Ruthin – 19th September 2026

The first Bluefaced Leicester sale of the season in Wales was held at Ruthin, and it continues to go from strength to strength. On the back of tremendous demand for mule ewe lambs in the last few weeks buyers were more prepared than ever to go that bit extra and secure top genetics. Shearling tups averaged just shy of four figures at £990.65, a centre record, and tup lambs sat at £544.25, also a centre record and up a whopping £150 on last year.

Topping the sale, in what’s becoming quite a habit for the flock, was local legend Elfyn Owen’s Cernyw flock. His tremendous run of shearlings met with ferocious demand, topping at 1450gns for his fourth tup through the ring, Cernyw V38. This was a son of the homebred C10, who was a son of the £1800 Hazelwood X18 who was bought out of Hexham some two decades ago. This lovely, clean, well balanced tup didn’t have far to travel home, as he was knocked down to Llysfasi college, some three miles from the market.

Elfyn had the next highest price too, with Cernyw V42. While the sire of the top price was born some 16 years ago, you have to go back even further, to the previous century for the sire of this tup. Jerriestown P5 is a real blast from the past, but the quality of this shearling vindicated the decision to keep hold of the semen for the best part of a quarter of a century before injecting a bit of ‘back to the future’ breeding into the flock. He sold away at 1400gns to Messrs Holmes of Waen Uchaf, Clawddnewydd.

This year’s show was ably judged by Daisy Williams, and kindly sponsored again by Meirion Davies Agricultural Merchants. The standard before her was higher than ever, but the result was familiar, for the fourth year running the champion went to Elfyn with a shearling tup. The pen leader, Cernyw V31, was another by Cernyw C10. He had a great outlook and skin, with a real presence too, the bids raced up to 1200gns and the final one was that of Hefin Jones, Bryn Ddraenan, Padog.

Elfyn’s great day wasn’t done either as he also went on to top the lamb section with the second prize lamb from the show, Cernyw W14. He’s a son of Carry House R1… no not a crosser! R1 from the year 2000, back when the Archers had one of the top flocks of traditionals. He’s breeding as well now as he did back then, as this lamb had tremendous power and width. He made his way home with the Jones family of Cartref, Pen-y-Groes.

It wasn’t just Elfyn having a good day though. Gareth Howatson of the Fferm Tudno flock brought out a run of six belting shearlings which went on to average £1102. His two highest priced ones, at 1300gns and 1200gns respectively, were both bought off the Bari Barn flock as lambs last year, and both sons of North Burndale T2. They had stood second and third in the morning’s show, before V14 sold to the Joneses at Nant Erw Haidd, Gwyddelwern, and V16 sold for 100gns more to Messrs Griffiths, Y-Ddol, Llanfaglan.

Daisy found her reserve champion in the tup lamb class. This was Nant-y-Glyd W12 from Dewi and Meinir Parry, who were winning the tup lamb class for the second year in a row. He’s a son of Kirkstead V1 who they bought out of Builth last year for £4500, and have had success showing this summer, culminating in taking the championship at Anglesey show. The lamb himself carried himself with real style and had lovely clean hair and colours. He sold at 750gns to become the new junior stock tup at fellow vendors the Morris family’s Cynhafal flock.