Full report from Melton Mowbray
NEW 1600GNS OXFORD RECORD AT MELTON MOWBRAY
The Oxford Down breed record price was broken for the second time this season when a shearling ram from Vickie Jones' Billesdons flock at Leicester sold for 1600gns at the Melton Mowbray Show & Sale. Sired by Horsley Uncle Bob and out of a home-bred Billesdons ewe by Barley Park Norman, the new record holder went to Richard Ford for use as stock ram in his Banburyhill flock at Charlbury, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire.
The next best price of the day and topping the female sale was a 360gns bid for a 3-shear ewe from Martin Johnson’s Longfriday flock at Wollaston, Northamptonshire. A Barley Park Tornado daughter out of a Barley Park Gisbourne-sired home-bred ewe, she went to Michael Blackwell, Moorglen, East Hardwick, Pontefract, West Yorkshire for his Crookgate flock. The Longfriday pen, part of an enforced flock reduction due to loss of lambing facilities, averaged £200.81 for 8 flock ewes.
Vickie Jones’ success in the sale ring continued with a strong trade for her consignment of Billesdons shearling ewes. They sold to 340gns twice, both going the same way home to Jack Richardson to add to his Rose-dene flock at Newton-on-Derwent, York. The first at this price was by Monkstone Jimmy out of a Langrigg ewe, while the second was out of a home-bred ewe and sired by Horsley Uncle Bob. Not far behind was a 330gns Billesdons sale for another shearling ewe, this one going to Martin Lacey who is continuing to build up his Kasanga flock at Keal Cotes, Spilsby, Lincolnshire. The Billesdons pen averaged £353.50 for three.
Ewe lambs sold to 350gns for one by Longfriday Sammy from Bob Richardson’s Horsley flock at Lamploughs Farm, Leven, Beverley, East Yorkshire. The buyer was R J Ryan who is establishing a new flock at Llanerch Farm, Dolwen, Abergele, Conwy. He also bought three flock ewes from the Longfriday consignment to add to purchases made at Worcester last month.
Top price for ram lambs was a 230gns sale from Bob Richardson, Horsley to Michael Blackwell, Crookgate for a Longfriday Sammy son.
Summary
No Top (gns) Avg (£)
Flock ewes 8 360 200.81
Shearling ewes 3 340 353.50
Ewe lambs 2 350 315.00
2-shear rams 1 80 -
Ram lambs 4 230 145.69
Shearling rams 1 1600 -
Overall 19 1600 297.04
Auctioneers: Melton Mowbray Market
