Hexham Gimmers
Hexham Auction Mart
16.09.2026
Gimmers
Mule Gimmers
Hexham and Northern Marts held their Grand Opening Sale of Mule gimmers with a very impressive and strong offering of 2739 Mule gimmers which comprised of both NEMSA type Mules. A tremendous show of ex. Blackface and ex. Swaledale gimmers where again presented from noted flocks from across the North of England.
This sales’ national reputation for show casing the very best examples of Mule gimmer shearlings was prevalent throughout and attracted sheep breeders from across the British Isles to procure sheep with power and style. A fast and furious trade was seen from the very first pens to the very last pens. A trade that saw an unbelievable lift of £40/head on average right through and levelled at £283.64.
The pre-sale show was kindly sponsored once again kindly sponsored by John Warren ABP and expertly judged by renowned Mid Northumbrian stockman, Mr A Johnson, Tuthill, Cambo.
Classes were once again split for breed type and if they had reared lambs or not and large entry in each class was brought before the judge.
Full Price List:
10 Mule Gimmers ex Blackface Ewe NRL
1st – R S Walton, Coatyards
2nd – W G & M White, Croft Cottage
10 Mule Gimmers ex Blackface Ewe RL
1st – F S Vickers, Rennington House
2nd – J Charlton, Tenter House
10 Mule Gimmers ex Swaledale Ewe NRL
1st – R S Walton, Coatyards
2nd – K Lumley, Newbiggin
10 Mule Gimmers ex Swaledale Ewe RL
1st – K Nixon, Hesleywell
Champion – F S Vickers, Rennington House
Reserve Champion – R S Walton, Coatyards (ex BF)
The Champion pen and taking the Joe Arthur Memorial Challenge trophy this year was the ex. Blackface Mules that had reared lambs class winners from Joe Vickers, Rennington and ably assisted by grand daughter Jessica.
Taking the reserve championship was the ex. Blackface Mule gimmers that hadn’t reared lambs from RS Walton, Coatyards.
The sale kicked off in great fashion and this eagerness to buy quality mule shearlings continued to the very last pen. Leading this year’s sale at £380.00 was the Champion pen plus another from the Vickers team. The champion pen being purchased by the judge. Gimmers that had reared lambs this summer were in great demand throughout.
The annual consignment of homebred gimmers from J Charlton, Tenter House once again attracted great interest and sold to a high of £340.00 twice. Another great run of homebred ex. Blackface gimmers came from J Herdman, Edlingham Newtown which topped at £332.00 for a pen of 20.
Leading Mule gimmers out of the Swaledale mother came from the homebred run from K Lumley, Newbiggin which sold to £330.00. The same home sold another pen to £320.00.
Leading averages;
| Trading Name | Farm Name | Top Price | Total Forward | Average |
| F S Vickers | Rennington House | £ 380.00 | 207 | £ 332.05 |
| M Scott | Houxty Bank Head | £ 330.00 | 34 | £ 321.47 |
| J Herdman | Edlingham Newtown | £ 330.00 | 103 | £ 318.32 |
| R S Walton | Coatyards | £ 345.00 | 30 | £ 316.67 |
| J Carr & Co | Camphill | £ 320.00 | 31 | £ 313.55 |
| J Charlton | Tenter House | £ 340.00 | 124 | £ 312.98 |
| J S Gibson & Son | Thornton Tower | £ 315.00 | 110 | £ 310.36 |
| W & J A Longlands | Rusheylaw | £ 310.00 | 22 | £ 310.00 |
| G Litt | Hepple Hill | £ 310.00 | 4 | £ 310.00 |
| M G & M White | Croft Cottage | £ 320.00 | 31 | £ 308.16 |
| I & A Hamilton | Claywalls | £ 330.00 | 275 | £ 306.56 |
| Prendwick | Prendwick Farm | £ 325.00 | 79 | £ 304.75 |
| Quickeningcote Partners | Quickeningcote | £ 310.00 | 42 | £ 303.57 |
| W Wilson & Son | Village Farm | £ 305.00 | 101 | £ 300.10 |
| A J Spilman & Son | Lodge Farm | £ 315.00 | 61 | £ 297.70 |
Leading prices;
North of England Mule (ex BF)
£380 x2 Rennington South Farm, £360 Rennington South Farm, £345 Rennington South Farm & Coatyards, £340 x2 Tenter House, £332 Edlingham Newtown & Rennington South Farm, £330 Houxty Bank Head, Claywalls, Newbiggin, Edlingham Newtown & Rennington South Farm, £325 Claywalls, Rennington South Farm & Prendwick, £322 Houxty Bank Head & Rennington South Farm, £320 Claywalls x3, Rennington South Farm, Camp Hill & Croft Cottage, £318 Claywalls, £315 Houxty Bank Head x2, Lodge Farm, Claywalls, Tenter House x2, Edlingham Newtown, Rennington South Farm, Thornton Towers & Prendwick, £312 Thornton Towers, £310 Tenter House x2, Edlingham Newtown, Thornton Towers x2, Camp Hill, Prendwick, Rusheylaw, Quickening Cote & Hepple Hill, £308 Claywalls, £305 Lodge Farm, Wool Hall Investment Ltd., Tenter House, Edlingham Newtown, Thornton Towers, Wark, Quickening Cote & Croft Cottage, £300 Claywalls x2, Tenter House x2, Wark, Hotbank & Thornton Towers
North of England Mule (ex Swaledale)
£320 Newbiggin, £305 Ouston & Coatyards, £300 Newbiggin & Whitehill, £295 Longsteads & Denton Hall, £290 x2 & £288 Ouston, £285 Newbiggin & Light Birks, £280 Stotsfold & Whitehill, £275 Denton Hall x2, £270 High Lane House x2, Stotsfold, Newbiggin, £265 High Lane House, Ouston, Newbiggin & Newbiggin
Cheviot Mules
An increased entry of Cheviot Mule gimmers with twice the number forward and once again these proved very popular and easily sold. The pre-sale show was left in the very capable hands of well-known Lincolnshire fat lamb producer, Mr N Thorndyke, Horncastle.
