If you’re planning to come to one of the Society’s Official Show & Sales for the first time this year but are worried about what to expect and how to buy at auction; here are Steve Cowle’s reflections on his first visit, together with some helpful advice.
Times have moved on since Steve’s first trip to the market though and it’s worth adding that Rugby Farmers Mart now advise that if you’re thinking of buying at our Premier Show & Sale, you need to contact them beforehand. They can still do it on the day but as it’s a busy market day now, you might have to queue.
RFM has no card facilities and will take only cash or cheques.
If you’re totally new to buying at auction and want to pay by cheque, they will need a bank reference (e.g. a statement or similar). If you’ve bought at another market RFM can contact that for a reference.
The Wiltshire Horn Premier Show and Sale
One early Saturday morning Sarah and I hitched up our little Ifor Williams trailer and set off to Stoneleigh in Warwickshire, for our first visit to the Wiltshire Horn Premier Show and Sale. Being new to sheep and livestock marts, we had asked our new friend, Gill (known fondly as Gill the Sheep) if she wanted to come with us, so she joined our motley crew which was completed by my Dad. En route, we listened to Gill’s advice – teeth are high priority in a grazing animal and she explained what needed to be looked for; good feet and a good leg at each corner. These are priorities with any breed, so then she moved on to what to look for in a Wilt – tight skin and clean hair (not woolly) and well set horns.
So armed with Gill’s advice, we reached the gates of Stoneleigh Park, turned left and drove to the end where we saw a mass of trucks with a varied assortment of trailers. We parked and made our way to where the Wiltshire Horn sheep were penned. The sheep all had a lot number attached between their horns. We picked up a catalogue which gave details of each lot, their breeder, age and sire details and whether they were being sold singly, in pairs or groups of three of more.
Before the sale, there was a show, which usually starts at 0930 with classes for lambs, theaves/shearlings and older animals, one set for the females and one set for the males, and then a class for the best group of three. The judge places the sheep in the order that he/she thinks, weighing up all the important factors in a Wilt, and then the rosettes are given out. At the end of the section, the winners of each class come together for the judge to select the Champion. This is only a guide and is only that judge’s opinion on that day, so, in short, don’t be put off if the judge didn’t agree with your selection. You might want to ask a more experienced person to check over any lots you have chosen for correctness in mouth, feet and, if appropriate, testicles – there are always plenty of knowledgeable, helpful people around. There will also be some cracking sheep for sale that have not been entered in the show.
So to the sale! We registered at the office and were given
our bidding number to hold up to the auctioneer after outbidding everyone else
on a lot. The office then knew that that
number referenced us, our address and gave them the CPH number where the sheep
would be moved to from the sale. We had
a good look at the sheep; Gill & I
climbed into the pen with our chosen sheep to start checking their mouths. They were very nervous and ran round the pen.
The bell was then rung and that was the call to find a space
ringside as the sale was about to commence.
At the side of the ring, we excitedly waited for our chosen ones to
appear. Eventually in they come – as singles, pairs or even sixes. I was
nodding like mad and bang down went the hammer – I’ve just bought our first
ewe!
“Oh, was that the one we decided on?” No
matter, we bought another six. My Dad
who knows plenty about greyhounds and chickens but knows little or nothing
about sheep suddenly became excited and started putting his hand up, “I like
this one,” he says laughing away, bang
down went the hammer, he had bought a ewe that we then called Lil – a really
ugly looking sheep with a black patch over her eye. Little did we know that she would always
produce the finest meaty lambs that grew fastest!
We will always remember that day fondly. Lil went on to a ripe old age and produced many fine lambs, Dad still says I told you so!
