More than double the number of females changed hands compared to the previous year at the Beltex Sheep Society’s in-lamb sale at Melton Mowbray Market, part of the Winter Warmers sale of Saturday, 27 November.

An aged ewe from Tom Mawer and Graham Barker, Kelby, Grantham, claimed the Championship ticket before selling for the top price of 700gns to the judge, Richard Harrison, of the Harridale Flock, New Hanson Grange, Ashbourne. That was Woodies Ewe Are Awesome, a Bailey Brook Chief daughter bred from the Loandhu Bonzo-sired Murrays Chic. She changed hands scanned with a single to Airyolland Sovereign.

The second highest price of 620gns was paid for Victoria and Gillian Bowring’s second prize shearling gimmer from Nether Langwith, Mansfield. That was Windmill Foxy Lady ET which is by Hackney Corker and out of the Hackney Braveheart-sired Clary Drama. She sold scanned with a single to Matt’s Dancer, to Mathew Burleigh of the Matt’s flock near Enniskillen, Northern Ireland.

The very next lot, Windmill Fruitloaf, realised 420gns when also sold to Richard Harrison. Another out of the Clary Drama ewe and this time carrying twins to Matt’s Dancer, she is by Ardstewart Angus.

The Bowrings sold the highest priced ewe lamb at 500gns, Windmill Golly Gosh ET, which claimed the Reserve Championship. Selling to Evan Jones for his Merton Hall Flock near Smithy Fen, Cottenham, her pedigree features Murrays Expert on to the Airyolland Wurzel-sired Pentland Dixie.

Two sold for 480gns apiece including the very first Beltex on offer, T Hunter’s Skelton Whin Enid from Hunmanby, Filey. Sired by Hackney Cantona and out of Skelton Whin Carole, an Orkney Allegro Vivace daughter, she sold to PA and HM Coles, Silverstone, Towcester, scanned with a pair to Withy Trees Garibaldi.

Also making 480gns, this time selling to Sam Booth, Kettleby, was Claire Morris’ Clarison Flora, a daughter of an imported de Noblehaye ram bred from the Whatmore Temper-bred Whatmore Butterbean from the flock at Braunston, Daventry. She sold scanned with twins to the imported Viril de Nobelhaye.

Averages: 16 aged ewes, £306 (six x £490); 16 shearling ewes, £358 (five x £561); nine ewe lambs, £301 (14 x £489).

---

Back to Previous Years...