Darlington Farmers Auction Mart held a sale of breeding sheep which included their annual ‘Hill of a Day’ sale on Tuesday 6th October 2026. Forward were 622 head comprising of…
211 Breeding Ewes sold to £270
243 Shearling Ewes sold to £350
141 Gimmer Lambs sold to £270
27 Tups sold to £700
The second show of Mule gimmer lambs took place today, less forward than in previous years, those present would be delighted as they enjoyed a flying trade. The results for the pens of ten are listed below.
1st TE Dobson, Unthank Farm sold for £270 to DM McClurg, North Bitchburn
2nd Rochester & Murray, Glebe Farm sold for £210 to DM McClurg
3rd OM Wearmouth & Son, Mossville sold for £220 to R Peart, Hamsterley
Sale Report
Gimmer Lambs – Mule gimmer lambs averaged a stunning £213; that’s a remarkable £76 up on the year. The ten top of the day at £270 was justifiably the first prize pen from TE Dobson, Unthank Farm; the same good home followed with eleven at £250 ahead of OM Wearmouth & Son, Mossville who peaked at £230. Elsewhere in the gimmer lambs it was the Texel’s in highest demand, tops went to JC Thwaite & Son, Cragg Hill at £225 and £215 with a smart pen from W Hanson, Highcliffe Farm next at £200.
Leading Prices
Mule – £270 £250 £215 TE Dobson. £230 £220 £195 £185 OM Wearmouth & Son. £210 £205 £190 Rochester & Murray. £170 C Hodgson.
Continental – £225 £215 £185(x2) JC Thwaite & Son. £200 W Hanson. £175 JD & MS Mortimer. £170 JW & J Collin. £170 Rebecca Taylor.
Cheviot – £190 CL I’Anson.
Shearlings – An absolutely monumental Mule trade made mincemeat of most other marts, the shearlings averaged £322. Ten tremendous Mule shearlings from C Hall, Rudgate Grove jointly led the female trade at £350; selling at the same price were a smart pair of Blackface shearlings from PN Dodsworth, Woodbrae. Selling at £340 were two vendors with quality shearlings, ten Mules from Jay Suddes, Thornley Pit and a single Bluefaced Leicester from K Sayer, Scotland Farm. Continental shearlings twice sold to £270, A & H Livestock, Park House Gardens were joined by the top pen of a fine run from I Oliver, South Brandon. Three pens of Swaledale shearlings from TE Dobson, Unthank Farm all sold over £200 with the top ten reaching £265.
Leading Prices
Mule – £350 C Hall. £340 £255 Jay Suddes. £320 £310 R Bell. £305 C Spencer.
Blackface – £350 PN Dodsworth.
Bluefaced Leicester – £340 £300 £250 K Sayer.
Continental – £270 A & H Livestock. £270 £250 £245(x4) £240(x2) £230 £220 £215 I Oliver. £250 KA Luke.
Swaledale – £265 £215 £210 TE Dobson.
Kerry Hill – £265 £245 W Coatsworth.
Breeding Ewes – The ewe trade was topped by another brace of Blackface from PN Dodsworth, Woodbrae; the one and three crop pairing sold for £270 apiece. Selling at £255 and £250 were some bonnie North Country Cheviot ewes from CL I’Anson, Warren Wood. Bluefaced Leicester ewes sold to £245 from K Sayer, Scotland Farm whilst Mules sold to £240 from JD & MS Mortimer, Mayland and continentals peaked at £205 from F Johnson, West Shipley. Swaledale ewes sold to £180 on four occasions, Messrs Ridley of Tongue Hill and Messrs Ridley of Kexwith sharing the spoils.
Leading Prices
Blackface – £270 PN Dodsworth. £135 RM Guy. £130(x2) DM & PM Nelson & Sons. £120 A Wilson. £110 M Whorlton.
Cheviot – £255 £250 CL I’Anson. £200 £128 C Hall. £195 V Wilson. £165 A Wilson.
Bluefaced Leicester – £245 K Sayer.
Mule – £240 £170 JD & MS Mortimer. £210 F Johnson.
Continental – £205 F Johnson. £150 MD Doherty
Kerry Hill – £185 W Coatsworth.
Swaledale – £180(x2) RK & S Ridley. £180(x2) RW Ridley. £165 £155 TE Dobson.
Herdwick – £112 A Wilson. £108 C Hall.
Breeding Rams – Texels in high demand, buyers more selective for other breeds. Top of the day at £700 was a tidy Texel shearling from B & A Myers, West View Farm; the same home followed with others at £600 and £500 twice. Also selling at £500 was a Blue Texel tup from J & C McLaren, Grindon Grange, next in line at £450 was a smart Bluefaced Leicester lamb from S Straughan, High Walesfield.
Leading Prices – £700 £600 £500(x2) B & A Myers. £500 J & C McClaren. £450 S Straughan. £300 £280 R Peart. £280(x2) DG Sayers. £260(x2) MD Doherty.
