Stratford Hampshire Downs Peak at £1,320
2010-06-03

Hampshire Downs ram lambs commanded a strong trade and achieved a new £1,320 record at the breed association’s official show and sale in Stratford on Sunday 30 May.

Yarcombe bred ram lamb top lot at £1,320

The £1,320 sale leader was a six month old Yarcombe bred ram lamb by Yarcombe Sovereign and out of a homebred ewe by Yarcombe Brave, the breed’s highest SRS indexed ram for 2005. This lamb who was within the breed’s top 1% with a Terminal Sire Index (TSI) of 291 was bred and exhibited by Derryman family, Henry, Hilary and sons, Yarcombe, Honiton and went to join Alymer Power’s 10 ewe flock at Askerton, Limerick.

The Derrymans went on to sell five more six month old ram lambs to average £705 including the Devon County champion with a TSI 306, by Wattisfield Topper and out of a homebred ewe by Owslebury Rapier. Earlier on judge, Kevin McCarthy, Comber, County Down commended the lamb for his ‘tremendous conformation and length and depth of gigot’ and awarded him the day’s supreme championship after which he backed his judgment and secured him for £940.

The champion at £940

Next from the Derrymans at £740 was another Sovereign son and out of a homebred ewe by Yarcombe Highjack to Chris Westlake, Cadeleigh, Tiverton. Accompanied by a TSI 298, earlier in the day the lamb headed the breed’s SRS Ram Selection 2010 section. The Derrymans went on to invest some of their takings when they paid £520 for a ram lamb by Owlesbury Xenophon from Jim Creswell, Wattisfield, Diss.

In turn Jim Creswell paid £620 for a six month old ram lamb by Dunraven Jewel and out of a homebred ewe by Yarcombe Warrior from Jean Ritchie, Wambrook, Chard.

The day’s second highest call of £1,180 came from Atkinson and Smith, Kelsey, Market Rasen for a ram lamb TSI 288 by Yarcombe Hussar and out of a home bred ewe from Charles and Sally Horrell, Thorney, Peterborough. Another Hussar sired ram lamb TSI 294 from the same vendors made £560 to Paul and Tracy Rea, Edmonton, Wadebridge.

The Horrells also headed the female section with a couple of ewe lambs, both out of homebred ewes by Pode Hole Victor. First lot to sell at £560 was the female champion selling to Andrew and Caroline Ivinson, Ousby, Penrith was by Owlesbury Xerxes, while Denise Middleditch, Belchamp St Paul, Sudbury paid £420 for the other entry by Yarcombe Hussar.

Averages: one shearling ram £360; 18 ram lambs £542; 12 shearling ewes £322; 11 ewe lambs £274.

Auctioneers: Brian Pile, c/o Henry H Bletsoe and Son

Northumberland Show Sheep Shearing Competition Looms
Waiting List for Livestock as Three Counties Show Thrives
Skills Training Courses for Beef Farmers