Oxfords to 360gns at Melton Mowbray

The annual sale of Oxford Downs at Melton Mowbray attracted a much-increased entry of 27 head catalogued compared to last year’s sale. Despite the larger number forward, trade held up well on the day.

Leading the sale was a 360gns shearling ewe from Vickie Jones’ Leicestershire-based Billesdons flock. Sired by Horsley Uncle Bob and out of a Barley Park Norman home-bred ewe, it sold to Richard Hampshire from Elvington, York for his Prospect flock. A second shearling ewe from the same pen made 300gns to Holly Plante & Andrew Amor who run the Pauntley flock at Redmarley in Gloucestershire. This one is by Monkstone Jimmy.

Not far behind the top price were two Weeton flock ewes from Ruth Steele, Hull, East Yorkshire. Both by rams imported from Finland, they made 340gns each to the same buyer, Paul Emery, Smithy Farm, Gratwich, Uttoxter, Staffordshire. Mr Emery was establishing a new registered Oxford Down flock at the sale, purchasing a total of five females.

The Weeton flock also topped the ewe lamb section with a 250gns sale for a Weeton Greyjoy daughter to Jack Richardson who was buying for his Rose-Dene flock at Newton-on-Derwent, York. The same buyer paid the next best ewe lamb price of 220gns for one by Longfriday Hugo from the Longfriday pen consigned by Martin Johnson of Wollaston, Northamptonshire.

Rams peaked at 300gns for a Weeton shearling, again sired by Weeton Greyjoy, from Ruth Steele, selling to Jack Richardson, Rose-Dene. A Longfriday ram lamb from Martin Johnson sold at 280gns. A son of Longfriday Hugo, it went to Tom Davis, farm manager at Mudchute Park & Farm, Isle of Dogs, London for the Mudchute flock.

Overall, 17 head sold to 350gns and averaged £235.94.

Auctioneers: Melton Mowbray Market