BAM News 25th September 2021

Auctioneer’s Report (Stephen Dennis): The Annual Sale of BFL rams was once again a strong trade. The pre-sale show was judged by Frank Kitching of Thresfield, Skipton who carried out his duties with diligence and expertise, awarding the Overall Champion Rosette to Bentham breeder Chris Hewitt for his shearling ram sired by Highberries Hotshot H1 out of a ewe by Smearsett G11 selling for £3200 to Messrs Hodgson of Kirkby Stephen. A large class of ram lambs saw the judge pick the best from the Kirby Redgate run later selling to £2400 whilst 2nd place lamb from Dunkenshaw sold at £1800 with Abbey White taking 3rd prize with a Ribblesdale M2 lamb selling for £2800. Top prices in both the shearling and lamb section came from the Smearsett flock of David & Robin Booth. A bid of £6000 from James & Simon Garth of Birk Knott secured the purchase of their best shearling ram by Smearsett B13 while James Hall of Darnbrook took home the best of their ram lambs by Smearsett J30 with a bid of £2800. Shearling rams averaged £697 up £17 on the year whilst ram lambs saw an increase of £100 on the year to level at £669.