After 28 years as Jacob sheep breeders, Sid and Sheila Moore, of Newton-le-Willows, Bedale, consigned the last of their long-established Willmors flock at the Jacob Sheep Society Northern Region 49th annual show and sale at CCM Skipton Auction Mart on August 31.

Of their seven-strong consignment, six were shown, all six winning rosettes, one going on to stand female, then overall champion under show judge, former farming journalist Howard Walsh, Thornley flock Longridge, who himself stood 2021 breed champion at Skipton.

The title winner which provided such a fitting finale for the couple – Mr Moore is a rising octogenarian and was assisted on the day by grandson Jack Brittain – was the first-prize aged ewe, a very correct full mouthed March, 2019, four-horn and one of three acquired from Ben Stanley’s Derbyshire flock three years ago. By Blackbrook Hibbins, the victor made 480gns when going to Scotland with Robert Locker, Greenlaw, Berwickshire.

Notable among the other Moore ticket winners was a daughter of the aged ewe victor, a February, 2024, four-horn by Willmors Quincy, which finished runner up in the ewe lamb show class, making 380gns.

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Top call of 700gns fell to the second-prize shearling ewe from the Connor & Dalrymple partnership, Dunmor flock, Linlithgow, West Lothian. The January, 2023,4-horn, fully home-bred by Dunmor Five Star, out of a Dunmor Ace-sired ewe, returned north of the border with Ian Forsyth, Aberlour, Strathspey.

The red rosette-winning shearling ewe from local breeder, Claire Bentham, Greenbank flock, Long Preston, a home-bred March, 2023, 2-horn by Border War Dance, out of a Rill Chill-sired dam, also caught the eye on price when achieving second top of 580gns and heading to Wales with Rhys Jones, Pwllheli, on the Llŷn Peninsula.

The same exhibitor also made 400gns with the third prize shearling ram, Greenbank Cartier, a March, 2023, 2-horn, with very similar breeding to her class-winning shearling ewe. The buyer was Albans Barnyard, Denbury, Kent.

Rams saw a good clearance, with a section high of 500gns for the first prize ram lamb from fixture regular Jean Price, Pentrenant flock, Churchstoke, Powys. Her Pentrenant Fire Pit, a February-born four-horn by Hope Fire Blast, out of a dam by Pentre King Harp, joined fellow exhibitors John and Rachel Knowles, Riverbank flock, Clitheroe, who themselves stood runners-up in the shearling ram show class with Riverbank Bobby Dazzler, a January, 2023, 2-horn by Kinloch Kingfisher, sold for 180gns to fellow exhibitors George and Layla Iredale, Hellvellyn flock, Glendinning, Penrith.

Best senior ram on price at 400gns was the first-prize aged ram and stock tup, Hurrsdale Remy, from Cumbrian breeder Emma Wilson, Wastwater flock, Millstead. Bred by Skipton husband and wife, Gavin and Rebecca Haworth’s Hurrsdale flock, the February, 2022, four-horn son of Wharf Rocket, out of a Pentrenant dam daughter of Hope Flash Lad, joined Emma Hall, Middleton, Pickering.

The overall reserve champion, also from Cumbria, was the first-prize shearling ram from Geoff and Sheila Wood, Moorhouse flock, Bardsea, Ulverston. Their January, 2023, two-horn, Moorhouse Eric, is by Moorhouse Alfie, said to be one of the flock’s best stock tups, out of a home-bred dam by Elmley Helmsman, the 2020 Great Yorkshire Show breed champion.

The reserve, recipient of the Gordon Connor Memorial Salver presented to the Skipton reserve champion by DunMor in honour of the late National Field Officer, made 400gns when heading to Norfolk with Bowes Farms, Thetford.

The red rosette-winning ewe lamb from Welsh breeder Jackie Jones, Milldale flock, Pantyffridd, Powys, a January-born four-horn by Kinloch Lenny, out of a home-bred Loynton Lionheart-sired ewe, made 360gns when also joining Ian Forsyth.

Top call among the ewe lambs at 450gns fell to Scotland’s Ewen Macmillan, Luruha flock, Fintry, with the third prize winner, a January-born two-horn by Penni Bach Celt, out of a Harbell Lincoln dam, claimed by Sontley Jacobs, Wrexham.

A dispersal sale of 14 head from local breeder Iris Boothman, Halton flock, Halton East, produced a top of 330gns for a home-bred April, 2023, shearling ewe by Beiliau Ricky, going to Joe Edmondson, Kendal. The 12 Halton females averaged £201.67.

Top prices and averages were: shearling ewes to 700gns, av £252 (2023 £208), ewe lambs to 450gns, av £229 (£200), ewes to 480gns, av £182 (£164), aged rams to 400gns, shearling rams to 400gns, av £245 (£528), ram lambs to 500gns, av £270 (£311).