16th September 2023
Rugby Farmers’ Mart
Judge: W R Roberts, Anglesey
A cracking trade at the Centenary Premier Show and Sale saw high demand for females with 100% clearance and record averages across the female classes, with the majority going to a new buyer from Wiltshire.
The Centenary Supreme Championship was awarded to the Female Champion, a ewe lamb from B & H Thomas and Son’s Celyn flock, sired by Souldrop Regal and sold to M Rostron for 400gns. Demand for their ewe lambs saw the remaining two selling for 320gns. Their lambs also won the group of three ewe lambs class, taking home the Ling cup. A fitting end to the family’s showing year after winning the Centenary National Show Supreme Championship at the Royal Three Counties Show.
Following on behind the Supreme Champion in her class at 350gns, was the second placed ewe lamb from N&T Hodgkinson’s Souldrop flock. Ewe lambs from the judge’s own Nant flock sold to 270gns and 250gns, followed by a trio from J Bradley also at 250gns.
The highest priced female of the day was the Reserve Female Champion, a shearling ewe from Mrs J Evans’s Springwood flock, selling at 535gns, with her other shearlings on offer following on at 330gns, all daughters of Souldrop Trojan and all sold to M. Jones.
Second in the shearling ewe class was a homebred female from David and Tim Williams taken home by M Rostron for 410gns.
Finally, leading the aged ewe class, was a female sired by Celyn Victor from Mrs C S White’s Pigeon flock at 330gns followed by two daughters of Celyn Wyn from Mrs J Evans reaching 230gns.
The top priced male of the day was two year old Braint Goliath from G & J Jones, sired by Brockhall Robber and selling for 720gns to S Brodie, who, as judge on the day, had awarded him the Male Championship at the Centenary National Show in June. Brockhall Thunder, S Brodie’s own aged ram, sold for 450gns.
Homebred males from David and Tim Williams led the ram classes with ram lamb Manor Owen taking the Male Championship, selling to 400gns, and shearling ram Manor Nelson taking the Reserve Male Championship.
Keen bidding for the ram lambs on offer saw W R Robert’s Nant Robin selling to R & N J Bryson for 550gns, R Savery’s 3rd placed Bramham Eddie selling for 480gns and 4th placed, homebred Huntingford Johnny from Mr J Hadfield, selling to 420gns.
Leading the shearling rams in the sale, were Staddlebridge Percy from E. Black taken home by G Morris for 420gns, Blaisdon Funday from C Mawlam, going for 400gns, and Celyn Arun from B & H Thomas and Sons at 280gns.
The day was a fitting finale to our centenary year, showing a strong resurgence of demand for Wiltshire Horn ewes as we approach our next century. Sincere thanks go to our judge Mr William Roberts, to steward Stuart Brodie, to Tom Wrench and Rugby Farmers Mart, and to the vendors, buyers and members who supported this important and successful show and sale. Well done everyone.
AVERAGES
Ewe lambs £239.75 to £420
Shearling ewes £255.70 to £561.75
Ewes £276.50 to £346.50
Ram lambs £269.50 to £577.50
Shearling rams £259.15 to £441
Rams £382.20 to £756 Teresa A Hodgkinson
