Longtown Sale of Cheviot Mules Report

Longtown Auction Mart held their annual prize show and sale of 11,386 Cheviot Mules on Tuesday 22nd August 2023.

Congratulations must go to all of Longtown Auctions loyal vendors as it was again, clear to see that a lot of time and effort had been put into the breeding and presentation of their sheep. After a trying spring and a very wet summer they still managed to produce the goods as today the quality of sheep on offer was sublime.  All classes of Cheviot Mule sheep sold to a slight reduction on last years flying trade. The board of directors, auctioneers and all the staff at Longtown thank all purchasers and vendors alike, who travelled to Longtown from as far afield as Caithness, Aberdeen, Devon, Cornwall, Cheshire, Wales and Northern Ireland and stood all day to purchase/sell the finest Cheviot Mule sheep in the country.

Cheviot Mule gimmer shearlings were first to enter the ring, with an increased entry of 3,277 which sold to slightly reduced rates on last years record breaking returns, averaging £187.76p (-£12.36 on 2022). All classes of shearlings still proved good to sell, topping the sale on two separate occasions were two pens of seriously well-bred Cheviot Mule shearlings consigned by regular vendors Messrs R McNee, Over Finlarg, Dundee, which went on to realise £245. 

PRIZE LIST

GIMMER SHEARLINGS

1st – Easter Houses Farm, £205 to M/s Angus

2nd– McNee, Overfinlarg, £245 to M/s B Radley

3rd – McIvor, Hartree Mill, £210 to M/s Wade

LEADING AVERAGES:

CHEVIOT MULE GIMMER SHEARLINGS

Strang-Steel, Philiphaugh              5 @ £240

McNee, Over Finlarg                 203 @ £225

Warden, Skelfhill                       135 @ £212

Wilson, Marwhirn                     295 @ £206

Smith, Low Arkland                     51 @ £205

Loder, Upper Chatto                    20 @ £200

Boreland, Castlehill                     18 @ £200

Murray, Capeverde                     72 @ £197

Holliday, Cleamire                       14 @ £195

Wilson, High House                   180 @ £194

McIvor, Hartree Mill                    52 @ £193

Osbourne, Castlehill                  158 @ £191

Eastham, Longburghfauld            69 @ £191

Cockburn, Kingside                      21 @ £190

Cornthwaite, Vendace Drive          5 @ £190

TOP PRICES:

Cheviot Mule Shearlings - £245 (x2) Over Finlarg, £240 Philiphaugh Estate, £235 Marwhirn & Over Finlarg & Skelfhill, £230 High House & Marwhirn, £228 Skelfhill, £225 Marwhirn & Over Finlarg, £220 Skelfhill & High House, £218 Marwhirn & Preston Hall, £215 Longburgh Fauld & Marwhirn.

4,908 Cheviot Mule ewe lambs sold to a very busy ring of purchasers ensuring all classes were catered for, albeit slightly easier on the year averaging out at £137.13 (-£6.59p on 2022). The quality of lambs put before a full ring side of potential purchasers, was of serious quality and a testament to the producers who took great pride in showing their sheep. Topping the sale was the pre-sale show winners and overall champions, a very stylish pen of 20 great skinned ewe lambs realising £205 consigned by Messrs Ivinson, Skelling, Penrith.

The highest flock average was, for the second year in succession topped by Firm of Nesbit Mill, Borders, who had a fantastic run of 103 lambs forward which went on to average the same as last years top average at £175. Not far behind was a supersonic run of 200 lambs consigned by M/s Hedley, Swinside Townfoot Farm, that once again caught everybody’s eye topping at £200 and levelling at an impressive £173.

Well done and many thanks to all involved for another great days trading at Longtown Auction Mart.

