Dumfries & Longtown Store and Breeding Sheep Report

C&D Auction Marts Ltd held their annual Border Ewe Sale which were sold in two parts at Dumfries and Longtown on Wednesday 1st October 2025. There was a huge catalogued entry of 12,250 head.

Blackface gimmers were the highlight of the horned ewe section and very much in demand, they met a flying trade with centre records being smashed. The pre sale show was kindly sponsored by the North of England Blackface Sheep Breeders Association and expertly judged by Blackface enthusiast Mrs F Mckie, Finniness Farm, Castle Douglas. After some deliberation Mrs F McKie awarded her Champion pen to regular vendors Wanwood Partners, Wanwood, Alston. These worthy winners went onto to realise £315. Topping this section for the second year in succession was the first draw 20 Norh of England bred gimmers consigned from The Lamperts going on to realise £360 with this consignment going on to average an eye watering £324. This fantastic run of outstandingly well bred sheep went on to achieve the top average of the day.

Outwith the show pens there were several lots breaching £300 with the North of England Blackface gimmers, inparticular being in massive demand once again.

Following the gimmers saw the annual sale of draught ewes. Judging was in the capable hands of another flockmaster, Mr H Morshead, Harsondale who awarded his 1st prize rosette to the annual draught ewe consignment from Wanwood Hill, going on to realise £185.

Ewe lambs were next up, a very mixed show on offer with purchasers being very selective. Competently judged by Mr J Kennedy, Barron House, who was presented with very difficult task, finally awarding his first prize rosette to B Cheesbrough, Lanehead for the second year in succession. This pen of very well presented ewe lambs went on to top this section realising £165.

PRIZE LIST

Blackface Shearlings (Judge – F McKie, Finniness)

1st – Wanwood Partners

2nd – Murray, Sewing Shields

3rd – Mitchell, Henderland

Blackface Ewes (Judge –H Morsehead, Harsondale)

1st – Wanwood Ptns

2nd – McClymont, Dryhope

3rd – Dalgleish & Waugh, The Crew

Blackface Ewe Lambs (Judge – J Kennedy, Barron House)

1st – B Cheesebrough, Lanehead

2nd – Murray, Sewing Shields

3rd – Warden, Skelfhill

Blackface Rams (Judge – H Moreshead, Harsondale)

1st – C Halbert, Prospect House

2nd – Murray Sewing Shields

3rd – The Lamperts

FLOCK AVERAGES

Blackface Shearlings

Lamperts         £324 (49)

Wanwood       £294 (45)

Tofthouse       £270 (60)

Sewingshields £255 (40)

Cragieburn      £230 (41)

TOP PRICES

Blackface Gimmer Shearlings - £360 The Lamperts, £330 Wanwood Hill, £305 The Lamperts, £300 Lanehead, £300 Sewing Shields

Blackface Ewes- £195 Chapel, £185 Wanwood Hill, £180 Chapel, £175 (x2) The Crew

Blackface Ewe Lambs - £165 Lanehead, £135 Cramalt, £132 Low Greenley, £130 Sewing Shields

South Country Cheviot ewes

Centre records and breed records were once again broken as the South Counry Cheviot gimmers set off in fine form topping at £2,900 (Breed record) for the Abington Show champion, which was sired by the £5,000 Glenochar Riot and £1,100 for a pen of 4 gimmers also sired by Glenochar Riot consigned by noted Flockmaster M/s Goodfellow, Townfoot, Biggar. Other top prices from Stirkfield at £800 & £550.

Ewes sold to a top of £460 twice for 2 pens of 10 consigned by M/s Paton, Castle Crawford, Biggar. Others to £380 consigned from Stirkfield.

Ewe lambs were selective topping at £125 for a penful consigned by regular vendors M/s Douglas, Catslackburn

TOP PRICES

Cheviot Gimmer Shearlings - £2900, £1100 Townfoot, £800 & £550 Stirkfield

Cheviot Ewes - £460 (x2) Castle Crawford, £380 Stirkfield, £300 Castle Crawford

Cheviot Ewe Lambs - £125 & £122 Catlsackburn, £122 Hindhope

NORTH COUNTRY CHEVIOT

North Country Cheviots, both park type and hill types were once again in huge demand right throughout the breed sections.

NCC Gimmers set off with a bang when M/s Allen, Humbleheugh, Alnwick brought forward the finest run of park type Cheviots to grace the ring at Longtown. Their first gimmer in the ring, after some frantic bidding, scaled to £1,100 with further pens to £420 on two separate occasions. This fine run of gimmers went on to average £373 for 63 sold  

NCC Ewes topped at £360 for a pair of seriously well bred full mouthed ewes consigned by M/s N Macdonald, West Blackbyre, this run of finely bred ewes went onto average a huge £317 followed by another tremendous run of draught ewes from M/s Allen, Humbleheugh topping at £350 & £340 averaging a staggering £308.

Next up were the NCC Ewe lambs which did not disappoint in quality and in trade. Topping this section was again M/s Allen, Humbleheugh, which topped at £290 for a pen of 5 very breedy ladies. This outstanding run of ewe lambs went on to average a colossal £256.

TOP PRICES

North Country Cheviot Ewes - £360 West Blackbyre, £350, £340 Humbleheugh, £310 West Blackbyre, £300 Humbleheugh

North Country Cheviot Gimmer Shearlings- £1,100, £420 (x2) Humbleheugh

North Country Cheviot Ewe Lambs - £290, £280 & £270 Humbleheugh, £270 West Blackbyre

A small select show of Swaledales went under the hammer late on in the day topping at £180 for a pen upstanding 1 Crop ewes consigned by M/s Telford, Holme Head.

Swaledale - £180 Holme Head, £140 Low Field, £135 Low Stokoe

Swaledale - £152 Dumblar Rigg, £125 Holme Head

The Directors & Auctioneers at Longtown Auction thank all the staff who have worked tirelessly to make this sale work. Also thank both vendors and purchases alike for their time, patience and custom on the day. Circumstances dictated the sale fixture and hopefully we will be back as normal next year. We look forward to seeing you all again next year if not before.    

All Enquiries welcome. Please contact our auctioneers or fields personnel who will be pleased to take your calls

John Walton 07880527066

Daniel Lynn 07584200489

Sam Hogg 07584207323

Norman Douglas 07786366833

Willie Skilling 07774603103

Helen Rickard 07741313029