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Swaledale records smashed at Kirkby Stephen

New heights were reached at the Swaledale Sheep Breeders Association C District show and sale at Kirkby Stephen when a new ram record of £105,000 was set for shearlings on second day and matched on the third day

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Ghyll House Notorious
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Ghyll House Notorious

The first at this money was the second day's champion, Ghyll House Notorious by the £22,000 Wescoe ram bought out of a ewe by the £92,000 Valley Fandango, from John and Dorne Richardson, Dufton. ÌýThe buyers were Paul and Suzie Hallam, High Birkwith, along with Mark Nelson, Bull and Cave, Clapham.

Gillside Keeper


It was the following day's reserve champion which matched that price for the Lightfoot family, Glenridding. This was Gillside Keeper, a son of the £16,000 John Kelsall tup, out of a gimmer shearling by a £9,000 Richard Harker. It sold to John White, Middleton in Teesdale, and John Tully, Eggleston, with the Lightfoots retaining a share.


Following these at £42,000 was a shearling from Messrs Nelson's Bull and Cave flock. By the £30,000 Thwaite Bridge ram, it was knocked down to David Harker, Overthwaite, and Alice Iveson, Hawes, with the Nelsons retaining a share.

Bull and Cave shearling which sold for £42,000


Making £40,000 was Aygill Quartz by a £10,000 Priorsdale ram from Alan and Stephen Coates, Muker, which sold to John Richardson.

Aygill Quartz

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A call of £35,000 secured Wescoe Ronaldo, a son of a £4,500 Ghyll House ram from Messrs Folder, Threlkeld, which sold to David Allison, West Briscoe, John White and Robert Hutchinson, Bowes.

Averages - 595 rams, £2,606.25 (+ £333 on 2022).

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.

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