The 2020 Swaledale Sheep Breeders ‘D’ District Ram Sale was held at Barnard Castle Auction Mart to comply with Covid 19 regulations. Many thanks to all the vendors and purchasers both regular and new for supporting the sale and adhering to the restrictions. The powerful tups were especially in demand, as St Johns Chapel vendors’ have a reputation for producing both conformation and quality and this was in abundance at this year’s sale.

• Sale averaged £863 for 240 sold (up £202 on the year). Although less shearlings were entered this year we have seen an increase in sale clearance going from 86% in 2019 to 94%.
• The top price of the day was £8500 for an outstanding Shearling Ram from Dan Humble,Burtreeford, which was purchased by Messrs Allan, Greenhow, Dufton.
• 20 Shearlings sold in excess of £2000 with 65 shearlings selling in excess of £1000, 10 of these shearling’s came from Michael Lee, Harwood Shield.
• J Reed, Knarr Farm sold his first shearling, Knarr Punch 3rd for £5000 to M/s Taylor, Sheffield.
• MJ Lee, Harwood Shield sold Harwood Sealhouses 10th for £6000 to M/s Taylor, Sheffield.

Leading prices:

JW Dent & Sons – 700

L Smith & Co – 2200, 1800, 600

G&A Carrick – 4000, 2200, 1600, 1500, 900, 700

Messrs Green – 800

K&SM Johnson – 2000, 900, 650

F&P Johnson – 1100

JT Golightly – 750 x 2, 600

TA Wigham – 1000

T Hall & Son – 2600, 1600 x 2, 1500, 1400, 1300, 1100, 900 x 2, 800 x 3

JA&CM Dalton – 1100

D Collingwood – 2800, 1000, 700

RJ Wigham – 1400, 600 x 2

A Lee – 1200, 1000, 900, 700

J Lee – 3500, 700 x 2

K&HA Ridley – 2600, 900, 600 x 3

JL Archer – 2800, 2000, 1000 x 2

E&S Gowland – 1000, 800, 750, 700

MW Emerson – 1400, 650

D Humble – 8500, 4200, 1500

J Pritchard – 1600, 1100, 1000, 900, 850, 600 x 2

PE Staley – 1000, 900, 700, 600

WD&B Thompson – 1800

I Collinson – 1100

T Collingwood – 800

N Dalton – 1400

A Peart & Son – 1400

GA Thompson – 1500, 1400

PH McVittie – 3500, 2000 x 2

JR Dalton – 1800

J Reed – 5000, 1000 x 2

GA&JM Maw – 800

W Parker – 1500 x 2, 1250, 1100 x 2, 600

D – District Tup Sale Summary

398 – Shearlings registered (-23)

13 – Shearlings from other districts (-5)

273 – Shearlings entered (-37)

1 – Old tup entered (Not presented on sale day)

255 – Shearlings forward

240 – Shearlings Sold (-12) to average £864 (+£202) on the previous year.