51AVÊÓÆµ

Sisters win top honours at Longtown young handlers

The sale of 2,346 prime lambs included the Farmers Guardian-supported Young Handlers Show which was judged by Ben Haigh, Hightown.

clock • 1 min read
Championship winner Evie Craig, Glenhowan, with her 40kg Beltex lamb and judge Ben Haigh.
Image:

Championship winner Evie Craig, Glenhowan, with her 40kg Beltex lamb and judge Ben Haigh.

He awarded the championship to the winner of the eight- to 11-year-old class Evie Craig, Glenhowan, with her 40kg Beltex lamb which went on to sell for £250.

The reserve championship went to her sister Ayla Craig, the winner of the 12- to 16-year-old class, whose 43kg Beltex lamb sold for the top price of £265.

Evie Craig (r) with her champion Beltex lamb with judge Ben Haigh and Ayla Craig (l) with her reserve champion Beltex lamb.

The overall prime lamb average was 365.4p/kg with an SQQ of 368p/kg.

Cast ewes were a flying trade, topping at £370/head for Texels from W.S. Robson, Yatesfield, and Simonside Farms, Longtown. Light ewes sold to £182/head for Lleyns from H. Goldie, South Bowerhouses, and Swaledale ewes peaked at £152/head.

READ MORE:ÌýAuction mart sales round-up: Loosebeare and Whitehart production sales top at 5,500gns twice; Flying cow and calf trade at Sedgemoor; Young handler retains Skipton supreme title

Rams sold to £260 for a Texel from J.M. Ridley and Son, Mickley Moor.

Young Handler results

Up to three years old
1stÌýOllie Tinning - £204
2ndÌýMaeva Saunders - £180
3rdÌýLucie Thompson - £174

Age four to seven years old
1stÌýFreya Thompson - £210
2ndÌýSophie Sutherland - £160
3rdÌýEmma Telford - £178

Age eight to 11 years old
1stÌýEvie Craig - £250 and champion
2ndÌýJake Howe - £210
3rdÌýJenny Magnay - £182

Age 12 to 16 years old
1stÌý– Ayla Craig - £265 and reserve champion
2ndÌý– Maisie Muir - £176
3rdÌýPoppy Muir - £179

Market Prices Hub: Latest prices from around the rings

More on Shows & Sales

View from the Rostrum - Russell Steer: "With numbers looking tight, there has never been a better time to market your stock"

View from the Rostrum - Russell Steer: "With numbers looking tight, there has never been a better time to market your stock"

Auctioneer at Kivells Exeter, Russell Steer discusses the high demand in sheep trade

clock 20 February 2026 • 3 min read
Sales round up: Herefords at Shrewsbury, breeding sheep sales, calves at Middleton

Sales round up: Herefords at Shrewsbury, breeding sheep sales, calves at Middleton

Catch up with reports from recent livestock auctions including Bentham, Shrewsbury, Clitheroe, Middleton, Skipton and Kirkby Stephen

clock 18 February 2026 • 5 min read
Stirling Bull Sales: Charolais sell to a 75,000gns high

Stirling Bull Sales: Charolais sell to a 75,000gns high

Charolais bulls met a more select trade, selling to an average of £11,760, down £393 on the year, with 104 bulls sold at a clearance rate of 78%

clock 17 February 2026 • 3 min read