some good figures too. This striking ram sold to Donald & Anne Henderson for their Maranatha Flock in the Highlands of Scotland.

The semen sales topped at 30gns a straw for Court General from Janet & Brian Hill and sold to Kevin McCarthy.

We are very grateful to Neogen for their sponsorship and the Team at Halls Auctioneers for all their help.

Other Leading Prices

1600gns Graylen Ram Lamb

1400gns Graylen Ram Lamb

1350gns Lecropt Ram Lamb

1200gns Thornfalcon Ram Lamb

1200gns Yarcombe Ram Lamb

1200gns St-Paul Ram Lamb

1200gns Graylen Ram Lamb

1000gns Lecropt Ram Lamb

1000gns Yarcombe Ram Lamb

Auctioneers – HALLS

Averages:

29 Ram Lambs £955.50 (2022 – £936.05)

7 Shearling Rams £660 (2022 – £520.50)

18 Shearling Ewes £519.35 (2022 – £486.15)

19 Ewe Lambs £554.84 (2022 – £479.72)