Rebecca Ringer, Hellidon, judged the white face sheep awarding the Chairmans Trophy to Harrison Bros, Calverton, with their pen of Texel cross Scotch Mule shearlings which went on to sell for £340/head. Dry Texel Mules topped at £355/head for J.A. Shaw and Partners, Lilley, and Texel crosses from G.E. Haynes and Son, sold to £300/head with dry ewes attracting a premium according to the auctioneers.
Micheal and Jean Cross, Blackthorn, sold Texels out of Cheviot Mules to £320/head with six pens of 25 selling at £300 or more. Pure texels from Messrs Shaw made £365/head for 10. Eleanor Barlow, Rowsham, sold home-bred North country Cheviots at £290/head with Texel cross Cheviots making £325/head for Garfield Stephens, Kirby Bellars.
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Will Hockenhull, Nantwich, judged the Suffolk crosses awarding the Micheal Capel Smith trophy to Rob and Caroline Mole, Chearsley with their run selling at £330/head, topping the section.
S. F. and A. J. Deeming, Broadwell, followed at £320/head twice with Eddy Bullman, Thornborough, making £315/head. Older ewes from Tommy Tustian, Epwell, reached £250/head.
The North Country Mules were judged by Philly Batchelor, Eydon, who awarded the best run of North Country Mule shearlings and the best pen of 20 or more to T.J. Smith and Son, Puxley, which went on to top the section at £330/head. Other pens from the same run sold to £315 and £310. J. and H. Tustian, Epwell, also took £310/head along with Messrs Deeming, Broadwell.
Older Mules sold to £240/head for full-mouth ewes from Rory Wagstaff, Sawbridge.
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Store lambs were a flying trade, in spite of the lack of grass, averaging £114.80/head and selling to £145/head for Suffolk crosses from D.R. Walker, Horspath. Jake Belgrove, Longwick, sold pens of 50 Texel crosses to £140/head. Charollais crosses from Messrs Mole, sold to £130.50 for a pen of 52. Messrs Cross sold Texel cross Cheviot Mule wether lambs to £138 and Charmoise crosses at £129/head.
In the ram ring Sarah Toombs, Shabbington, sold Charolais shearlings to £1,600 with MV accredited Charollais shearling ewes to £690 for G.A. and J.A. Curtis, Evesham. Suffolk ram lambs from J.M.L. Farming, Thame, sold to £1,300.
Averages – North Country Mule shearlings, £281.33; North Country Mule ewes, £199.73; Suffolk cross North Country Mule shearlings, £268.99; Texel Mule shearlings, £276.91; Texel cross Scotch Mules shearlings, £318.94; Texel cross Cheviot shearlings, £300.23; Texel shearlings, £330; store lambs, £114.80.
Auctioneers: Thames Farmers Auction Mart.
