Leading farm prices from Kirkby Stephen Auction Mart

Our judge Mr Alistair Birkbett, Birkett Mire, Threlkeld awarded the first prize and the Eden Farm Supplies (Brough) trophy to a pen of 10 Lambs from Messrs Addison, West Stoney Keld, Bowes which went on to sell for £145 to the judge Mr Birkett.

Trade for all classes of Gimmer Lambs was flying with an average of £82.50 being £12.21 up on the year.

The pre sale show was very kindly sponsored by Eden Farm Supplies (Brough), The Farmer Guardian and Ewtag and the following award were made:- Swaledale Gimmer Lambs (Pens of 10 or More) 1st and receiving the Eden Farm Supplies (Brough) Trophy JR Addison & West Stoney Keld - £145 2nd Messrs G Calvert & Sons, Hoggarths - £140 3rd Mr D Birbeck, West End - £130 Leading Prices: £145 West Stoney Keld; £140, £120, £92, £88 (2) Hoggarths Farm; £140 Long Green; £136 Grassgill Lodge; £130, £96, £88 West End; £125, £105, £92, £85 (2) New Hall; £118 Kisdon; £116 Half Penny House; £112, £98, £88 (2), £86 Helbeck Farm (S&P Brogden); £107 Rudd Hills; £105 Holly Cottage Barn; £102 Helbeck Farm (T Brogden); £94 North Corn Park; £92 Bridge End (BE Hall); £91 Gill Gate; £90, £88 Cotegill; £90 Oakbank Farm; £88 Shaw Paddock £85 The Croft.

Friday, October 2 Kirkby Stephen Breeding sheep Sale Harrison & Hetherington Ltd, Kirkby Stephen Mart held their annual prize show and sale of Registered and Unregistered Swaledale ewes and Gimmer Shearlings, where a catalogued entry of 3,917 sheep were on offer.

Our pre sale show for pens of 10 ewes and Shearlings was judged by Mr Martin Littlejohn Okehampton who awarded the overall championship to a tremendous pen of ewe from regular consigners to the sale, Messrs Hutchinson & Son, Valley Farm, Bowes, which went on to sell for £600 apiece to Messrs Tully, Burn Croft, Eggleston.

The show for the best run of 60 ewes or shearling was judged by Mr Stephen Thompson, Aysgarth and he awarded this prize to Messrs Dixon, Garnthwaite, Barningham.

A sale average of £123.95 was achieved, a ring full of over 90 active buyers were in attendance for as far afield at Lanark to Devon.

The sale maintained a consistently strong trade from the first to the last pen trough the ring. Topping the sale at £1200 was a single ewes from Messrs Wilson, Arngill House, Lunedale.

The pre sale show, which was kindly sponsored by I’Anson’s, The Farmers Guardian, H Pigney & Son and Armstrong Watson (Chartered Accountants) and the following award were made:- Class 1 – Pen of 10 Ewes 1st Messrs R Hutchinson & Sons, Valley Farm - £600 2nd DC&KL Hutchinson, Old Spittal Farm - £340 3rd BR Lawson & Son, Buddle House - £170 Class 2 – Pen of 10 Shearlings 1st Mr B Walton, Goodlie Hill - £260 2nd Messrs G Calvert & Sons, Hoggarth Farm - £235 3rd JA Alderson, Barras - £168 Champion Pen, receiving the O’Reilly perpetual Cup – Messrs R Hutchinson & Sons, Valley Farm Ewes: £1200, £142, £136 Arngill House; £600, £138 (2), £136, £135, £126 Valley Farm; £400 (2), £155, £142, £125 Long Green; £340, £130, £126 Old Spittal Farm £270, £195, £175 (2), £128 Hoggarth Farm; £200 Uldale Farm; £190, £170 Oakbank Farm; £182, £141, £136, £135 (2) Garnthwaite; £180 Helbeck (T Brogden); £170, £150, £147 Helbeck (S & P Brogden); £170, £150, £135 Buddle House; £155, £148, £138 Barras Farm; £150, £142, £140, £134, £128 Cotegill; £148, £132, £128 Frith Holme; £142, £128 The Croft; £142, £140 Ellergill; £140 (2), £135, £130, £128 (2) New Hall; £138, £130 Aisgill Farm; £138, £128 Walburn Hall; £138, £130 Forest Hall; £135 Hillside; £132 High Stennerskeugh; £132 Sleddale Hall; £132, £125 West Stoney Keld; £130, £126 Bar Gap Farm; £127 Pennine View; £126 The Gables.

Gimmer Shearlings: £260, £160, £138 Goodlie Hill Farm; £235, £205, £170, £150 Hoggarths Farm; £168, £145, £144 Barras Farm; £148, £145 High Lane; £138 Mount Pleasant; £134 Gillses Farm; £130 Long Green; £130 Thorpe House Farm.