Judge Dylan Jones, Pwllheli backed his decision and bought his choice of champion for 1700gns at the Lleyn society sale of males and female at Ruthin.

Trade proved extremely sticky throughout the day’s ram sale with only 52 of the 97 rams forward exchanging hands to level at £553.88, however, the sale leader (00599/2214463), from Emrys and Dylan Jones' Lluest flock from Machynlleth attracted the top price of the trade. He is out of a ram by Plas Ucha Forget Me Not.

Two further Lluest rams hit the four-figure price, the first being the pre-sale show reserve champion (00599/2214454) which went under the hammer at 1000gns and headed home with K Thomas, Llechwedd, Newcastle Emlyn.

Moments later, lot 50 (00599/2214276) from the Jones’ hit 1600gns and was purchased by JA & R Geldard & Sons, Low Foulshaw Farm, Kendal. He is sired by the flock’s stock ram, Borrins Jester.

On the credit side, the Geldard family earned back some of their spendings when selling their pen leader (00621/2322475) to 1400gns. Sired by Southam Investment, this boy headed home with HM Wells, Glaneri, Cardigan.

Another Southam Investment son from the same pen (00621/2222257) attracted 900gns when selling to R Jones, Gaerwen.

Making the long journey down from Over Whitlaw Farm, Selkirk, Farmstock Genetics attained a top price of 1000gns for their best ram (00983/2218749). This boy is sired by Mullamore Jake, out of the flock’s show ewe and stood reserve male champion at last year’s Great Yorkshire Show as a lamb. He was snapped up by AG Selway.

Two rams from G & A Fort, Brighton House Farm, Keighley reached 900gns each, with the first being Lord Commmander (01299/2223951) which is sired by the 9000gns Lluest Juggernaut which stood champion at Carlilse in 2021. He sold to JG & EV Roberts.

The second 900gns ram came in the form of Lord Epic (01299/2224771) which headed home with EY Davies & Son, Bronallt, Pwllheli. He is out of the same sire which bred the 2021 Ruthin Pre-Sale Show champion.

It was a similar story across in the females with the champion pen going on to top the yearling and overall female sale followed by many notable prices.

The pre-sale show champion pen of five yearlings from Hamish Goldie, Southbower Houses, Dumfries landed the top price of £240 per head when selling to Roos Farm Partners. Hamish also sold a pen at £210 to C Mullard-Davies, Pool Cottage.

Close behind and matching that £210 price was the second prize pen of 10 yearling ewes from A Wynne Davies, Pwllheli which was bought by JA Williams, 52 Blaenddol Y Bala Gwynedd.

The reserve champion pen from JA & R Geldard & Sons went on to reach a top of £205 per head and were knocked down to EY Davies & Son, Denbigh. Moments later, the same buyer purchased another pen from the same home for £195 per head.

Three pens attained £190, two of which derived from Manor Farm, East Marden, West Sussex which were both purchased by Roos Farm Partners.

E & D Jones managed to bag the third £190 price tag for their yearling ewes, which went under the hammer to EY Davies & Son, with the section cashing in at £165.13.

The sale of ewe lambs averaged £113.72, up £2 on the consecutive year, with a top price of £175 being achieved for the first prize pen from A Wynne Davies. He sold is best to JA Williams.

A pen from IO & AL Jones, Conwy sold for £130 to GP & DM Jones, Llanymynech, whilst Farmstock Genetics reached £130 on two occasions when selling to JA Hulme, Oakenholt Farm.

A top price of £128 was attained on three occasions for Twose Farms, Whitlands which headed home with AW Hughes, Garndolbenmaen.

Averages

5-year-old ewes – £130.63

4-year-old ewes – £133.61

3-year-old ewes – £138

2-year-old ewes – £145.14

Yearling ewes – £165.13

Ewe lambs – £113.72

52 rams – £553.88

Top prices

Senior Ewes

WJ & DJ Williams (2YO) £148

A Wynne Davies (2YO) £145

DT Jones (4YO) £145

WJ & DJ Williams (2YO) £142

WJ & DJ Williams (5YO) £140

WJ & DJ Williams (3YO) £138 (X2)

WJ & DJ Williams (4YO) £130

WJ & DJ Williams (4YO) £128 (X2)

WJ & DJ Williams (5YO) £125

Shearling Ewes

H Goldie £240

A Wynne Davies £210

H Goldie £210

JA & R Geldard & Sons £205

JA & R Geldard & Sons £195

E & D Jones £ 190

Manor Farm £190

Manor Farm £190

DT Jones £185

AW Hughes £185 (X2)

DW Ellis £180 (X3)

E & D Jones £180

H Goldie £180

Ewe lambs

A Wynne Davies £175

IO & AL Jones £130

Farmstock Genetics £130 (X2)

Twose Farms £128 (X3)

Farmstock Genetics £125

R & G Davies £122

Manor Farm £120 (X2)

CP Jenkins £115

G & A Fort £110

RG & ME Davies £110

K Thomas £110

Dutton & Dooley £108

Rams

E & D Jones (49) 1700gns

E & D Jones (50) 1600gns

JA & R Geldard & Sons (41) 1400gns

Farmstock Genetics (98) 1000gns

E & D Jones (48) 1000gns

G & A Fort (4) 900gns

G & A Fort (36) 900gns

JA & R Geldard & Sons (44) 900gns

Ruthin Pre-Sale Show Results 2023

Ram judge: Mr Dylan Jones (Pwllheli)Junior judge: Mr John Williams (Denbigh)Female judge: Mrs Christine Lewis (Caersws)Junior judge: Mr Floyd Lewis (Caersws) 

Pen of 5 Shearling Ewes1st - H Goldie, Pen 115 (Overall Female Champion)2nd - JK Goldie, Pen 1043rd - JA & R Geldard & Sons, Pen 164 

Pen of 10 Shearling Ewes1st - JA & R Geldard & Sons, Pens 165 & 166 (Reserve Female Champion)2nd - Wynne Davies3rd - AW Hughes, Pens 220 & 221 

Pen of 5 Ewe Lambs1st - Wynne Davies2nd - Farmstock Genetics, Pen 493rd - WJ & DJ Williams, Pen 93 

Aged Ram1st - R & RH Davies, Lot 382nd - Mr & Mrs GO & E Williams, Lot 80 

Shearling Ram1st - E & D Jones, Lot 48 (Reserve Overall Male Champion)2nd - JA & R Geldard & Sons, Lot 413rd - Wynne Davies, Lot 94 

North Wales Club Shearling Ram1st - E & D Jones, Lot 49 (Overall Male Champion)2nd - Wynne Davies, Lot 963rd - SE Hughes, Lot 9