By Robin Moule

Ready demand for rams of all standards, both shearlings and aged tups, produced 97 per cent clearance for 134 head forward to a sale-topping 2200gns for the title-winning shearling at CCM Skipton’s annual pedigree Bluefaced Leicester rams and females highlight. (Tues, Oct 1).

Taking top in both show and sale were the Walker family, Brennand flock, Dunsop Bridge, fresh from another outstanding performance in last month’s two keynote NEMSA gimmer lamb sales at CCM. In fact, current confidence among North of England Mule breeders was clearly reflected at the BFL showcase.

The Walkers - Geoff and Margaret and sons, John and Rob – stood champion courtesy of co-judges, Will Wildman, Kirkby Malham, and John Addison, Bowes, their decision confirmed in a packed sale ring when the victor, by Midlock N19, acquired last year from Will and Gillian Sedgley, Barbon, progressed to claim 2200gns top, falling to Paul Broughton, Fadmoor, on the edge of the North York Moors. The same home was also responsible for the third prize 700gns aged ram, a 3-shear by Barley J35.

The Mason family – John, Claire and daughter Annabel - Oddacres, Embsay, performed well across all classes, picking up four tickets, notably with the reserve champion, the second prize shearling ram, an as yet untried tup by R9 West Biggins, bred by the Reed family, West Gate, selling at 2000gns second top and heading to the Ribble Valley with Gordon Haynes, Mitton.

Two further Oddacres shearling rams hit four figures at 1200gns and1100gns, with the Masons also responsible for the third prize and 1600gns top price ram lamb, by S1 Asby Hall, who himself had three lambs in a £200 pen of ten at CCM’s NEMSA second sale. The dam’s sire, K7 Smearsett, also bred two tups that have both got lambs in top Oddacres pens. The price-leading ram lamb sold locally to John and Eileen Addyman, Skipton, a second ram lamb from the same home, again by S1 Asby Hall, making 1000gns to Richard Greenwood, Bradley.

The prolific Masons also finished first and third in the females show class with a brace of gimmer lamb daughters of R9 West Biggins, both making 300gns, the second prize winner, one of two shearling ewes by F1 Harland from Kevin and Daphne Wilson and son, James, Hewness flock, Blubberhouses, proving the pick of the ladies on price at 450gns when falling to Frank Brown, Halton Gill.

The Wilsons also headed the aged ram prices at 1800gns with a further F1 Harland son going to Bank Newton with Anthony and Heather Hewetson, the first prize aged ram, a 3-shear from Richard Lancaster, East View flock, Wiswell, Clitheroe, also doing well at 1300gns when finding a new home in Nidderdale with Trevor Stoney, Pateley Bridge, the runner-up, a 2-shear from Joe and Nancy Throup, Chelker flock, Draughton, making 700gns.

Back with the shearling rams, while the third prize winner, a son of N1 Ilkley Moor from Ellis Bros, Addingham Moorside, made 600gns, the family readily eclipsed this price when another of his sons made 1600gns to the Horsfield family, Blacko.

Racking up an eye-catching quintet of four-figure sales were the Kitching family - brothers Richard and Charles, and sons Frank, Jack and Thomas - Grisedale flock, Threshfield, who topped their run at 1700gns with a 3-shear aged ram by N003 Asby Hall, which went all the way to Cornwall when claimed by JJ&DM Goodenough, Camelford, Grisedale shearling rams peaked at 1600gns with one by P015 Barley going to S Bell & Sons, Askrigg, two others by the same sire making 1400gns and 1000gns, a Grisedale ram lamb also hitting 1200gns.

Wharfedale father and son Francis and James Caton, Weston flock, Otley, who also performed with great distinction at CCM’s NEMSA shows, standing both 10s and 20s champions at the high profile opener, chipped in with 1500gns and 1200gns shearling ram sales, along with an aged ram at 1400gns, while two further 1000gns aged rams were consigned by both Chris and Christine Ryder, Scaife Hall flock, Blubberhouses, and NE&DS Harland, Glaisdale flock, Whitby.

Back in show, John Stott, Laund flock, Chipping, consigned the first and second prize ram lambs, the runner-up, by P37 Midlock, selling for 850gns.

Among the leading flock averages, the Kitchings sold four shearling rams to level at £1312, the Masons six at £1155, the Catons four at £1023. The Masons also topped the ram lamb flock averages with five at £777, the Wilsons the aged ram averages with four at £1023.

Top prices and overall averages – all ram classes showed an increase on the previous year - were: Shearling Rams to 2200gns, av £809 (2023 £668), Aged Rams to 1800gns, av £953 (2023 £575), Lamb Rams to 1600gns, av £535 (2023 £516), Shearling Ewes to 450gns, av £393, Ewe Lambs to 300gns, av £315.