Welshpool – 26th September 2024

Welshpool Show & Sale – Thursday 26th September 2024

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It was ladies day at the Welshpool sale this year, with the large entry of females providing the headline prices and the overall champion. Breeders flocked from as far South as Devon and as far North as Stirling, showing confidence in the breed and no doubt attracted by the opportunity of a couple of dispersals and two major reduction sales.

Topping the day was local breed legend Phil May. He was significantly reducing the numbers of his Derwenlas flock to lessen his workload, and the quality of his ewes and their reputation meant the pen was a hive of activity all day. The topper was the last gimmer in his run, S35, a massive daughter of Kildalloig P6 full of style and presence. She strode into the ring and the bids raced past the four figure mark, eventually stopping at 1650gns. She hasn’t relocated far as she was knocked down to Alfie Benbow, from Four Crosses, where she’ll be the jewel in the crown of his recently established Borderland flock.

The Derwenlas ewes met a deservingly fantastic trade. P27, by Mynydd Glas M1, who had stood first prize in the ewe class and reserve female champion earlier under the eye of judge Owen Bennett, fetched 1300gns. She had much further to travel to her new home, selling up into Scotland to Clash Farms.

Dick Montague’s Ashdown flock is another with a well earned reputation, and buyers were keen not to miss out on this last chance to buy into these proven bloodlines as he dispersed the last of his sheep. His day started well as his gimmer, S13, scooped the Overall Championship. The day only got better from there when she went under the hammer, she’s another heading north to Clash Farms, who shelled out 1600gns.

The Shrewbridge flock of Sophie Harding has had a great season in the showring, and it continued here when she took second in the gimmer class. Shrewbridge S18 is by Ashes N3 and is a full sister to R16, who was this year’s Royal Welsh champion, and S17 who took the honours at the Welshpool progeny show in August, so it’s safe to say she’s got an excellent pedigree! She’s yet another heading up into Scotland, but this time to the Claydon’s for their Clarilaw flock, after their winning bid of 1450gns.

The tup trade was somewhat overshadowed by the females, and was also slightly down on the excellent trade of last year. Shearlings topped at 1200gns for Dewi Williams when he sold his Blacket House S17, a stylish son of the £3800 Woodcroft R2 who has bred so well for the flock.

The lambs also topped at 1200gns when the Jerman family sold their 3rd prize winner to the Underwood flock. Church Farm T10 is a son of the much admired Newmills R1 they bought out of Carlisle as a shearling last year for £1800. He looks a shrewd purchase as his son was full of style, with cocky lugs, a sharp eye and bright white hair.

Church Farm’s other lamb, T4, had the better of proceedings in the show when he took the Male and Reserve Overall Championships. This powerful, blue lamb, with a great skin was by the Burndale P18 who has been breeding very consistently for the flock these last couple of years. He sold for 950gns to Gareth Howatson for his Fferm Tudno flock.

The first prize shearling tup came from the renowned Craig-yr-Orsedd flock of Aled Jones. The class winner was a son of Daisy N3 who has proved an exceptional breeder for the flock. He sold reasonably early in the sale for 1050gns.