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.

Angela Calvert
Head of Livestock, Shows and Sales
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: Auction 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
1st Ollie Tinning - £204
2nd Maeva Saunders - £180
3rd Lucie Thompson - £174

Age four to seven years old
1st Freya Thompson - £210
2nd Sophie Sutherland - £160
3rd Emma Telford - £178

Age eight to 11 years old
1st Evie Craig - £250 and champion
2nd Jake Howe - £210
3rd Jenny Magnay - £182

Age 12 to 16 years old
1st – Ayla Craig - £265 and reserve champion
2nd – Maisie Muir - £176
3rd Poppy Muir - £179

Market Prices Hub: Latest prices from around the rings

More on Shows & Sales

OPINION: It's not all doom and gloom as livestock prices remain buoyant

OPINION: It's not all doom and gloom as livestock prices remain buoyant

Early breeding sheep sales, dairy sales and an improved beef market indicate that there is underlying confidence in the livestock sector. Farmers Guardian’s head of livestock highlights some recent sales

Angela Calvert
clock 08 July 2026 • 2 min read
Sales round up: Dot tops dogs at £16,300, online sheep sales to £8,100 twice, dairy sales reach £4,200

Sales round up: Dot tops dogs at £16,300, online sheep sales to £8,100 twice, dairy sales reach £4,200

Catch up with reports from recent livestock auctions including Borderway, Gisburn, Skipton, Cockermouth and online

clock 08 July 2026 • 7 min read
Health hub open for business at Exmoor Farmers livestock market

Health hub open for business at Exmoor Farmers livestock market

Farmers on Exmoor can now more easily access health care without going to a doctor’s surgery, thanks to new health hub at a livestock market

Farmers Guardian
clock 07 July 2026 • 2 min read