Saturday’s (9th September) second Southdown Society sale of the season at Melton Mowbray saw Dave and Chris Rhead sell their champion from the pre-sale show at 1000gns.

The Rheads’ sale topper and show leader was shearling ewe Light Oaks Tess, a Whitegate Borage daughter out of a dam by the homebred Light Oaks Bertram. She sold locally to Lorraine Levell, Normanton-On-Wolds.

Second best at 620gns was another shearling ewe from the same home, Light Oaks Tiffany. This one is a twin sister to the sale leader and headed away to Kent with Emma Merricks, Nonnington, for the Copperfield flock.

Following that in the females was a 420gns call for an aged ewe from Will Morton’s Blackfriar flock. This was Blackfriar 17/00067, a daughter of the imported sire Sarkozy and out of a dam by Great Fen 08/0089. She sold having run with Calley Castle Bramble and was taken by Tom Chester for the Chapel House flock, Staffs.

Then at 360gns was a ewe lamb from the same home, Blackfriar 23/01023. She’s by Calley Castle Bramble and out of a dam by Sarkozy and was knocked down to previous buyer Emma Merricks.

The same buyer also paid 340gns for shearling ewe Montecristo Nellie from Lorraine Levell. She’s by Wattisfield 20/00415 and out of a dam by Offham Prince Caspian.

Also heading away to Kent with Emma Merricks at 290gns was Glandore 22/00286, a shearling ewe from Basil Cooper. This one is by Offham Orion and out of a Ridings dam by an East Dean Sire.

And Messrs Watton then took 260gns for their ewe lamb White Horse Dahlia. This White Horse Ace daughter is out of a dam by Avenue Farm Kingsley and was bought by David Bellfield, Buxton.

Males

Topping the ram prices at 480gns was a shearling ram from Jonathan Long’s Chaileybrook flock, Chaileybrook 22/01372. Sired by the homebred Chaileybrook The Stag, he’s out of an imported French dam and had picked up a fistful of red tickets earlier in the summer. Buying him was Will Morton for the Blackfriar flock, Lincoln.

Following him at 450gns was the first prize shearling ram and reserve overall champion from the pre-sale show, Chaileybrook 22/01378 from the same home. This one is again by Chaileybrook The Stag and is out of a dam by Chaileybrook Tadpole. He was taken by Angela Tarry-Smith, Brackley.

The same buyer then paid 400gns for Blackfriar 22/00777, a son of East Dean 17/03178 fro Will Morton. He’s out of a Sarkozy-sired dam and had been successful on the show circuit as a lamb.

Then at 350gns was the first prize ram lamb from the pre-sale show, Chaileybrook 23/01754. Sired by the top priced shearling, Chaileybrook 22/01372, he is out of a dam by the homebred Chaileybrook 19/00560 and sold to previous buyer David Bellfield.

And at the same money was another ram lamb heading way with Mr Bellfield, Northumbria Oberon from Gordon and Matthew Sparke. This son of the homebred Northumbria Taranis is out of a Ridings dam by East Dean Distinction and was another to have been successful on the summer show circuit.

Averages; five shearling rams £396.90 (+£130.90), three ram lambs £336 (+136.50), one aged ewe £441 (+£93.88), six shearling ewes £465.50 (+£156.90), 15 ewe lambs £202.30 (+£21.70) (Melton Mowbray Market).