The Annual Christmas Market in Ross-on-Wye, held by RG & RB Williams, took place on Monday, November 30th.

The results of the Christmas Show were as follows:

Class 1: Best Steer:

1st: Mr IR Pugh, 652kg, 320p/kg

2nd: Mesr GE Phillips & Son, 711kg, 260p/kg

3rd Mesr GE Phillips & Son, 633kg, 220p/kg

Class 2: Best Steer (over 650kg):

1st: Mr IR Pugh. 664kg, 225p/kg

2nd: Mesr WCR Cooke & Son, 646kg, 237p/kg

3rd: Mesr GE Phillips & Son, 660kg, 226p/kg

Class 3: Best Heifer

1st: Mr IR Pugh, 650kg, 244p/kg

2nd: Mesr DE & SJ Cheacker, 518kg, 265p/kg

3rd: Mesr DE & SJ Cheacker, 433kg, 265p/kg

Class 4: Best Beast from a Smallholder

1st: Mr IR Pugh, 648kg, 245p/kg

2nd: Mr PJ Long, 512kg, 220p/kg

Class 6: Best Pen of Unled Cattle

1st: Mesr GE Phillips & Son, 577kg, 232p/kg

2nd: Mesr GE Phillips & Son, 668kg, 220p/kg

3rd: Mesr DE & SJ Cheacker, 587kg, 231p/kg

Class 7: Best Cull Cow

1st: Mrs DA Davies, 695kg, 110p/kg

2nd: Mr JH Pritchard, 667kg, 106.5p/kg

3rd: Mr GD Samuel, 764kg, 110p/kg

Class 8: Champion Beast in the Show

Mr IR Pugh, 652kg, 320p/kg

Class 9: Reserve Champion

Mesr GE Phillips & Son, 711kg, 260p/kg

Class 10: Best Five Lambs (lightweight)

1st: Mesr B Blandford & Son, 39.5kg, £80.00

2nd: Mrs M Mitchell, 36kg, £66.00

Class 11: Best Five Lambs (heavyweight)

1st: Mesr B Blandford & Son, 44kg, £90.00

2nd: Mr J Windham, 42.2kg, £74.00

3rd: Mesr KG & JL Morris, 40.8kg, £75.00

Class 12: Best Pen of Four or More Killing Ewes

1st: Mesr R & P Watkins, £110.00

2nd: Mesr R & P Watkins, £90.00

3rd: Mrs M Mitchell, £88.00

Class 13: Champion Pen of Five Lambs

Mesr B Blandford & Son 44kg £90.00

Sam Madeley Trophy – Best Cattle Stockman

Mr IR Pugh

JL Phillips Challenge Cup (overall points)

1st: Mr IR Pugh

2nd: Mesr GE Phillips & Son.

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The Auctioneers have given their appreciation to those who supported and made contributions towards the prize fund. These sponsors were: Lloyds Bank, AMC, Countrywide Farmers, NFU Mutual, Ford Fuels, A1 Fabcon Ltd, Mr Sam Madeley and Heygates Ltd.

The Judges were:

Cattle: Mr Andrew Mutch, Mutchmeats, Witney

Sheep: Mr Trevor Baker, St Briavels.

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Market Report

At the Christmas Market held on Monday, November 30th, RG & RB Williams reported 100 Clean Cattle and 1024 lambs.

They reported a larger entry of cattle for the Christmas market which sold to another strong trade. There were 13 buyers in attendance and this ensured keen bidding on all sorts. The Champion Beast was exhibited by Ian Pugh and sold to Wayne Randall for the sum of 320 pence per kilo (£2083). There were 30 cattle in the Show which all met keen demand. The trade on the commercial cattle was also strong but the edge seems to have slightly gone off it. Plainer cattle again proved more difficult to sell.

Steers to 320p – £2,083

Heifers to 265p – £1,584

Cull Cattle to 122p – £876

Lambs to 205p – £90

Cull Ewes & Rams to Av £80.20 – £110

A similar entry of cull cows was sold to a generally easier trade. The quality was poorer than of late with no Grade 1 or 2 cows forward. Non Farm Assured cows are generally reaching less at present. More cows could readily have been sold.

The Christmas Show & Sale brings a much improved lamb trade selling to £90. A small entry of show lambs sold to a very strong trade, topping at £90 and many others selling to £80 with an average of 200p/kg. Heavy weight commercial lambs met an improved trade selling to £80 (48kg) from Mr DR Jones. Medium weight lambs again met a very fast trade selling to a top of 205p/kg achieving an overall average of 164p/kg.

A similar entry of ewes met another flying trade. Even with the Christmas Show top quality ewes are still in short supply. Continentals sold to the top price of £110 leaving a very impressive overall average of £80.20. First quality ewes sold from £90, second quality sold from £65, small and plain ewes sold to this figure. An entry of varied quality Rams sold to an average of £80.50.

The next Red Market is on Monday, 21st December 2015