THE final sale of the season of breeding sheep and store lambs has taken place at Wombleton Airfield with more than 6,000 sheep sold on the day.

Despite the heavy rain, there were a good number of buyers around the ring sides, from many parts of the country. Trade was satisfactory in all departments leading to a near total clearance on the day. The sale was organised by Cundalls Auctioneers of Malton.

Store lambs sold on the day reached 3,340 and topped at £76; 116 continental gimmer lambs topped at £108 to average £80.

A good entry for the sale of 1,370 mule gimmer lambs were sold on the day and topped at £120 with an average of £67.30, just back on last year. Again a good entry of 638 mule shearlings made a respectable trade to top at £138 and average £117, £2 up on last year.

The trade in the ram ring was very competitive with Suffolk’s topping at a firm 660 guineas; continentals at 620 guineas; blue faced Leicesters at 170 guineas.

Helmsley Young Farmers again collected lambs from local producers and auctioned them off for their chosen charity, which this year was Macmillan Nurses.

Nineteen lambs were kindly donated and sold for a total of £1,317.

The Frank Flintoft Memorial Trophy, presented by the Young Farmers for the best gimmer lamb to Mrs R Wass, which sold for £116 to N Marwood of Harome, with the proceeds going to the charity.

The judges on the day for the commercial classes were David Simpson, of Thirsk, and Mr William Fawcett, of Sleightholmedale, who awarded prizes in the following classes.

The Green Farm Health Trophy for the best pen of Mule Gimmer Shearlings

1st Mrs RC Dugmore, Crosscliffe, sold for £138 to Mr Prest; 2nd R Mortimer, Glaisdale sold for £130 to AL Lyth, Lealholme; 3rd R Mortimer, Glaisdale sold for £130 to EW Snowdon, Helmsley.

The CW Evans Trophy for the best pen of Mule Gimmer Lambs

1st P Broughton, Bransdale sold for £120 to FE Ellis & Son, Old Byland; 2nd D& EM Dowsland, Farndale sold for £84 to D Simpson, Knayton; 3rd D & EM Dowsland, Farndale sold for £80 to D Simpson, Knayton.

Forward 6300 breeding sheep and store lambs.

Suffolk x shearlings to £140 – T Field, Boynton (£120); Texel x ewes to £102 – Thornton Park Estate (£56); Texel x shearlings to £127 – T Field, Boynton (£115); Charollais x ewes to £71 – Wright & dale, Wrelton (£46); Cheviot shearlings to £136 – RR Mackley, Lockton; Blue Face Leicester shearlings to £128 – R & J Myers, Bransdale; Mule ewes to £118 – B Meadley, Skeffling (£62.95); Mule Shearlings to £138 – Mrs RC Dugmore, Crosscliffe (£117). Mule Gimmer lambs to £120 – P Broughton, Bransdale (£67.30); Texel x Gimmer lambs to £108 – KB & RP Harrison (£76.20); Charollais gimmer lambs to £80 – DR Whitcher, Whenby; Texel x Store Lambs to £76 – A Harper, Skiplam; Suffolk x Store Lambs to £65.50 – JW Hardisty, Westerdale; Mule Lambs to £55 – PR Wilkinson, Fadmoor.

There was an excellent showing of both MV Accredited and Non-Accredited Rams through the ring.

Suffolk Shearling Rams to 620 guineas – J M Robinson, Great Limber; Suffolk Ram Lambs to 660 guineas – JT & EA Midgley, Kirbyunderdale; Texel Shearling Rams to 620 guineas – J Simpson, Fadmoor; Texel Ram Lambs to 320 guineas – Mrs JL Chapman Jewitt, Folkton; Charollais Shearling Rams to 310 guineas- DR Whitcher, Whenby; North Country Rams to 300 guineas – KO Stones, Richmond; Blue Faced Leicester Rams to 270 guineas – W Frank, Pickering; Swaledale Rams to 150 guineas – JS Wood, Bilsdale.