Prices for Lakeland’s traditional breed of hardy mountain sheep hit the heights at the old-established show and sale of Herdwick females and rams held at Cockermouth on Friday and Saturday.
At Saturday’s ram sale, 10,000gns was paid for the champion animal, a splendid aged tup from M and J Potter, Ulcatrow, Matterdale, near Ullswater, the buyer being F Brennand. This tup was bred by AJ and L Birkett, Birk Howe.
Away from the show a furious trade prevailed, with the top price being 15,000gns for a shearling ram from AG and KF Nicholson, Swinside End, Lorton, and purchased by A Hartley.
Friday’s show and sale of females saw the championship go to a pen of ewes from P Bland and J Barnes, Knott Houses, Grasmere, which sold for the day’s top price of £320. Reserve honours went to a pen of shearlings from Messrs Bland, Clea Hall, Wigton, which sold for £300.A fantastic day’s trading produced a wonderful sale average of £75.
