Herdwick Sheep Breeders Association - Based in Cumbria, The Lake District

Mitchells Lakeland Livestock Centre Cockermouth will be holding a multi breed sale of female sheep including Herdwicks on Friday 12 th February 2010.

HSBA in conjunction with Lakeland Livestock Centre are holding a show and sale of Herdwick Ewes in Lamb, Herdwick Gimmer Shearlings and Herdwick Gimmer Lambs.

Bentham & District Farmers’ Auction Mart Co Ltdwill be holding a multibreed sale of individual breeding sheep including Herdwick In Lamb Ewes, In Lamb Shearlings and Gimmer Hoggs on Tuesday 23 rd February 2010. A show for HSBA members will take place prior to the sale.

AGM Monday 1 st February 2010

The Rampant Bull Cockermouth 7.30pm

Ian Lawson Photographer will give a presentation on his book of

The Herdwick

BBC Lambing documentary

Adam from Adam’s farm on Countryfile and Kate Humble have been filming at Turner Hall to illustrate the hefting instinct of sheep. The programme focussing on lambing will be out later this year.

Broughton Annual Sale of Herdwick and Swaledale Rams
Tuesday 29th September 2009

At Broughton on Tuesday 29th September Harrison & Hetherington held their Annual Sale of 307 Swaledale and Herdwick Rams.

The usual great ringside of buyers ensured a brisk trade. Top price of the day was 2500gns for a tremendous Herdwick ram from M/s Nicholson of Swinside End Farm. An overall Herdwick average of £373.18 was achieved.

Herdwick: (in Gns): 2500 Swinside End Farm, 2000, 1500, 1300, 1200, 1100, 1000 Turner Hall Farm, 1900 Tilberthwaite Farm, 1300 Gatesgarth Farm, 1150 Anns Cottage, 1100 Taw House, 1000 Thorniethwaite

Swaledale: £450 Turner Hall, £400 Hill Top, £400 Park House, £400, £330, £300 Low Kinmont, £380 Gill Side, £320 Old Hall Farm.

AGED TUP

12 in class

2 SHEAR

19 in class

SHEARLING

25 in class

Best Mouth

1st A. Hartley 3938

2nd W. Richardson 5003

3rd J. Bland 4035

4th G. Wilkinson 5433

1st J. Wilson 5225

2nd D. Bland 4650

3rd J. Relph 5315

4th M/s Harrison 5006

1st A.Nicholson 4553

2nd G. Wilkinson 4942

3rd G. Wilkinson 4946

4th M/s Lightfoot 4616

J. Bland 4035

CHAMPION A.HARTLEY 3938 RESERVE A. NICHOLSON 4553

At Broughton on Tuesday 6th October Harrison & Hetherington held their Annual Sale of Swaledale and Herdwick Ewes. A good show of 2029 sheep were forward for sale. Correct Herdwick ewes were regularly 40 – 43 pounds meaning many of the packed ringside of customers went away empty handed. An overall sale average of £48.03 was achieved.

Top price of the day was £320 for a pen of Herdwick shearlings consigned by M/s Fox of Taw House, Eskdale. The second top price of the day was £250 for another great pen of Herdwicks consigned by Anthony Hartley of Turner Hall. Top price Swaledale’s were £92 from Mr JE Hudson of Whetstone Croft, Woodland.

Leading ewe prices:
Herdwick £320, £72, £70 Taw House, £250, £150, £76, £73, £70 Turner Hall Farm, £110 Drigg Cross, £98 Cockley Beck. Swaledale £92, £70 Whetstone Croft, £82 Holebeck. Texel £81 Galemire House. Hill Cheviot £65, £64, £62, £61, £60 Baskell Farm, £60 Spout House Farm.

TREMENDOUS WEEKEND FOR HERDWICKS:
Mitchell’s Annual Two day Sale of Herdwick Breeding Sheep proved to be a fantastic affair. An excellent entry of 4,000 Herdwick females filled the Lakeland Livestock Centre on Friday. The sale attracted a huge crowd of buyers from throughout the United Kingdom with prices at their dearest level for many years. The overall average for Herdwick ewes was £42 per head selling to a top of £190 per head for a tremendous pen of gimmer twinters from Stanley Jackson, Nook Farm, who also sold the Champion pen of ewes at £130. Judging of the prize classes was in the expert hands of Anthony Hartley, Turner Hall, who made short work of three very competitive classes. Herdwick gimmer shearlings averaged £57 per head. A small entry of Herdwick gimmer lambs averaged £34 per head topping at £48 to Messrs Bland and Barnes, Knott Houses. Crossed Herdwick ewes and other breeds continue to sell very well with an excellent run of Cheviot ewes averaging £74, selling to a top of £80 to Messrs Harrison, Brotherilkeld. The second autumn sale of breeding rams held on the same day once again proved to be a very successful sale with rams of all breeds and ages averaging £291 selling to a top of £660 for a Texel from Messrs G Wilkinson, Arkleby House.

