Northumberland
By branch chair Kevin Ridley
The first event in the Northumberland branch calendar was NSA North Sheep down the road at Frankland Farms, Settle. NEMSA
once again displayed a fantastic representation of our breed, of which Northumberland presented a quality outfit of a Hexham Blackface bred Hogg with a tremendous Suffolk x lamb at foot, kindly loaned by Mr Joe Vickers, Rennington South.
Next was our first sale at Hexham Auction Mart where a strong show of lambs was brought forward by all exhibitors. Our master judges
on the day, Mr R Telford and Mr J Elliot, expertly placed the pens of 25 in the following order.
1st RD Archer & Son, Carry House.
2nd J Hunter & Sons, The Steel.
3rd R English & Son, Brownsleazes.
The Stuart Ridley Memorial trophy for the best run of 100 lambs was awarded to RD Archer & Son, Carry House. Top end lambs
weren’t in as much demand as previously seen, but smaller tupping lambs seemed a good trade on the day.
The second sale saw another great show of lambs forward. Trade would be dearer on the year with most vendors content with their day's trading. The show pens of ten were ably judged by Mr I Hamilton, Claywalls, and he awarded the tickets as follows.
1st JW Smith-Jackson, Hightown.
2nd BD&MS Hope, Albierigg.
3rd R English & Son
The best run of 60 was awarded to BD&MS Hope.
I would like to wish everyone my best for the coming year and hope you all have a good lambing.
I wish you all the best for 2019.
Kevin Ridley