Winning this year’s show was a very powerful pen of 10 from Woolhall Investments, Spalding shown and brought out by shepherd, Mr T French. These went to sell for £315.00 selling to the judge.
Prize List:
10 Cheviot Mule Gimmers NRL
1st – Woolhall Investments, Woolhall
2nd – T L Forster & Son,LowesFell
Leading the Cheviot Mule trade this year was the annual consignment from F T Walton, Flotterton with a gigantic pen of 21 terrific shearlings that realised £355.00.
There was an extra 110 sheep brought forward and sold this year than met an increased average of £11 and levelled at £291.67.
Leading prices;
Cheviot Mule
£355 Flotterton, £320 Lowes Fell, £315 Wool Hall Investment Ltd., £310 Wool Hall Investment Ltd. x2, £305 Lowes Fell, West Mill Hills, £300 West Mill Hills, £295 Lowes Fell, Flotterton & Thornton Towers, £290 West Mill Hills, £285 Wanwood Hill, £280 Thornton Towers, £275 Wool Hall Investment Ltd. & Prendwick, £265 Claywalls, £240 Prendwick, £228 Prendwick
Texel, Suffolk & Other Gimmers
Texel Cross and Suffolk Cross classes witnessed a strong entry with increased numbers and power on the year.
Judging took place before the sale and was in the capable hands of Mr N Thorndyke, Horncastle.
Prize List:
10 Texel Cross Gimmers NRL
1st – C & G Beresford, Bolton Village
2nd – T & S Wilson, Warkshaugh
10 Suffolk Cross Gimmers NRL
1st – R S Walton, Coatyards
2nd – R S Walton, Coatyards
10 Suffolk Cross Gimmers RL
1st – F T Walton, Flotterton
2nd – F T Walton, Flotterton
Both breeds witnessed strong buyer support, with a fantastic pen of Suffolk crosses from R S Walton, Coatyards leading the way at £355, whilst Texel Crosses peaked at £330 from G & C Beresford, Bolton Village.
A good selection of Pure Texel ewes was also presented forward on this day.
Leading this section at £850 was a flash pair from local consignor R Thornton & Sons, Cornhills, whilst a dispersal from E J Lawson, Middleton Mill House followed closely behind at £780 for a strong single.
Leading prices;
Texel
£850 Cornhills, £780 Middleton Mill, £600 Cornhills, £520 Cornhills, £500 Cornhills & Park Head Farm, £480 Middleton Mill, £420 Cornhills, £400 Middleton Mill, Cornhills & Park Head Farm, £380 Middleton Mill & Low Steads, £360 Park Head Farm
Texel Cross
£330 Bolton Village Farm, £325 Bolton Village Farm x2, Lowes Fell, £320 Old School & Thornton Towers, £305 Lowes Fell & Newbiggin, £300 Bolam Lake House & Newbiggin, £295 Light Birks, £290 Bolam Lake House & Gunnerton Demesne, £285 Bolam Lake House & Lowes Fell, £280 Bolam Lake House & Stotsfold, £275 Warkshaugh & Thornton Towers, £270 Warkshaugh, £265 Tenter House & Stotsfold, £255 West Shipley, Stotsfold & Lowes Fell, £250 Bolam Lake House & Thornton Towers, £245 Stotsfold, Lowes Fell & Thornton Towers
Suffolk Cross
£355 Coatyards, £340 Coatyards & Wool Hall Investment Ltd., £335 Flotterton, £330 Edlingham Newtown, Flotterton & Bolton Village Farm, £325 Flotterton, Bolton Village Farm x2, Lowes Fell, £305 Bolam Lake House, £295 Flotterton x2, £290 Middle White Hill, Flotterton & Slealands, £275 Slealands, £270 Flotterton & Bolam Lake House, £265 Middle White Hill, Wool Hall Investment Ltd., £255 Middle White Hill, Middle White Hill, Wanwood Hill & Slealands x3
Blue Texel
£240 Burn House x2
