DORSETS CONTINUE TO GAIN STRENGTH AT WORCESTER

The Poll Dorset and Dorset Horn Sheep Association’s Annual show & Sale at Worcester continues to gain importance and strength with an almost total clearance and a buying contingent that came from literally across the country.

Topping the bill in the pricing stakes was a ram lamb from David Rossiter’s “Huish” flock.  Having taken First in the class he went onto take Overall Championship, not only did he favour the show judge but with a maternal index of 276 and an index of 363 plenty of interest reigned from purchasers being eventually secured by Richard and Robert Hole for use in their “Sherborne” flock in Dorset.

Richard and Robert Hole also featured strongly as vendors topping the Shearling Ewe section at 650 gns for a Gortleigh Hastings daughter carrying twins being taken by T.W. Holland & Son, Cardigan, West Wales.  Messrs Holland were keen bidders at the sale taking a total of 10 females.

David Rossiter’s quality consignment found a close following with a second prize Shearling Ewe scanned with twins at 520gns to T. Eden, Kempsey, Worcester.

A long trip from Cornwall for Mr WL French’s “Wilsley” flock was well rewarded with a hotly contested trade keeping at 500gns twice, both for shearling ewes carrying twins secured by David Lewis, Narbeth, Pembrokeshire.

Ewe lambs enjoyed a very spirited demand and were off to a good start in that section with the first sold a first prize winner by a New Zealand bred sire taken at 370gns by Joe Larder, Sandford, Somerset for his “Byeways” flock.  Jim Dufosee’s “Blackhill” flock achieved Second and Third in the Ewe Lamb class with the second prize winner making 330gns to G. Jones,Ystrad Meurig, Ceredigion. “Blackhill” also hit the 260gns mark for a pen of 4 ewe lambs to David Lewis, Narbeth, Pembroke.

A small number of rams were on offer, shearlings selling to 550gns for the fourth prize winner and 500gns for the first prize winner, both from W.L. French “Wilsey” and purchased by R.G. Elliott & Son, Northampton and T. Pratt, Ipswich, Suffolk respectively.

Averages were as follows:

15     Senior Ewes                       £231.00
29     Shearling Ewes                   £380.53
35     Ewe Lambs                         £203.43
2     Shearling Rams                  £551.25
3     Ram Lambs                        £514.50

Auctioneers: McCartneys LLP, Worcester - Tel: 01905 769770