Judge Enfys Williams of the Llan flock, Llanwrda, Carmarthenshire tapped out the shearling ewe, Pistyll Hazel from G A and H M Francis, Abergorlech, Carmerthen, as the overall pre-sale show champion at Welshpool on Thursday 12 December 2024 at the Merry Belles show and sale.
Pistyll Hazel is a result of a flush from a homebred ewe and sired by Ettrick Firefly, that also sired the 20,000gns 2023 Royal Welsh champion Beili Blues Hulk. She sold in lamb to Cairnrock Fully Loaded, to S Griffiths, Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, for the second highest sale price on the day of 1120gns.
The sale was topped by another Firefly bred shearling ewe again in lamb to Cairnrock Fully Loaded, this time from R Francis of the Top-Bank flock, Abergorlech, Carmarthen. C A Jessop and Sons had to bid to 1350gns to secure Top-Bank Heidi out of Crew (ET) who is full of Dutch breeding on the dam side for their Tubsies flock, based in Coalville, Leicestershire.
D R and E W Jones, Llandrillo, Corwen, purchased the third prize shearling ewe from the same stable as the sale leader, for 850gns. Shearling ewe, Top-Bank Haf (ET), was sired the same way but this time bred from Ettrick Ebony Rosa (ET). Heading to the same postcode were a further two lots. A deal was done at 750gns for Top-Bank Heather a result of the same flush as their previous purchase and they bid 500gns for G A and H M Francis’ Pistyll Holly, a firefly daughter bred from an imported ewe.
The reserve overall championship was claimed by Sara Gibbons, Brecon, Powys for her 2020-born aged ewe, Whatmore Ester, sired by Whatmore Chaos, who sired the 25,000gns Whatmore E-Male. She was purchased by S A Cherry, Newtown, Powys for 500gns.
E and T Powell, Llandrindod Wells, Powys put their money on three lots from M P Harding, Montgomery, Powys whose trade peaked at 650gns for their Hardys Blues Hope, a Nantderri Dylan (ET) sired shearling ewe, bred from the homebred Hardy Blues Freda, which was sold in lamb to Titanium Jackknife.
G Bowen, Weobley Marsh, Herefordshire, sold his Nantyderri Frank sired twin ewe lambs for 500gns a piece. First prize Bramley Blues Jodie was snapped up by G V and J A Hardman, Shrewsbury, Shropshire and the second prize Bramley Blues Josie was purchased by G Ellis, Llanelltyd, Dolgellau.
SHOW RESULTS
Judge – Enfys Williams – Llan Flock, Llanwrda, Carmarthenshire
Overall champion – Shearling ewe – Lot 468 – G A & H M Francis, Pistyll, Pistyll Uchaf, Carmarthen
Reserve overall champion – Aged Ewe – Lot 450 – Sara Gibbons, Whatmore, Dan-y-Mynydd, Brecon
Aged Ewe
1st – Lot 450 Sara Gibbons
Shearling Ewe
1st – Lot 468 G A & H M Francis
2nd – Lot 459 Emma Harding
3rd – Lot 465 Rhys Francis
4th – Lot 464 Rhys Francis
5th – Lot 462 Emma Harding
6th – Lot 461 Emma Harding
Ewe Lamb
1st – Lot 472 George Bowen
2nd – Lot 471 George Bowen
Averages: 4 aged ewes £472.50; 10 in-lamb shearling ewes £762.30; 2 ewe lambs £315 (Welshpool Livestock Sales).
