JUST under 6,000 sheep were sold at the final sale of the season of breeding sheep and store lambs at Wombleton Airfield.

Cundalls Auctioneers of Malton led the proceedings on October 25, which, in contrast to last year, took place under sunny skies.

Trade for the breeding stock, although back on last year, was satisfactory. However in contrast, the store lamb trade was as buoyant as it has ever been showing there is some confidence going forward into next year with or without Brexit.

A total of 2,339 store lambs were sold on the day and topped at £72 with an overall average of £9/head better than last year.

Continental gimmer lambs topped at an excellent £124 to average £77.81.

Less numbers of mule gimmer lambs were forward than usual with 910 been sold on the day and topped at £118 with an average of £59.30, some £8.00 /lamb back on last year.

A stronger entry of 772 mule shearlings made a trade representative of the seasonal demand to top at £142 and average £94.48, some £20/head back on last year.

The trade in the ram ring was very competitive with Suffolk’s topping at a firm 320 guineas; Continentals at 580 guineas; blue-faced Leicester’s at 230 guineas and Cheviots at a very impressive 480 guineas.

Helmsley Young Farmers again collected lambs from local producers and auctioned them off for their chosen charity. Twelve lambs were kindly donated and sold for a total of £810.

The Frank Flintoft Memorial Trophy, presented by the young farmers for the best gimmer lamb, went to Wytherstone Farms, which sold for £120 to James Burton, with the proceeds going to the charity.

The judges on the day for the commercial classes were Dan Stainthorpe, of Robin Hood's Bay, and S Allen of Taddington, Derbyshire, who awarded prizes in the following classes:

The Green Farm Health Trophy for the best pen of Mule Gimmer Shearlings - 1st Mr R Mortimer, sold for £142 to the judge, Mr S Allen; 2nd FC Ellis sold for £130 to Mr C Coulson, Newby; 3rd PW & EE Hardaker, Kirbymoorside sold for £120 to L Holtby, Ruswarp.

The CW Evans Trophy for the best pen of Mule Gimmer Lambs - 1st P Broughton, Bransdale sold for £118 to The Judge D Stainthorpe, Robin Hood's Bay; 2nd J S Wood, Bilsdale sold for £91 to The Judge D Stainthorpe, Robin Hood's Bay; 3rd G Featherstone, Wilton sold for £75 to JF & TY Monkman, Malton.

Forward 5,550 breeding sheep and store lambs. Suffolk x shearlings to £152 – B Meadley, Skeffling (£90.24); Texel x ewes to £87 – Askham bryan College (£67.92); Texel x shearlings to £118 – F E Ellis 7 Son, Old Byeland (£85.55); Charollais x ewes to £54 – N Tinsley, Farndale (£36); Blue Face Leicester shearlings to £67 – R & J Myers, Bransdale; Mule ewes to £66 – JW Hardisty, Westerdale (£47.19); Mule Shearlings to £142 – R Mortimer, Glaisdale (£94.48); Mule Gimmer lambs to £118 – P Broughton, Bransdale (£59.30); Texel x Gimmer lambs to £124 – Mrs P Foster, Egton (£77.81); Texel x Store Lambs to £71 – A Harper, Skiplam (£52.80); Suffolk x Store Lambs to £72 – WMG Ainsley, Chopgate (£58.69); Mule Lambs to £59 – WMG Ainsley (£51.30).

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

Suffolk Shearling Rams to 300 guineas – MT Bulmer, Salton; Suffolk Ram Lambs to 360 guineas – J & J Coleman, Burton Fleming; Texel Shearling Rams to 580 guineas – J Simpson, Fadmoor; Texel Ram Lambs to 410 guineas – J Simpson, Fadmoor; Charollais Shearling Rams to 255guineas- T & J Hunter, Hunmanby; North Country Rams to 480 guineas – KO Stones, Richmond; Blue Faced Leicester Rams to 230 guineas – K Adams, East Moors; Swaledale Rams to 250 guineas – A & H Wheldon, East Moors.