Store and Breeding Sheep Sale report – Friday 18th September 2026

Romney Day – Friday 18^th September

Store Sheep – 3,921 sold

Auctioneers: John Rossiter 07557 392903 & James Cook-O’Connell 07780133678.

Ewe Lambs
A smaller entry of ewe lambs this year, which has been the trend for quite a few years unfortunately with the traditional Romney flocks decreasing from around the South East, which in turn has had a positive impact on the trade with prices up approximately £20/hd on last year, despite the overall poorer condition of the lambs on offer following a very testing summer on Romney Marsh.
The top spot on the day was taken by regular winner of the prize, Mr Tommy Kemp, who took top honours in his final year of showing lambs on Romney Day which sold for £170/hd. Generally, there were a few fresh faces around the ring this year and the overall average was greatly improved, in line with the general sheep trade around the country. The better end of the ewe lambs traded from £135-£155 with middle grade from £110-£125 and below this level many of the lambs were in line with store lamb money of £90-110.
Ewe Lamb Show Results
1^st W T Kemp
2^nd Thorsons Farms Ltd
3^rd H Metcalfe

Romney Ewes

An increased number of Romney shearlings forward compared to the same time last year for our annual breed show and sale of 2026 with the overall average up by around £12 per head on the year. First prize in the show went to A & A W Pritchard with a strong pen of NZ bred shearlings reaching highs of £250 per head with second prize going to G A & H Vicary to £200 and third prize E W Homewood to £212. Majority of the best regularly £180 – £200 with the odd pen exceeding this level, middle sorts £160 – £180 with only the very bottom sold below £160 per head on the day. For the weather conditions we have seen through the summer months, the overall condition of the shearlings was more than respectable which has been rewarded with a very positive trade.
Breeding ewes were in demand yet again with buyers plentiful and the highlight in this section was a flock dispersal from A & A W Pritchard which saw their one and two lamb ewes to £205, three lamb ewes to £195 and nothing in the run sold under £185 per head. A flock dispersal from W T Kemp saw strong pedigree one lamb ewes to £190 and a pen of big three lamb ewes from D Wimble to £160. The youngest and strongest £150 – £170 on most occasions with the next grade down £120 – £150 and only anything very long term sold below £120 per head. With the shearling trade strong, there is no doubt that we had more customers forward to buy an older ewe rather than a shearling with a lower budget to spend.
Rams
Pedigree ram shearlings at Ashford Market were kindly judged by Mr D Wimble and top out at £1,100 from Link Bros which was the winning ram in Class 1 of the show.
Top price on the day was £1,200 twice from Resilient Romneys, Cornwall with their NZ genetic Romney shearling rams.

Five ram classes for the Romney show and sale with top honours in each class as follows
Class 1 – Best signet performance recorded ram to Link Bros.
Class 2 – Best wooled ram to Lovejoy Farm Partnership.
Class 3 – Best group of three rams to Lovejoy Farm Partnership.
Class 4 – Best single ram (Champion) to Lovejoy Farm Partnership.

Hobbs Parker Auctioneers Prize for the best pen of five rams to N A Balcomb & Son.

Principal prices include:

Store Lambs
W T Kemp – £170.00
A J Thompson & Sons – £157.00
A J Thompson & Sons – £156.00
H Metcalfe – £155.00
Langrish Farmers – £150.00
Breeding Ewe Tegs
A & A W Pritchard – £250.00
E W Homewood – £212.00
N A Balcomb & Son – £210.00
D Wimble – £210.00
D W Page & Son – £205.00
Breeding Ewes
A & A W Pritchard (3) – £205.00
A & A W Pritchard – £198.00
A & A W Pritchard – £195.00
Breeding Rams
Resilient Romney – £1200.00 (2)
Link Bros – £1100.00
C J & C J Hodgkins – £850.00
Lovejoy Farm Partnership – £800.00

Ear Tags in Sheep
Please be aware of your responsibilities with regard to the tagging of sheep of all ages , and in all sections of the market.