Principal bragging rights fell to Wales, ancestral home of the breed, when E&D Jones, Lluest flock, Comins Coch, Ceredigion, Powys, consigned the champion and 800gns joint top price shearling ram at the Lleyn Sheep Society’s annual highlight at CCM Skipton, the North & East of England Lleyn Sheep Breeders Club's traditional end of season finale.

The buyers of the victor were same day exhibitors and also among the leading performers, local fixture regulars the Dugdale family, Borrins flock, Stackhouse, Settle, with the other joint top 800gns selling price going to the show class runner-up from 2024 reserve champions, Cumbrian father and son, Peter and David Knowles, Cragg flock, New Hutton. Their Cragg Nixon joined D&S Crane, Crosby, Northallerton.

The third prize winner from Wynne Davies, Bronallt flock, Morfa Nefyn, in the heart of the Llŷn Peninsula - he continues to serve as national president of the Lleyn Sheep Society - achieved 650gns, while also making an impact with shearling rams were the North Craven Dugdale's with a brace at 680gns and 620gns, plus a 2-shear aged tup at 600gns.

The best end of the tups forward met a strong ringside audience, regularly selling at 550-700gns, producing a section average of £542, exactly the same as the previous year.

Shearling gimmers also sold well, with plenty of ringside purchasers for all classes of stock, the Dugdale's again stepping up to take first in class, the reserve championship, plus section top of £300 with their five-strong pen going to Melton Mowbray with C&GD Lamming. They also had others at £270 and £265 and for good measure the Dugdale's topped the ewe trade at £150 with their second prize pen of six, plus another at £140.

Back with the gimmer shearlings, the second prize pen from John Morton, Bank Hall flock, Kirkland, Penrith, made £280, a price matched by the best pen of five from the Geldard family, Wray Castle flock, Levens, Kendal, local breeder Simon Kavanagh, Draughton, also chipping in with £270 and £255 pens. Other long, good skinned sheep regularly made £260-£280, next grade shearlings £220-£250. The section averaged £251, nicely up on the previous year’s £185.

Gimmer lambs met a more selective trade, though strong pens got away well, one from the Knowles family making £145, another from Wynne Davies £140, one at £110 from John Morton. Next grade lambs proved harder to place at £100-£120, producing a section average of £122.

Co-judging the show were local father and son breed stalwarts Graham and Terry Fort, Brightonhouse flock, Steeton. Graham remains chairman of North & East England Lleyn Sheep Breeders Club, with The Fort Cup, along with the Green Farm Health Cup, going to the show champion.

Averages

Shearling ewes to £300 av. £251
Ewe lambs to £145 av. £122
Rams to 800gns av. £542

Show Results
Judges – Graham & Terry Fort

Rams
1st - E & D Jones
2nd - P Knowles
3rd - AW Davies

Shearling Ewes
1st - H & M Dugdale
2nd - S Kavanagh
3rd - JG Morton

Ewe Lambs
1st - AW Davies
2nd - H & M Dugdale
3rd - JG Morton

Champion – E & D Jones

Reserve – H & M Dugdale