Sale Report for Carlisle In-lamb and Female Sale on November 20, 2020
Record Breaking Sale at Carlisle
An extremely strong sale of females finished off a much-curtailed sales calendar for 2020 with a flourish. Whilst the previous individual top prices for shearlings and ewe lambs wasn’t beaten, senior ewes equalled their best of £840, and averages in all 3 sections smashed the previous best by a country mile.
The shearlings announced their arrival in the ring with the very first lady in, lot 24, the aptly named Joyfield Game Changer, topping the sale at £1470 for breeders Joyce & Neil Millar. She’s away to Wales, to the Henblas flock of Miss A Bullen. Next top was lot 32, Clarewood Gooseberry, consigned by Thomas & Charlotte Critchley, making £1050 and a long journey north to Ross-shire, care of the Bisset’s Carrah flock.
Lot 35, Clarewood Gertrude and lot 49, Liverton Geranium both realised £892. Gertrude joins Steph Bower’s Tasley flock in Shropshire whilst Geranium had a much shorter journey home staying in Cumbria with Mr G Armstrong, and Vicarage Farm Zwartbles.
Lot 23, Holmlea Elana, topped the senior ewe section for breeder John Thorburn, and has joined the Sharphaw flock of Matthew Beckwith in North Yorkshire. Hot on her heels was lot 15, Craigies Fanfare, at £735 and lot 16, Craigies Fudge, at £714. Both were consigned by breeder Stuart Craig, the former going home with Arfon Lloyd to the Derwen flock in North Wales and the latter away to Wigtownshire with Mrs H Kirk to the High Bishopton flock.
Last but certainly not least came the ewe lambs. Second top price of the day, £1260, was paid for lot 130, Hayberries Humdinger, bred by Peter & Susan Addison, and she has gone almost the length of the country to Jethro Kimber’s Speccott flock in Devon. Rounding off an excellent day for the Millars was lot 86, Joyfield Holly, realising £945 and another going home with Matthew Beckwith, whilst lot 89, Stainmore Hot Stuff, brought out by Fiona & Linda Brown, also made £945, and has gone all the way to Cornwall to join Jason Kestell’s Rockford flock.
3 lambs all achieved £840 – lot 88, Stainmore Honey Bee for the Browns, lot 118, Smiddy Hill Hayley, consigned by Colin & Helen Duffy and lot 131, Hayberries Hattie for the Addisons.
Honey Bee was purchased by Andrew Bateman, Holmepride Zwartbles, Cumbria, Hayley by John Thexton, Eden Hazel flock, Cumbria and Hattie by Steph Bower, Shropshire.
Averages for all 3 sections smashed all previous sale averages, helped no doubt by a keen following over the internet. Great thanks must go to vendors and purchasers alike for making it an excellent trade in all 3 sales this year, but especially so to all vendors in all the sales this year in particular. A lot of time, effort and money is put into producing sheep for a sale, and it is gratifying that so many members had the courage and conviction to do so, knowing that things could very well be cancelled at the 11th (and 59 minutes!) hour. It is extremely pleasing as an Association to know that people are very much still committed to the Zwartbles breed.
Averages:
17 Senior Ewes £434.20
27 Shearling Ewes £594.22
62 Ewe Lambs £347.34
Report submitted by Anne Robinson