Shearling rams were on flying form at Ludlow on Saturday, September 7 for the annual Kerry Hill sale, which saw a top price of 5,500 guineas for the Owens family’s Woodhouse flock.

Sale leader from the Presteigne-based flock was the pre-sale show champion, Woodhouse 2 Defender. Having stood reserve male champion at this year’s Royal Welsh Show, he’s by Dalwyne Avici and is out of a homebred ewe carrying homebred lines on both sides. Backing his convictions, judge Will Evans purchased his championship choice at 5,500gns.

The Woodhouse team continued their strong run of form selling another shearling ram, Woodhouse 2 Dare Devil for 3,800 guineas.

Next best at 3,500 guineas was yet another from the Woodhouse string, this time Woodhouse 2 Derrick. Reserve champion at Burwarton and Tenbury Shows this year, this one is another Dalwyne Avici son going back to Sallens breeding on the dam line.

Next up at 3,200 guineas was Birsca Dark Magic from Jack Graham, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire.

Leominster-based breeders Jim Rowe and Tom Webb then took 3000 guineas for their shearling ram, Downwood Dewi, a Lowlands Cody son out of a homebred dam by a Garregllwyd sire.

Aged rams then saw a top call of 2,750 guineas for Woodhouse 2 Chaos, from A McConnell, Broughshane, Co Antrim.

Meanwhile, ram lamb topped at 1,750 guineas for Top Spot Evoque from previous buyer Angie Burgess. By Pentrenant Choir Boy, he’s out of a homebred dam by a Marlbrook ram and won the ram lamb class before going reserve male and reserve overall champion in the pre-sale show.

Female trade was steady across the board with a top price of 1,700 guineas for the first prize ewe lamb and reserve female champion from the pre-sale show, Pentrenant Cracker from Mr and Mrs R F and D J Price, Churchstoke, Powys.

Next best at 1,600gns was the female champion, a shearling ewe from the Woodhouse team. By Dalwyne Zeus and out of a homebred female by a Pentrenant ram, this one previously stood second at this year’s Royal Welsh Show.

Jim Rowe and Tom Webb were back in action selling ewe lambs, their best being Downwood Eye Candy at 1,100gns.