1st & Champion
W S Jackson, Nook Farm £130 to M/s Hogg Winscales Farm West;
2nd:Messrs Harrison, Brotherilkeld £80 to J W Relph, Yew Tree;
3rd: D & J Wilson, Ann’s Cottage £92 to K W Hooks, St Bees;
4th: D Bland, West Head £60 to J W Relph, Yew Tree.
Herdwick Gimmer Twinters
1st:W S Jackson, Nook Farm £190 to K Smith Lydeard St Lawrence;
2nd:J M Rebanks, Hillside House £60 to D W Cannon, Low Abbey;
3rd:D & J Wilson, Ann’s Cottage £70 to K W Hooks, St Bees;
4th:A & C Ivinson, Sandwick £50 to K G Holliday, Strudda Bank;
Herdwick Gimmer Lambs
1st:R E & L Elliott, Farlam £40 to Whittaker & Thompson, Kirkby in Furness;
2nd:Bland & Barnes, Knott Houses £40 to Whittaker & Thompson, Kirkby in Furness;
3rd:D & J Wilson, Ann’s Cottage £40 to S Richardson, Fold Head;
4th: G Hogg, Winscales farm West £50 to K W Hooks, St Bees.

Knott Houses; 72, 60, 58 West Head Farm; 60 Hillside House; 60 Briar Bank; 56 The Lea;
Herdwick Gimmer Shearlings
190 Nook Farm; 130 Little Cross; 56 Skelsceugh; 56 Sandwick; 55 Ann’s Cottage; 55 Briar Bank; 50 Hillside House; 48 Forth House; 46 West Head
Herdwick Gimmer Lambs
48, 37 Knott Houses; 43, 35 Skelsceugh; 40, 35, 34 Ann’s Cottage; 40 (x2), 35 (x2) Winscales Farm West; 40 Stone Barn; 36 Briar Bank; 35 Sandwick; 34 Hillside House; 34 Nook Farm;

EWES

Gimmers Shearlings

Gimmer Lambs

1 st S. Jackson

2 nd M/S Harrison

3 rd J.Wilson

4 th M/S Bland

1 st S Jackson

2 nd J. Rebanks

3 rd J.Wilson

4 th A&C Ivinson

1 st R,E & L Elliot

2 nd P. Bland

3 rd WS. Jackson

4 th G. Hogg

Saturday 3rd October RAM SALE
Mitchells held their Annual Sale of Registered Herdwick Rams under the auspices of the Herdwick Sheep Breeders Association. A large entry of 223 rams were in much demand with once again buyers attending the sale from throughout England, Scotland and Wales. The overall sale average was £485 per head a rise of more than £120 on the year. A fabulous entry of show rams were put to the judges, Tom Postlethwaite and Eric Taylforth, and their eventual final pick was the aged tup from Paul Naylor, Bowderdale, which also won the best mouth in the show. The Champion ram went on to sell for 2,300 guineas. However, it was the Reserve Champion, a shearling ram from Andrew and Karen Nicholson, Swinside End that got the top price bid of the day at 4,300 guineas closely followed by a shearling ram from Anthony Hartley, Turner Hall, which made 4,200 guineas. There was quality spread across the catalogue and at the end of the sale there were 21 tups making in excess of 1,000 guineas per head.

Herdwick Rams Show Results (All prices in Guineas)
Aged Rams
1st & Champion P Naylor, Bowderdale (also best mouth) 2,300;
2nd R R Weir, Chapel Farm 1,000;
3rd A G & K F Nicholson, Swinside End 1,450;
4th M Fox, Tawhouse 1,750
2 Shear Rams
1st M Fox, Taw House 2,000;
2nd E Liddle, Nook Farm 1,000;
3rd W S Jackson, Nook Farm 580;
4th M/s Rawling, Hollins Farm 1,400.
Shearling Rams
1st & Reserve Champion A G & K F Nicholson, Swinside End 4,300;
2nd K Wrathall, Cockley Beck 2,100;
3rd M/s Richardson Fold Head;
4th A Hartley, Turner Hall 4,200

Leading Prices;
4,300; 2,300; 1,500; 1,450; 1,000 Swinside End;
4,200 Turner Hall; 2,300, 1,800 Bowderdale;
2,100; 1,000 Cockley Beck;
2,100; 1,750 Taw House;
1,900; 1,400 Mireside;
1,400 Ann’s Cottage;
1,400 Hollins Farm;
1,200 Millbeck Hall;
1,200 West Head;
1,000 Chapel Farm;
1,00 Nook Farm (Liddle);
1,000; 950 Brockstones;
950 Fold Head;
950 How Hall;
950 Crook’a’Beck;
850 Ulcatrow;
850 Barfield.

