Pure Gold tops Swaledale rams at Hawes at £60,000

Making top dollar was Ghyll House Pure Gold, the aptly named second prize large breeder's ram on day one from John and Ben Richardson, Ghyll House, Appleby. It was knocked down to Messrs Handley, Gunnerfleet, Ingleton, and Richard Hutchinson, Redgate, Kikrby Stephen, with a share retained by Messrs Richardson.

Peter Lightfoot's day two champion named Gillside Majestic, from Ullswater, also sold in a three-way split, this time to John White, Rigg, Middleton in Teesdale; A. and J. Harrison, Beck Head, Teesdale; and J.S. Tully, Burncroft, Barnard Castle.

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Two from Mark Nelson's Clapham-based Bull and Cave flock sold for £38,000 and £34,000 apiece. First up when sold to Messrs Lawson, Hundith House, Cockermouth, was Bull and Cave Paramount which is by the £105,000 Ghyll House Notorious.

Selling to Ghyll House for £34,000 was Bull and Cave Parade, which is by the home-bred ram that also sired the £38,000 Pendle Hill sale topper at Kirkby Stephen the previous week.

Richard Hutchinson's champion from day one, Valley Nelson, from Bowes, was another that sold to John White, Rigg, this time for £34,000.  

Hitting £26,000 was Ferny Ford Immortal from Neil and Barney Richardson, Buxton. It sold to a trio of breeders – Richard Tiplady, Red House, Barnard Castle; B.R. Lawson and Son, Buddle House, Richmond; and John Bradley, Penn-y-Ghent, Skipton.  

Messrs Wear sold their Howe Green shearling from Glenridding to Kirkby Stephen-based breeders, K.H.J. Fawcett, Argill House, and W. and M. Buckle, Bleathgill, for £22,000.

At £20,000 was an Intake tup from Mark Ewbank, Middlesmoor, which sold to Gillside alongside David Allinson, West Briscoe, Barnard Castle.  

Aged rams sold to £2,600 from J.E. Cowperthwaite, Howith Valley, Austwick, while ram lambs hit £1,000 from H. Scott, Forcegarth, Barnard Castle.

Averages - 9 aged rams, £833.30; 4 ram lambs, £537.50; 356 shearling rams, £2363.

Auctioneers:  Hawes Auction Mart.

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