Southdown trade topped at 900gns at Worcester on Saturday (10 August), with a shearling ram from Jonathan Long’s Chaileybrook flock, Bishops Frome, Herefordshire. This one lead the prices after the flock had clinched three of the four class wins in the pre-sale show.

Topping the prices on the day was Chaileybrook 18/00297, a February 2018-born ET son of imported sire Percheron out of Chaileybrook 15/0010, herself a daughter of the flock’s successful French bred past stock ram, Sarkozy. Backed by a formidable show winning pedigree, with both his parents being multiple breed champions, this ram had been champion at Tenbury the previous weekend and was knocked down at 900gns to Jessica Middleditch for her Wakes Hall flock, Norfolk.

Second best of the day in the males was a 720gns call for another Chaileybrook shearling, Chaileybrook 18/00300. This one is another by Percheron and is out of a Golden Valley ewe and had stood first in the shearling ram class in the pre-sale show. He sold to the day’s judge Steve Smith and his wife, Helen, for their Pen Parc flock, Welshpool.

And then at 520gns was Chaileybrook 18/00307, a full ET brother to the sale leader and also the flock’s unbeaten show gimmer. This shearling was the pick of Megan Chilcott for the Huntspill flock, Somerset.

At 400gns was the day’s reserve overall champion from the pre-sale show and the best of the ram lambs on the day, Brant 19/00656, a son of imported sire Ibanez and out of a Sarkozy daughter. This one sold to Chloe and Katie West for their Westmorr flock, Gloucestershire.

Close behind at 390gns was a shearling ram from Stephen and Paul Humphrey’s East Dean flock, East Dean 18/3602. Sired by Goodwood Ebor and out of a dam by East Dean 11/00450, he was knocked down to Messrs Matthews and Llewellyn, Staffordshire.

Females

Top call of the day in the females was a 700gns bid for a shearling ewe from the Chichester, West Sussex-based, Goodwood flock in the form of Goodwood 18/012931. Sired by Southern Cross 14/00529 and out of a dam by East Dean 11/00419, she sold to Keith Manning, Cissbury, West Sussex.

Then at 600gns was Goodwood 19/08127, a ewe lamb by Ridings 15/03130 and out of a homebred dam by Rene. She sold to Kathryn Wheeler, Herefordshire.

Next best at 520gns was the pre-sale champion and winner of the shearling ewe class, Chaileybrook 18/00289 from the Long family. Sired by Percheron this gimmer is out of a daughter of The Frog and was bought by Steve and Helen Smith, Pen Parc.

Messrs Humphrey then sold at shearling ewe at 500gns, with this being East Dean 18/3648. By the homebred sire East Dean 14/01744 and out of a dam by East Dean 09/2131, she sold to Messrs Williams and Phillips, Llandeillo.

Another Goodwood shearling ewe then sold at 480gns, with this being Goodwood 19/12932, another by Southern Cross 14/00529 and this time out of a dam by East Dean 11/00419. She sold to Chris and Helen Owen, Pen Y Cefn, Caerwys.

Close behind at 460gns was Goodwood 18/10128, a daughter of Ridings 15/03130 and out of a dam by an imported sire. She was the pick of S and C Bufton, Llandrindod Wells, Powys.

Averages: Seven shearling rams £537, four ram lambs £259.87, 27 shearling ewes £309.36, 26 ewe lambs £218.27, eight flock ewes £136.50 (McCartneys).