Exeter Lleyn Sheep Society Sale 2023

There was a solid trade for Lleyns at the society's first annual breed sale, at Exeter, last week, with a supply of rams to suit both commercial and pure-bred breeders, with the Williams’ TACHO flock leading the trade.

Ram’s welcomed a steady trade across the day, however, the more commercial types were very hard to rehome and a 66% clearance rate across the 68 forward was achieved with seven hitting the 1000gns mark and over. Leading the sale at 2100gns was the pen leader (00350/2207662) from Mr and Mrs WJ &DJ Williams, Pwllheli, Gwynedd when selling to the Shiptons of Dorset. This boy stood third in the pre-sale show’s open shearling class and is bred by a Brightonhouse Gold Card-sired ram.

Next in the trade stakes at 2000gns were E & D Jones’ Lluest flock, from Machynlleth when selling their best (00599/2214275) sired by a Borrins Jester to Robin Irwin of Kings Nympton. Moments later, another Lluest ram (00599/2214321) which is sired by the home-bred Lluest Jambo hit 1000gns when selling to RF & J Ford & Son, Devon.

Harpers Holdings Ltd sold the pre-sale show overall champion ram (02580/2203011) – which also stood first in his class at the Royal Cornwall Show – at 1500gns to N Tavernor of Crewkerne, who also acquired the second prized shearling (00156/2210816) from Ahston Selway, Stalbridge for 1400gns.

Wynne Davies sold two four-figure rams, the first at 1000gns (00050/2207900) in the form of a Netherton Invincible-sired shearling that headed home with PA Martin, Holsworthy, Devon. The second went under the hammer at 1100gns (00050/2207873) when selling to SA Carter, Fluxton. He is bred by Bronallt Hudson.

The best of the aged rams which peaked at 600gns for GG & HE Sevenoaks of Abergavenny to give a slightly increased overall average of £695 across the board.

In the females, older ewes proved a buoyant trade with four-year-old ewes from Richard Turner of Honiton leading the section at £192 & £178 heading home to E Field, Whitland, whilst Cathy Evans of Modbury sold her senior ewes at £145 & £140. The section cashed in at £169.

Shearling ewes witnessed one of the better trades of the day with more than 20 pens selling in excess of £200. Highlight of the day came in at £300 acquired by the second prize individual ewe from Arfon Hughes of Gwynedd who was snapped up by Twose Farms Ltd of Carmarthen, whilst her five pen-mates attained £230 and headed home with KP Rowell & Co. Another pen from the same home made £200 to JA & RD Parsons.

The first prize individual went to Wynne Davies of Gwynedd which made £260 to SA Carter, who also bought his pen of five at £230 per head. KP Rowell forked out £200 per head for another pen from Wynne.

Ashton Selway, Thornhill Farm, Dorset had two smart pens of shearling ewes with the best claiming second prize in the show and went on to sell at £255 to SM Reed, Higher Kingstree, with his next selling at £228 to T Hall, Bodmin.

E & D Jones’ run of shearlings sold readily at £225 & £215 to HR Ayres & NA Nichols, whilst Paul & Sarah Eckett of Sturminster Newton were awarded champion pen of females with their first prize winning shearlings that rose to £215 when sold to SA Carter, with trade levelling at £193.53 - up some £24 for less sold.

The 224 ewe lambs averaged £122 and witnessed heights of £160 paid for the first pen of ewe lambs to be sold from Twose Farms Ltd of Carmarthen which had the second prize ticket in the pre-sale show having sold to FW Brewer, Exeter. Another pen from the same home attained £152 which headed home with SP Gubbin & Son.

Richard Turner also enjoyed a buoyant trade when achieving £155 for his third prize pen which went under the hammer to the same buyer.

First prize pen from Will Williams of Gwynedd cashed at £142 to DC & C Evans., whilst £155 was made for a pen from John & Gill Adams of Truro.

Averages

Shearling Ewes to £192 (£300) av. £193.53

Ewe Lambs to £160 av. £122

Rams to 2100gns av. £695

Top Prices

Pens Shearling Ewes

AG Selway £255

AW Hughes £230

W Davies £230

AG Selway £228