Longtown Breeding Sheep Sale Report
C&D Auction Marts Ltd held their Annual Main Sale for Breeding sheep at Longtown on Tuesday 23rd September 2025, where there was a catalogue entry of 7,401.
Buyers were represented from over the UK, with trade as expected throughout. Top end lambs were yet again easily sold and way short of purchaser requirements, whilst running lambs proved difficult to place due to the lack of grass further afield.
Congratulations must go to all Longtown Auction's vendors as it was clear to see that a lot of time and effort had been put into the presentation of their sheep.
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 the outstanding show of Mule sheep on offer.
Judging was in the capable hands of Thomas Hird, Westray, who after much deliberation duly awarded the champion pen to Messrs Hope, Mouldy Hills.
The champion pen of lambs went under the hammer which sold to a full ringside of buyers, after frantic bidding the hammer fell at £250 to M Sayfritz.
Topping the sale was annual vendors David, Harry & Thomas Hope, Mouldy Hills whose first prized pen of Blackie bred Mule Lambs and Overall Champions, went on to realise £250. Leading the flock averages was a serious run of powerful lambs consigned by Messrs Carruthers, Hill Brae with these 61 well bred lambs levelling out at £199.
The first prize pen of Mule ewe lambs ex Swaledale ewe went to regular vendor Mr Jonathan Hope, Orthwaite Hall. They went onto realise £195.
At the conclusion of the sale the averages were well up on the year levelling at £165.47 (£15.07 up on 2024)
Many more top draw lambs can be sold to vendor advantage at this thriving sale at Longtown with plenty of new faces came and purchased high end quality with an abundance of potential customers going home empty handed.
Class 1 - Ex Blackface Bred
1st – M/s Hope, Mouldy Hills - £250
2nd – A & S Murray, West Deanraw - £205
3rd – Wanwood Partners, Wanwood Hill, Alston - £215
Class 2 - Ex Swaledale Bred
1st – J Hope, Orthwaite Hall - £195
2nd – A Batey, Heathery Knowe - £145
Overall Champion: M/s Hope, Mouldy Hills - £250
Mule Ewe lambs:
Mule ex BF £250 Mouldy Hills, £230 Hillbrae, £220 Mouldy Hills, £215 Wanwood Hill, £215, £210 Lawston, £205 Hillbrae, £205 West Deanraw, £205 Hillbrae, £205 Mouldy Hills
Leading Flock Averages
Carruthers, Hillbrae Ave. £199 (61)
Hope, Mouldy Hill Ave. £194 (150)
Wanwood Partners, Wanwood Hill Ave. £186 (106)
Nichol, Lawsto n Ave. £180 (200)
Carruthers, Peela Hill Ave £178 (205)
Murray, West Deanraw Ave £175 (189)
Also incorporated in today’s sale was the second sale of 1,878 Cheviot Mules, which again were in fine form being every bit as dear as the first sale, topping at £145 from J.C. Hewitt, Bankhead
Lambs in general were smaller than the first sale but just as well-bred enticing purchasers to bid freely ensuring all lambs were sold to vendor advantage achieving a very pleasing overall sale average of £153.71 (£4.68 down on 2022)
Principal Prices
£210 Skelling Farm, £185 Bankhead, £180 Douglas Square, £180 Greenmerse, £180 Bankhead
Leading Flock Averages
Wilson, Newbank Ave. £174 (42)
Wilson, Marwhirn Ave. £167 (54)
Ridley, Ranbeck Ave. £163 (113)
Ferrie, Douglas Sqaure Ave. £159 (93)
Continental Ewe Lambs
790 Continental and other breed ewe lambs met a two-tier trade, with quality lambs that had shape and style meeting massive demand. Second draws lambs met limited customers and were much harder to sell on the year. Selling to a top of £260 for Beltex x lambs from M/s JA & LA Thompson, Woodhead, Scaleby.
Beltex x £260, £250, £210, £190 Woodhead
Beltex £220 Paddockhole
Lleyn £200 Hyndlee
Cheviot Mule £185 Serrick Road, £178 Newbank, £175 West Bolton, £175 Easterhouse, £170 West Bolton
Dutch Spotted £185 Swaites, £150 Rest Cottage
Texel £175 & £170 Little Galla
Suffolk x £160 Winterlane, £160 Blackcleugh
Scotch Halfbred £200 High Moat
Blue Faced Leicester £125 Southdean Lodge
Lleyn £125 Hyndlee
The 1,494 shearlings forward also met a two-tier trade, with breedy gimmers that had character and style meeting a huge demand. With second and third draw gimmers lacking condition only meeting limited demand. To a top of £320 for pure Texel gimmers from F. Bell, Raefield
Shearlings:
Texel £320 Paddockhole, £300 Raggetsyke, £270 Craigdarroch, £260 Cubbyhill, £260 Craigdarroch
Dutch Spotted £300 Chestnut Cottage
Beltex £300 Swinside, £260 Rigg Cottage, £255 Hightown
Mule £290 Hoscote Estate, £275 Barron House, £250 Barron House, £250 Newton Farm
Cheviot Mule £265 High House, £260 Lawesknowe, £255 Ryemuir, £245 Commonside, £245 Marwhirn, £245 Ryemuir
North Country Cheviot £245 12 Eskdaill Street
Suffolk £215 & £200 Hightown, £195 Side Farm, £192 Hightown
Lleyn £185 Hyndlee
Blue Faced Leicester £170 & £165 Southdean Lodge
Romney £150 Fieldside
Jacob £145 Victory Avenue
Shetland £140 Haggbeck
Easycare £135 Barwhanny
Dorper £105 Copperthorns
A larger show of 674 ewes met high demand with genuine quality ewes, ready to go straight out to tup. Selling to a top of £230 for pure Texels from D & D Aikten, Kerfield.
Ewes:
Texel £230 Kerfield
Mule £195, £190 The Flatt, £188 Holme Head, £185 The Flatt
Suffolk x £142 Easterhouse
Dutch Spotted £125 Copperthorns
Cheviot £115 Woolhall
Herdwick £100 Easterhouse
BREEDING RAMS
A small show of rams sold to an animated trade topping at £650 for a Suffolk shearling ram from M/s Hewson, Burgh Head.
Principal prices:
Shearlings
Suffolk £650 Burgh Head
Beltex £500, £350 The Close
Texel £450 Kerfield
Ram Lambs
Beltex £200 Blackcleugh
