Kendal
By Stephen Dixon
The year started with a trip down to Devon to NSA Sheep South West, kindly hosted by Brian and Liz Griffiths who also supplied
us with a very good NEMSA ewe with lambs. This was a very good advert for the Mule, with plenty of praise for how the ewe looked
and how she was milking her lambs - exactly what the commercial buyers are looking for.
Kendal branch also attended Okehampton show and it was great to catch up with many familiar faces who were pleased
we had made the effort to travel and see them.
The gimmer lamb show and sale soon came around with the show on the Friday night once again a huge success and
a great event with the auction packed once again. This year the judging was conducted by Bryan Griffiths and Martin Woodward.
They had a great line up of 13 pens of 20 put in front of them. They awarded:
1st A&H Watson. Middleton Hall.
2nd PE&M Capstick. Whicham Hall
3rd Inman Family, Strickland Hill Farm
4th JA&CA Gibson. Longwell
5th TA&JA Dixon. Yoadpot
6th JA&J Burrow. Thursgill
And in the 10’s the judges had a tough job with 22 pens put forward.
1st RH&C Ayrton. Ouzlethorn
2nd PE&M Capstick
3rd TA&JA Dixon
4th A&H Watson
5th Messrs Hodgson. High Borrans
6th JA&J Burrow
The “Stars in your Eyes” show and sale of individual gimmer lambs kindly judged by Mr David Buck.
1st TLB&J Knowles, High Borrowbridge
2nd RI Dixon, Low Newton
3rd D&CE Marston, Easgill Head
4th R&E Ladds, Benson Hall
5th JS&S Atkinson, Sykes Farm
6th Messrs Hodgson
A record-breaking year with this year’s champion “Stars in your Eyes” from TLB&J Knowles selling for £360.
The main sale came on the Saturday with over 7000 lambs forward, selling to an average of £75.60. Receiving The Bruce Willison Shield for the best run of lambs was A&H Watson, Middleton Hall, judged by Mr M Archer. Congratulations and well done to all prize winners.
Kendal Branch held its annual charity night, raising £1,500. A great opportunity to get everyone together after the hectic sales season.
These evenings have been really well supported and hopefully they will continue to be so.
Then down the road to the Lancaster sale with 1600 lambs forward averaging £76.30. Thank you must go to M Barker for his
expertise with 13 pens of 10 put before him to judge, he placed the pens of 10 in the order of
1st T Ayrton & Son, Yates Farm
2nd RH&C Ayrton
3rd AC&K Pye, Dunkenshaw Farm
4th WI&A Atkinson & Son, Holme House Farm
And the 20s
1st B&SE Carter, Cragg End
2nd & 4th W&A Cornall, Bank Farm
3rd AC & K Pye, Dunkenshaw
Now this just leaves me to thank all the branch committee, judges, sponsors, auction mart staff and Yvonne for all the work they have
put in over the past 12 months and finally a thank you to all customers. I hope you have a good farming year and look forward to
seeing you in the Kendal branch in the autumn.
Stephen Dixon