AGED TUPS

25 in class

2 SHEAR

40 in class

SHEARLING

32 in class

1 ST P. Naylor 4182

+ Best Mouth

2 nd J. Weir 4685

3 rd A. Nicholson 4816

4 th M. Fox 4231

1 st M. Fox 5009

2 nd E. Liddle 4981

3 rd W.S. Jackson 5329

4 th W. Rawling 4592

1 st A. Nicholson 4555

2 nd K. Wrathall 4921

3 rd S. Richardson 4678

4 th A. Hartley 4200

CHAMPION P.NAYLOR 4182 RESERVE A. NICHOLSON 4555

I c

an highly recommend Geoff’s long awaited book, it is a masterpiece containing many excellent pictures. The research he has undertaken is astounding and well documented. The origin of the breed is considered and how it has developed from the early days through to the formation of the breed society. There are a great many references to farming families and their relationships with the farms which is fascinating. Geoff also reflects on the challenges to the Herdwick and its future. The time Geoff spent as secretary to the breed society has given him a special insight which he has generously shared.

The book is available through Hayloft Publishing Ltd, Great Skerrygill, South Stainmore, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria, CA17 4DJ 017683 42300

Geoff Launched his book at the Fell Dales Show at Eskdale on 26th September 2009

Venue
Laund Farm, Chipping, Preston, Lancashire PR3 2GS

Date
Wednesday 3rd June 2009

The event this year was held and Laund Farm, Chipping near Preston. Hannah Dickinson, Jean Wilson and Lana Norman put together a fantastic display. The sheep pens were beautifully decorated with plants and the slate surrounds to the bases provided a really natural setting. Other members of the exective attended to talk to visitors and an effort was made to promote Herdwick draft ewes, with one pen of a Herdwick ewe and fine crossbred lambs.

Myerscough College Open Day and Country Fair

HSBA were invited to the open day at Myerscough Agricultural College. Ian Grisedale took four pens of sheep and again the display was impressive. David and Lana Norman set up the display trailer for its first outing this year and sold many Herdwick goods. Again members of the executive were on hand to promote the Herdwick as a draft ewe. 15,000 people attended

The premier show for the Herdwick is at the Fell Dales Association’s Eskdale Show

May Fair 2009

George Harryman won the Championship with his 3 year old tup (also the champion at the Yorkshire Show) and Anthony Hartley won the Edmondson cup with his tup shearling.

Representatives from the newly formed Belgian Herdwick Sheep Breeders Society “ Vereniging Belgische Herdwickfokkers” attended the May Fair and met with members of the HSBA Executive and other breeders. Sylvere Duframont the society’s chairman and colleagues stayed with Herdwick breeders in B&B accomaodation in different parts of the Lake District. Mary Bell at Crookabeck invited them to see Herwdick wool products and Joe and Hazel Relph showed them around their tearoom and shop. David Stephenson gave a slideshow at the Rampant Bull allowing the Belgians to meet and discuss the breed with more members. (photo D Stephenson)

For the shows that were held we have generally had good classes of Herdwick sheep. Eskadale show was very wel attended.Once again many thanks for those showing for all the work they put in and representing the breed to the rest of the farming community and to the general public. We no doubt all look forward to seeing sheep again at the shepherds’ meets. Thanks are due as ever to David and Lana Norman for taking our new display trailer to various shows and other countryside events.

Tup Registration
As usual tup registration will take place on members’ farms within the Lake District National Park or within 10 miles of its boundary. Inspections will take place from Monday 7 th September over 2 weeks .

We have divided the Lake District into three regions Eastern Lakes, Western Lakes and South Lakes. Each region will have a coordinator who will arrange the registration of Tups in the area.

Please note that you should, if at all possible, be with your tups to catch them etc. We would request that tups should be presented in good condition.

We will not register sheep that have not put up their first two broad teeth and nor will we register tups with split cods. Those wishing to sell small numbers of quality gimmer sheep should present them for inspection whilst registering their tups.

Annual Show & Sale of Registered Herdwick Rams and Females on behalf of H.S.B.A.

Please note the Mitchells’ Sale is a two day sale. There is also the Annual Prize show and sale of Herdwick breeding ewes, shearlings and lambs. Entry forms for both sales from 01900- 822016. Purchased sheep from both days can be moved from the market on Saturday.

Broughton Auction (auctioneers H & H Kendal Partnership, tel. 01539 720603): registered and unregistered tups, but unregistered tups only to be sold after all registered tups sold.

Annual sale of Swaledale, Herdwick, Cheviot and other hill bred ewes and gimmer shearlings also Swaledale and Herdwick gimmer lambs

Sales Results for 2008

The sales at Broughton and Cockermouth were well attended. Sponsorship was received from Dorothy Sharp, Furness and South Cumberland Supply, H & H Auctioneers and a bottle of Brandy from Booths supermarket in Ulverston. Nat West Bank has continued their sponsorship of the two days of Cockemouth sales.

Broughton Tup Sales 2008 Judges D. Norman & D. Harrison

Cockermouth Tup Sales 2008 Judges I. Benson & S. Simpson

Book by Therese and Hugh Southgate which the Association has assisted. It is essentially a cookery book but also contains sections on the history of the breed, some of the legends associated with Herdwick country and a series of guided walks. It is a good read!

HERDWICK FEMALE SHEEP SALES