By Robin Moule

It was the first ram into the sale ring and sole male entry from Arfon Hughes, Cae Rhos flock, Ty Cerrig, Garndolbenmaen, that claimed 800gns top price at The North & East of England Lleyn Sheep Breeders Club's traditional end of season finale at CCM Skipton. (Thurs, Oct 3)

Not shown as Mr Hughes, national vice-chairman of The Lleyn Sheep Society, was adjudicating at the annual breed highlight, the top price performer – a shearling by the 2022 Royal Welsh Show reserve champion – found a new home in Lancashire with G Hodkinson, Chipping.

The judge’s overall reserve champion was the first prize shearling from Cumbrian father and son, Peter and David Knowles, Cragg flock, New Hutton, Kendal. Their well-utilised Cragg Mylo, acquired from the North Craven Dugdales in 2020 and himself responsible for gimmer lamb show champions, is out a home-bred ewe. Shown at Skipton by David, Lleyn Sheep Society treasurer, the overall runner-up sold for 600gns to S Alker and MO Kinnes, Driffield.

Other stylish shearling tups catching the eye at 550gns and 500gns came from neighbouring farmers Will Williams and Wynne Davies, who with their families run the respective Tacho and Bronallt flocks near Nefyn in the heart of the Llŷn Peninsula and invariably do well at the annual highlight. The 550gns ram sold to J Bealby & Sons, Mansfield, whilst the 500gns tup, Bronalt Mick – who stood third in show – sold to J&A Barrow, Appleby.

Messrs Williams also consigned the 300gns top price ram lamb, again going to G Hodkinson, along with shearling ewes to £240 and gimmer lambs to £170, this for the second prize show pen.

Two-shear tups peaked at 450gns from local breeders, H&M Dugdale & Son, Borrins flock, Stackhouse, Settle, claimed by MK Robinson, Staveley, Kendal, two further two-shears from the same home making 400gns.The Dugdales also led the shearling ewe trade at £245 per head, these going to J Duerden & Son, Blacko, who also bought the Dugdales’ third prize of ewe lambs £150 per head.

Also selling shearling ewes to £240 was local breeder Simon Kavanagh, Draughton, who sold further pens at £215 and £205, another at this price from Aarfon Hughes. Harder farmed shearlings could make £140-£170, the next grade upwards selling at £170-£195.

Ewe lambs peaked at £180 for the first prize pen from breed stalwart John Morton, Bank Hall flock, Kirkland, Penrith, five home-breds all by a John Blakey, Morpeth, tup. The Cumbrian showman – he is also in demand as a show judge - has been breeding Lleyns since 1994 and now runs a flock of 800 ewes. The buyer was T Clipsham, Barnby-in-the-Willows, Newark, a further pen from the same home making £155.

Fixture regulars, the Fort family, Graham, Mandy, Terry and Beverley, Brightonhouse flock, Steeton again chipped in with £170 and £150 ewe lamb pens, with another at £165 from Wynne Davies, Bronallt flock, Morfa Nefyn, Pwllheli. The stronger end of ewe lambs sold at £150-£170, with running types making £140.

The sale attracted an increased entry of 346 head. Shearling rams averaged £542, aged rams £446 and ram lambs £315, with shearling ewes levelling at £185 and ewe lambs £157.