North West Auctions were proud to host the annual show and sale of NEMSA Mule gimmer lambs on behalf of the Kendal NEMSA branch, a special mention goes to all the pre-sale show and sale sponsors; Wynnstay, New Breeds UK, Ladds of Benson Hall, Farm Gate Vets, GW Taylor Haulage, NFU Mutual Kendal and Alan Myerscough Ltd. The pre-sale show evening had a very impressive entry of twenty-five pens of ten and twelve pens of twenty, with credit going to the vendors for the quality on offer. A special mention goes to our judges Mr Joe Townley, Caton and Mr Ashley Purchase, Barnstaple. The JE Goad Trophy for the Champion pen of ten Mule Gimmer lambs was awarded to a stylish pen from RH&C Ayrton, Abbeystead which went on to sell for £360 purchased by the judge Joe Townley. The Jim Gibson Memorial cup for the first prize pen of twenty was awarded to A&H Watson, Kirby Lonsdale.
The ‘Stars in Their Eyes’ competition was deemed a great success once again, with a special thank you going to the sponsors Bulmans Bulk and our judges for the evening Josh and Rebecca Geary, Milton Keynes. The Champion rosette and winning the Dixon Family Bowl was the Inman Family of Strickland Hill, who very kindly donated their lamb for the Crook YFC charity, selling to a new centre record of £720 purchased by B&JM Crowe, Witherslack.
The annual sale of Mule gimmer lambs sold to an overall market average of £117.86, £7 down on the year. The trade in general today saw good quality top pen lambs regularly sell in the region of £200 upwards. Strong tupping lambs were in big demand with buyers eager to purchase, regularly selling between £130 and £160, with small tuppers and big runners often between £110 and £120. The market peaked at £390 from S Allan & Sons, Appleby with other leading prices £310 from Messrs Hodgson, High Borrans, £300 AC&K Pye, Abbeystead, £275 JA&CA Gibson, Selside, £275 T Ayrton & Sons, Over Wyresdale.
The Bruce Willison Trophy for the best run of lambs was awarded to RH&C Ayrton, Abbeystead, who sold there run of lambs to average £147.75 per head. A special thanks goes to our judge Mr V Smith for his time and expertise.
A big thank you goes to our vendors for the quality of lambs put forward for this sale, our loyal travelled and local buyers, as well as a number of new faces. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our yard and clerical staff for their continued hard work to make this popular sale a great success.