The overall show champion and leading ewe lamb at Melton Mowbray’s Winter Warmer Show and Sale came from Anite Padfield and Paul Barwood, Gt Yarmouth, Norfolk. This January-born Blue Diamond Jewell, sired by the champion shearling tup at the National Blue Texel show in 2023, a Yarburgh ram by Boyo Emperor (ET) who himself was overall champion at the Royal Three Counties show, male champion at the Great Yorkshire Show and who won the aged ram class at the Royal Highland Show.
Not only did Blue Diamond Jewell sparkle in the pre-sale show to take the overall championship, but she went on to top the sale at 900gns selling to G McDowell, Tilton on the Hill, Leicestershire. Judge, Joe Thornley who runs the pedigree Joes flock in Derbyshire alongside 30 pedigree Beltex, 15 pedigree Charolais cows and a commercial flock consisting of 120 commercial ewes, remarked, “I would like to express my thanks for being asked to judge at Melton, this was only my second occasion in the judging role. The overall quality at the Winter Warmers this year was good, but the strongest section by far was the ewe lambs which is where I found my champion. She’s a lovely well-balanced lamb and I am delighted that she topped the market.”
Winning the aged ewe section was Littlewood Gill from Josh Geary, out of Stonycroft Doris, who was champion at the winter warmers sale in 2022 and sold to S Howe, Newtown, Isle of Wight, in lamb with twins to Saltire Blue Fire, for the joint second highest price of the day, 720gns.
Sharing the spotlight for the second highest price was R Mawer and E Benger from the Premier flock, Lincolnshire with their fourth prize shearling ewe, Premier Heaven. This one is by the Ettrick Flodden sired Premier Gypsy King, out of Premier Crystal. P Fraser, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire snapped up this shearling ewe that was served by Premier Gamble on 8 September for 720gns. Returning home to the same postcode was the 650gns, second-prize shearling ewe, Mac Heather by Ranachan Finch and bred by H McCurdie Rugby, Warwickshire, and 600gns Premier Hazel, a Saltire Blue Extreme daughter served by Premier Jackflash from R Mawer and E Benge.
Next best from H McCurdie at 650gns was Mac Happiness out of Silson Faithful. Sired by Ranachan Finch and scanned in lamb to Silson Gladiator, she sold to J K and J M Breare, Hannington, Northamptonshire. Two further shearling ewes, in lamb to Silson Gladiator from H McCurdie made 620gns, the first was Mac Hearty again by Ranachan Finch and purchased by T Stayt, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, while the second was snapped up by J A Walker and Son, Coleby Lincoln, for Mac Honey out of a homebred ewe.
Show and sale leaders A Padfield and P Barwood invested 600gns in new genetics securing the first prize shearling ewe, Fyfin Blue Floyd, sired Kelby Heather from T Mawer, Grantham, Lincolnshire, she was served on 1 September 2024 by Manor House Houston Furnicaha.
Averages: 2 aged ewes £666.75; 19 shearling ewes £556.50; 12 ewe lambs £399.50 (Melton Mowbray).
