Oxford Downs to 520gns at Worcester

Oxford Downs sold to 520gns at the breed's annual sale held at Worcester market in August. The top price was paid for a shearling ram by Greenlands Class Act from Roland Williams’ 60-strong Greenlands flock based at Aberystwyth, Ceredigion.  Fellow Aberystwyth Oxford breeders Rob & Liz Edwards were the buyers.

A shearling ram from the New House flock run by Rex Vincent at Okehampton, Devon made 400gns, selling to James Eustice for use on 50 Oxford ewes in his Treglinnick flock at Wadebridge, Cornwall.  This one is by New House Hawkeye.

Also making the 400gns mark was a 2-shear Greenlands ram by Delmur Delboy from Roland Williams which sold to Tom Lamb for the Fleetham flock at Seahouses, Northumberland.

Best price for ram lambs was 280gns bid by new breeder Scott Flitter from Whitchurch, Hampshire for a Weeton White Walker son from Ruth Steele’s Weeton flock at Hull, East Yorkshire.

The female entry was led at 300gns by a Wicken shearling ewe bred by Philip & Katie Ivens  from Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, selling to Tom Lamb, Fleetham, who also bought a second shearling ewe from the same pen at 290gns.  Both were sired by Applewick Wentworth.

Ewe lambs peaked at 250gns for a daughter of Weeton Bounty from Ruth Steele, Weeton, going to Scott Flitter, Whitchurch.

Overall, 20 head sold to 520gns and averaged £268.38 (compared to £254.01 for 26 in 2019).  Auctioneers: McCartneys

New Oxford Down flock in Caithness

The Association has recently registered a new flock for 15-year old Hannah Sinclair from Latheron in Caithness.  Located some 35 miles south of John O'Groats, this is the most Northerly Oxford Down flock in the British Isles.  She has established her flock with a ewe and ewe lamb and two gimmers from Kevin Milne's Bennachie flock at Sauchen in Aberdeenshire. Hannah has got off to a great start with her Oxfords taking a second prize with her ewe lamb against national opposition in one of the online sheep shows held during the summer.  As a result she has also had some excellent publicity for both her flock and the breed in the Caithness paper the John O' Groat Journal:  Success for Hannah Sinclair Although this is believed to be the first registered flock in Caithness, Oxford rams have been used before on NCCs in the county and there have been registered flocks on Orkney and in Ross-shire previously.   The Association wishes Hannah every success with her Latheron Oxford Down flock.

Oxford Down lambs top Ruthin at £120

Lesley Parry topped Ruthin mart in July with a pen of pure Oxford tup lambs from her Bro Alaw flock on Anglesey.  The 54kg lambs made £120, joint top price per head in an entry of 1353 prime lambs.