Darlington Farmers Auction Mart held their 2nd Annual ‘Hill of a Day’ Sale on Wednesday 6th October 2021. Forward were 603 Sheep.
24 Rams & Ram Lambs sold to 480 Guineas
68 Lambs sold to £90
37 Shearling Ewes sold to £225
386 Breeding Ewes sold to £160
The annual hill sheep sale once again proved well supported with buyers from as far North as Newcastle, South to the Vale of York and across to Grange-Over-Sands in the West ensuring a healthy gathering at ringside. The top priced females on the day were a smart quartet of North Country Cheviot ‘Park Type’ shearling ewes from Darlington regulars the Stones Family of Nun Cote Nook Farm, Marrick which sold for £225. Whilst all main hill breeds were represented the majority were as expected Swaledale’s, vendors of the popular hill breed on average reported a £20 increase on the year, one of which vendors were M & W Maddison, Sunderland Cleugh, Eastgate who’s top pen of 3 crop ewes sold for an impressive £145 apiece. A delightful run of Herdwick’s were in attendance from J M Grant, Longbridge House and 2 crop ewes twice peaked at £160 whilst the same run sold ewe lambs to £90. The breeding rams were a keen trade, in particular the Blue Faced Leicester’s seemed sought after with our sale leader a proven 2 shear from S Straughan, High Wales Field selling for 480 Guineas; close behind were the productive Northies of the Stones Family again as they sold a super shearling for 450 Guineas.
Leading Prices (S=Swaledale / B=Blackface / C=Cheviot / NC=North Country Cheviot / H=Herdwick / R=Rough Fell / BL=Blue Faced Leicester / HB=Half Bred)
Store Lambs – £30 (H) £25 (H) – O J Kendall
Gimmer Lambs – £90 (H) £72 (H) £60 (H) J M Grant
Shearling Ewes – £225 (NC) K O Stones. £122 (S) P J Tindale. £110 (HB) K & J Stables. £90 (S) D Dent.
Ewes – £160(x2) (H) £150 (H) J M Grant. £145 (S) £132 (S) £122 (S) £85 (S) M & W Maddison. £130 (BL) £125 (BL) £122 (BL) S Straughan. £122 (S) £120(x2) (S) £95 (S) F & J S Gargett. £110 (NC) K O Stones. £105 (NC) £95 (BL) £90(x2) (BL) C L Ianson. £90 (C) G H & R G Stobbs. £82 (S) W R Barron. £75 (NC) S Dodsworth. £75 (R) H Shepherd. £72 (S) £70 (S) Petch Farms.
Breeding Rams (Guineas)
480 (BL) 380 (BL) 320 (BL) 300 (BL) 250 (BL) S Straughan. 450 (NC) 250 (NC) K O Stones. 320 (BF) 280 (BF) C H & M C Phalp. 320 F & J S Gargett. 300(x2) (BF) W R Barron.