PRIZE LIST:

EWE LAMBS

1st – EJ Ivinson & Son, Skelling, £205 to AJ Geary, Yew Tree Farm

2nd – W & J Thomson, Hownam Grange, £158 to G Smith & Son, West Bolton

3rd – Firm of Nisbett, Nisbet Mill, £205 to Gall, Mains of Auchnagatt

LEADING AVERAGES:

CHEVIOT MULE EWE LAMBS

Firm of Nisbet Mill                    103 @ £175

Hedley, Swinside Townfoot       200 @ £173

Carr, High Wood                         45 @ £162

Cockburn, Kingside                    125 @ £154

Ivinson, Skelling                        371 @ £153

Ridley, Ranbeck                         208 @ £148

Beard, Dormansteads                  71 @ £148

Purvis, Shepherds Cottage           17 @ £148

Reid, Boreland                          157 @ £146

McQuat, Brockhouse                 138 @ £146

MacDonald, West Blackbyre        26 @ £145

TOP PRICES:

Cheviot Mule Ewe Lambs –

£205 Skelling & Nisbet Mill, £200 Swinside Townfoot, £190 Ranbeck, £185 Swinside Townfoot, £182 Skelling, £180 Nisbet Mill & Swinside Townfoot, £175 Nisbet Mill & Skelling & Highwood, £172 Kingside & Swinside Townfoot & Brockhouse, £170 Swinside Townfoot & Skelling (x2)

1,211 Cross Cheviot Mule shearlings again met spirited bidding, with demand for top end sheep completely outstripping supply. The sale topped at £290 on two separate occasions from GG & MA Harrison, Aldermanseat, whose run of Texel Shearlings were in big form and a credit to them.

LEADING AVERAGES:

CROSS CHEVIOT MULE SHEARLINGS

Seymour Farms                           20 @ £265 (Suffolk x)

Harrison, Aldermanseat             163 @ £263 (Texel x)

Wilson, High House                     50 @ £225 (Texel x)

McGarva, Granton Mill                  6 @ £200 (Texel x)

Armstrong, High Moat                   6 @ £195 (Scotch Half Bred)

Maxwell, Druidhall                        5 @ £195 (Texel x)

TOP PRICES:

Texel x Cheviot Mule Shearlings - £290 (x2) Aldermanseat, £275 (x2) Aldermanseat, £260 Granton Mill & Aldermanseat, £255 Aldermanseat, £248 & £240 High House.

Suffolk x Cheviot Mule Shearlings - £270 & £260 Seymour House.

An increased entry of 1,990 Cross Cheviot Mule Ewe Lambs were the trade of the day, with all vendors leaving highly delighted with their days trading. Topping the sale was pen of seriously strong Suffolk cross lambs consigned by AJ Stott, Shawhead, which went on to top the ewe lamb section across the board achieving an eye watering price of £252. Achieving the top average in this section was first time vendor M/s Durno, Church Street who made the trip up to Longtown a very successful venture topping at £240 and levelling at £172 for 67 sold.

LEADING AVERAGES:

CROSS CHEVIOT MULE EWE LAMBS

Durno, Church Street                  67 @ £172 (Suffolk x/Texel x)

Hodgson, Swinhoe North           277 @ £168 (Texel x)

Gelston Castle                             50 @ £166 (3/4 Texel)

Stott, Shawhead                          30 @ £158 (Suffolk x)

Fleming, Falnash                         60 @ £155 (Suffolk x)

Reid, Boreland                            75 @ £146 (Suffolk x)

Ferrie, Douglas Square                30 @ £140 (Suffolk x)

Smith, West Bolton                   366 @ £140 (Texel x)

Walker, Pit Farm                         54 @ £137 (Suffolk x)

Harrison, Aimshaugh                 213 @ £134 (Texel x)

TOP PRICES:

Suffolk x Cheviot Mule Ewe Lambs - £252 Shawhead, £240 Church Street, £175 Falnash & Church Street (x2), £170 & £165 Church Street, £158 & £155 Boreland.

Texel x Cheviot Mule Ewe Lambs - £198 & £192 & £185 Swinhoe North, £172 Gelston Castle, £170 West Bolton (x2) & Aimshaugh, £165 Swinhoe North, £160 West Bolton, £155 Swinhoe North, £148 Philiphaugh Estate, £145 Aimshaugh & Philiphaugh Estate.

SALE AVERAGES:

Cheviot Mule Gimmer Shearlings           £187.76 (-£12.36)

Texel x Cheviot Mule Shearlings             £187.96 (-£23.70)

Suffolk x Cheviot Mule Shearlings          £265.00

Half-Bred Shearlings                              £195.00

Cheviot Mule Ewe Lambs                       £137.13 (-£6.59)                      

Texel x Cheviot Mule Ewe Lambs           £136.98 (+£7.58)                      

Suffolk x Cheviot Mule Ewe Lambs         £154.21