An increased entry met a strong trade at the Northern Beltex Club’s sale at North West Auctions’ Kendal Mart on Saturday, 17 September, where the Champion and Reserve led the prices but in a switch around from their placings.

Selling for the top price of 1900gns was Rebecca Braithwaite’s Female Champion and Reserve Supreme, a gimmer named Sovereign Goldielocks from her flock near Lower Bentham. Selling to the judge, local lad Paul Mason for his Mason Flock near Burton in Kendal, this daughter of Artnagullion Exodus is out of the Woodies Radar-sired Sovereign Edith.

The Supreme Champion, James Wannop’s shearling ram named Wannop’s  Genious was second in the trade stakes when knocked down to Paul Slater of the Whiteley Hey Flock, Prestbury, Macclesfield. Sired by Aviemore Festival 5, his dam is Wannop’s Estrella, by Belvoir View Chaos.

It was a good say selling for James, from near Morecambe, when he received a further 1300gns for Wannop’s Giant ET and 1200gns for Wannop’s Geldoff ET, both of which offered different breeding.

Selling to MTP and S Wills, Dufton, Appleby, for that 1300gns was Giant, a son of the 9000gns Brothertoft Fynley out of the Matt’s Wild Son-sired Brickrow Bella.

Paul Slater paid 1200gns for Geldoff ET, which is this time by Belvoir View Chaos and out of Buckles Temptress, a Newton Leo daughter.

James’ female pen reached 1000gns when Ian McConnell paid that to take the Reserve Female Champion, Wannop’s Gladys, home to his Ian’s Flock near Kirkmahoe, Dumfries. She is another by the Aviemore Festival 5 ram while her dam is Wannop’s Elsa, a Belvoir View Chaos daughter.

Back to James’ males and Wannop’s G&T ET sold to CS and V Whitfield, Knitsley, Consett, for 800gns. He is a full brother to the 1200gns Geldoff.

The Whitfields paid a further 750gns for Wannop’s Fold, a gimmer by Aviemore Festival 5 out of Dean Brow Delilah, a Matt’s Abracadabra daughter.

Brian Hall saw his Ainstable pen from near Carlisle peak at 1200gns when CS and V Whitfield paid that for Aintable Grit, a Kingledores Engleburt son bred from Ainstable Earldom, a Black Jack Casanova daughter.

Another broke the five-figure barrier when Mark and Ellie Jennings’ Hallcrake Group Capt sold to the team at Whelpo Bridge Farm, Caldbeck, Wigton, for 1100gns. Bred from an Eildon ‘Avin a Laugh daughter named Hallcrake Countess from the flock near Selside, he is by Frongoy Enrique.

Averages: 26 shearling rams, £670 (12 x £655 in 2021); three ram lambs, £543 (n/c); 23 shearling ewes, £542 (25 x £464); four ewe lambs, £315 (n/c).

Thanks to Sam Hutchinson for photos.