FINE examples of Dalesbred rams and ewes found favour with both judges and buyers, with 142 head forward at the Dalesbred Sheep Breeders’ Association’s annual highlight at CCM Skipton.
The best price for these hardy hilltop favourites was saved until last as it came when the final ram took to the ring, a shearling consigned by John Bradley, Penny Grange, Giggleswick, which earlier stood second place in its class in front of show judges Josh Capstick, Fell End, Ingleton and Jess Graham, Middlesmoor, Pateley Bridge.
From the renowned Penyghent flock and sired by a home-bred ram out of a Chris Fawcett ewe, it sold at 1,000gns to E Snowden, Stanbury.
The day’s championship rosette was awarded to a two shear ram, Ribblesdale Daredevil, from R Jackson & Son, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, and shown by fourth generation farmer Frank Jackson.
Bred from a Mick Carr ram, it was purchased for 400gns by A&N Fothergill, Silsden.
The Jackson family are no strangers to success at CCM Skipton and run some 680 ewes, with half crossed with Leicesters for Mules or Teeswaters for Mashams and the other half going to a pure Dalesbred tup.
“This one has good size and confirmation, with clear face markings and a nice grey nose end,” said Frank, who received the Royston Baxter Trophy, presented to the annual champion ram in memory of Royston, who was the mart’s foreman for many years.
The reserve champion was another aged ram, this time from Jack Foster, who has 40 pure Dalesbred ewes at Pikeber, Wigglesworth, and which sold for 150gns.
Regular CCM vendors Richard Close and family, Calfhalls, Starbotton, scooped first prize in the shearling ram class with a home-bred tup that sold for 550gns, sired out of a ewe by a Frank Brennand tup that goes back to the 10,000gns sire.
Judge Josh Capstick, who works a flock of some 700 Dalesbreds, said the rams on show displayed the true characteristics of the famous breed, created in Upper Wharfedale and the Western Dales to withstand harsh hillside conditions.
“There were plenty of good size and strength in the show and that deserved good prices in the ring,” said Josh.
Notable sales included JA Stoney & Son, Bewerley, Nidderdale who sold a shearling sired by their Richard Coates ram at 650gns and BD&PM Gill & Son, Ingleton, who sold a shearling ram by the Brennand ram for 500gns.
The sale of rams was followed by females and there was a cracking trade throughout with pens of three crop draft ewes selling at £250 and £215 from Messrs Coates.
Rainscar, older ewes at four and five crop correct trading to £175 from the Close family and £170 from P Bowdin, Dane Hill.
A sharp trade for ewe lambs saw P Bowdin top at £200, Hayton and Stocks sold ewe lambs at £140 and £135, and R Jackson & Son also achieved £135.
Pedigree shearling rams sold to 1,000gns, (av £320.50), pedigree aged rams to 400gns (av 332.50).
Gimmer lambs averaged £115.20 and shearling gimmers £170.
The show was sponsored by Agrimin.
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