Hampshire Downs Achieve New 2,020gns Stratford Record
2011-07-05

Hampshire Downs met a solid trade in Stratford on Sunday 3 July at the breed association’s official sale where bidding peaked at 2,020gns to achieve a new centre breed record.

Sale leader,
Jim Creswell’s ram lamb at 2,020gns

Sale leader was a ram lamb by Wattisfield Top Draw, out of a homebred dam by Wattisfield What Next and maternal brother to a former Royal Welsh champion. Bred and exhibited by Jim Creswell, Wattisfield, Diss, he was within the breed’s top 10% with an SRS Index of 223, the previous day he was judged top SRS performance ram and also awarded the reserve male title. He sold to Lewis Knight eager to introduce some new Wattisfield genetics to his 60 ewe flock based at Marshfield, Chippenham.

Minutes earlier, the same vendor offered another ram lamb SRS Index 214, again by Wattisfield Top Draw and out of a homebred ewe going back to Yarcombe Highflyer. He made 920gns to Richard Cole Chaddlehanger, Tavistock.

The day’s second highest call at 940gns was made for a ram lamb by Pode Hole Hermes and out of a dam by Yarcombe Echo. Bred and exhibited by Paul and Nicki Rooke, Little Hale Fen, Sleaford, the buyer was Kevin Lincoln, Barnham Broom, Norwich.

A bid of 860gns secured a ram lamb SRS Index 265 for Henry Edmunds, Cholderton, Salisbury. Bred and exhibited by the Derryman family, Yarcombe, Honiton, he was by Homefield King Arthur and out of a homebred dam by Yarcombe Supreme.

Next from the same vendors was ram lamb this time with a SRS Index 257 selling for 560gns to Charles and Sally Horrell, Thorney, Peterborough. Sired by Wattisfield Topper he was out of a homebred dam by Yarcombe Brave. The Horrells went on to more than recoup their spend when they sold a ram lamb SRS Index 261 by Yarcombe Hussar and out of a Ballyvester sired ewe for 810gns to the Middleditch family, Belchamp St Paul, Sudbury.

Leading shearling ram at 570gns was the Yarcombe Erroll sired Kelsey Invincible SRS Index 259 from Jennifer Atkinson and David Smith, South Kelsey, Market Rasen to Hugo Marfleet, Tetford, Horncastle.

The female section was headed by Chris and Kay Westlake, Cadeleigh, Tiverton with a shearling ewe SRS Index 208, by Parkstock Royal and out of a homebred ewe going back to Bilberry Oak Supreme. She made 510gns to the Jones family, Wolfcastle, Haverfordwest. Leading the ewe lamb trade at 450gns was the Westlake’s entry with an SRS Index 249, by Yarcombe Apollo and out of a homebred dam. The buyers were Jonathan Long and Chrissie Lawrence, Aldington, Ashford.

Averages: six shearling rams £456.75; 23 ram lambs £586.63; 19 shearling ewes £486.00; 12 ewe lambs £312.81.

Auctioneers: Henry H Bletsoe and Son

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