AN overall all-breeds selling average of £196.89 for 1662 head at the mid-September breeding sheep fixture (September 10) at CCM Skipton – it again incorporated the second annual gimmer shearlings show and sale - represented a solid increase on the previous year’s £163.73. 

Texel shearlings sold to £310 section top for the first prize pen of ten Continentals from multiple past winners, Lambert and Joy Coverdale and son, also Lambert, Beckwithshaw, the same home also consigning the £280 per head runners-up, plus others at £265 and £260. The third prize pen from 2023 class victors Angela Lucas and Stan Nairey, and son James, Blackburn, made £255.

Plenty of strong Texel-x shearlings sold at £220-£280 depending on size, Freddie Harrison, West End, consigning a £275 pen, with others at £270 and £260 from D&SJ Pinder, Newton-In-Bowland, one at £265 from PC&EJ Longdin, Tickhill, Doncaster, another at £260 from Amy Beresford, Halton West. Strong first-crossed sheep with power sold well, leaner shearlings making £140-£180. The overall Texel shearling average of £213 showed a nice rise on the previous year’s £183.54.

North of England Mule shearling trade stepped up a gear, Robert and Andrea Wade, JA&JM Wade & Son, Cononley, selling Scotch Mules at £275, this for the third prize pen, plus another at £265, while the first and second prize winners both from David Pighills, trading as JE Thwaite, Barden, were knocked down at £265 and £255 respectively, two further Pighills pens also making the latter price, plus another at £252. Also hitting £265 were W Mason & Sons, Appletreewick, Amy Beresford chipping in again with a £255 pen.

Plenty of strong Mule shearlings sold at £235-£260, other good stamps making £200-£230, leaner shearlings ready to grow £160-£180. The section averaged £224, again well up on 2023’s £163.59. Lleyn shearlings averaged £200 and Beltex shearlings £110. Gimmer shearling show pens were judged by Jim Scrivin, Elslack.

Of the ewes, 1 crop ewes sold to £235 again from the Newton-In-Bowland Pinders for two pens of Texel-x-Cheviots, other 1 crop white-faced ewes making £180-£220 for good sheep, with next grade ewes £155-£175.

Correct ewes of mainly 3 and 4 crops met a reasonable trade, Robert Metcalfe, Brearton, topping the 4 crop trade at £195 for a pen of Texel-. Ewes varied in price depending on condition, 4 crop Mules getting up to £148, the majority making around £140.

2 crop ewes were generally good to sell, the Ribble Valley Pinders again topping at £235 twice with Texel, which averaged £199. Beltex trade was headed by another Ribble Valley concern, Ian and Mary Lancaster, Whitwell, with a quality run of sheep hitting £245 – they followed up with another strong run – while 2 crop Mules topped at £205 courtesy of Brian Wellock, Eshton, the same home also consigning £195 pens.

It’s currently one of the busiest times of the year at CCM. A report on the second NEMSA gimmer lambs sale on Tuesday of this week will appear in next week’s Herald and online.