Kendal: Friday, September 25 Rough Fell Ewes sell at £170 The Annual Show & Sale of Rough Fell Ewes, Shearlings & Gimmer Lambs saw a rise in prices achieved with vendors leaving very suited with the day’s trade.

The pre-sale judging was conducted by Mr William Dawson of Sedbergh who awarded the championship rosette to NC & S Dodd, Flakebridge showing a pen of 3 crop ewes which were also awarded the North Sheep Trophy and The Rayne Cup. These later sold for a top price, for a pen of sheep, at £125 per head. The sale was lead however, by a flock dispersal on behalf of H Harrison, Brookfield who sold individual 2 crop ewes at £170, £160.

Revived interest in the breed saw well bodied ewes regularly £92 - £105 (averaging £83), shearlings £90-£100 (averaged £81) and gimmer lambs £58 - £64 (averaged £59).

SHOW RESULTS Judge: Mr William Dawson, Sedbergh Class 1 – Pen of 10 Rough Fell Ewes 1st NC & S Dodd, Flakebridge (3crop) 2nd S Hoggarth, Birkhaw (3crop) 3rd W Beck, Barugh House (3 crop) Class 2 – Pen of 10 Rough Fell Shearlings 1st W Beck, Barugh House 2nd GH Capstick & Sons, Birkhaw 3rd JW & M Blades, The Whins Class 3 – Pen of 10 Rough Fell Gimmer Lambs 1st E & K Bland, Cotegill 2nd J Allen, Syke Farm 3rd E & K Bland, Cotegill Class 4 – Pen of 3 Rough Fell Breeding Sheep 1st V Guy, Whinfell Terrace 2nd AR & BJ Thompson, Poppy Farm 3rd S Harley, Barnaby Rudge Champion – NC & S Dodd, Flakebridge (first prize Ewes) Reserve – E & K Bland Gotegill (first prize Gimmer Lambs) Top Prices Rough Fell Sheep Shearlings: £120 Poppy Farm; £99 & £96 Brookfield; £95 Flakebridge; £94 The Whinns; £92 High Bethicar, Croft Cottage.

Ewes: £170, £160, £128 (2c), £100 (1c), £92 (2c) Brookfield; £125, £94 (3c) Flakebridge; £110 (3c) Birkhaw; £108, £106, £95 (3c) Barugh House; £105, £102 (2c) £97 (3c) Brockstones; £100 (3c) Whinfell Terrace; £100 Whinfell Terrace Gimmer Lambs: £88, £82 Galloper Park; £88, £75 Cotegill Farm; £64 Rash Mill, Croft Cottage; £62 Syke Farm.

Other Hill Breeding Sheep saw 3 crop Cheviot Ewes sell to £78 (x2) with 3 crop Herdwick ewes £70 and Scotch Blackface ewes £71.