51AVÊÓƵ

 At the Hampshire Down Sheep Breeders premier sale at Shrewsbury prices peaked at 4,500gns for Whitby, Yorkshire-based, Louis Stainthorpe's ram lamb from his Whitby flock. Out of a homebred ewe and by Whitby Dracula, which was champion at the Carlisle sale last year, it found a new home with G. and J. Galbraith for their Graylen flock, Kendal.

The next top price ram lamb at 3,600gns was from the same home. By Treworthal Poldark and out of a Thorbeck-bred ewe, it was knocked down to I. Steel, Stirling.  

Also from Messrs Stainthorpe and selling for 3,000gns was a ram lamb again by Whitby Dracula and out of a Wilstrop Legend daughter. The buyer was D.J. Taylor, Taunton.

Next at 2,300gns was the overall champion in the pre-sale show from Henry Derryman and family, Yarcombe.  By Millfields Sergeant and out of a homebred Ballycreelly Duke daughter, it had been breed and inter-breed ram lamb champion at Devon County Show the previous week and sold to R. Reddaway, Crediton.

A shearling ram from Sophie Manners and Joe Dilibero's Seawell flock, Towcester,  topped a small entry of shearling rams at 1,200gns. Out of a Yarcombe ewe and by Wilstrop Legend it sold to Lucy Heywood for her Thornfalcon flock, Watchet, Somerset.

Also from the Seawell pen was another Wilstrop Legend son, this time out of a Treworthal Jethro, Stourfield bred daughter which made 1,000gns to K. T. H. Phillips, Brecon.

Females hit a high of 1,900gns for a shearling ewe from Austyn Chapman and Nikki Wadkins Eppleby flock,  Richmond, North Yorkshire.  By Chaddlehanger King Eric and out of a Kelsey Fantastic daughter from the Lecropt flock, now heads north to C. Hadwin, Broughton-in-Furness.

Next at 1,600gns was the reserve female champion from Messrs Stainthorpe. By Whitby Storm, it was the pick of Harry Elsden, Welwyn.

Ewe lambs met a top call of 1,400gns twice. The first from the Derryman family was by Millfields Sergeant and sold to Messrs Elsden.

 At the same money was a daughter of Treworthal Poldark from Messrs Stainthorpe which sold to David and Denise Middleditch, Sudbury.

Averages - 34 ram lambs, £1,110.22; 5 shearling rams, £875.70; 14 shearling ewes, £656.25; 15 ewe lambs £828.80.

 Auctioneers: Halls.

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