RECORDS tumbled at the Ryeland Flock Book Society's Centenary Sale.

The previous Ryeland breed record price was smashed, not by one sheep, but three at a hugely successful sale held at Ludlow market on August 26. This 100th annual sale also saw a new record for a Coloured Ryeland.

A good entry of 170 Ryelands and 58 Coloured Ryelands attracted a sizeable crowd to this special event. Demand was strong with an overall clearance rate of almost 90%.

A new Ryeland breed record of 2700gns was set by a shearling ewe from the Whitland based Dolwen flock of J and S Donovan. This Catherton Trooper sired shearling ewe was awarded the female championship by judge Mrs Ann Davies, Garthbrengy, Brecon. Out of a home bred Dolwen ewe, the shearling was sold to new breeder FC Jones of Lyonshall, near Kington. The second highest priced female also came from the Donovan family, a lovely ewe lamb and the current holder of the Reserve National Champion title. She was sold for 2000gns, equalling the previous breed record, to Mr and Mrs C and A Reich of Preston, Lancs.

Two Ryeland males also surpassed the previous record, the highest being a shearling ram from the Gower based Mansel flock of R and A Howell. Mansel Weaver was sired by the homebred tup, Mansel Starlight and sold for 2600gns to D and J Singleton, Preston, Lancs. The other tup that passed the 2000gns mark was Bryn Caffo Vick, a 2 year old ram from A and E Parry, Gaerwen, Anglesey. Placed second in his class by judge Mr Brian Davies, Garthbrengy, Brecon, he was knocked down for 2400gns to the Hampshire based Widgets flock of M and R Price. The male championship was awarded to a shearling ram from the Ebor flock of A and G Pink. Based in the York area, this Bryn Caffo sired ram currently holds the National Ryeland Champion title and was sold for 1150gns to FC Jones, Lyonshall.

The top price for ram lambs was shared between two animals; the first of these was a February born lamb from A and E Parry, sired by Roston Smee and sold for 1000gns to S and Z Unwin, Shrewsbury. The second was from Ann Davies' Catherton flock, joining the new flock of FC Jones.

Demand for Coloured Ryelands was excellent and, in the case of males, was much stronger than last year. The sale opened well with the first lot, a shearling tup from the Teme flock of J and Y Webb, Tenbury Wells, selling for 720gns. The second choice of judge Mr A McVicar, Newtown, Powys, sired by Ashley Moor Hall Titanium, was sold to N Woodford of Tetbury, Gloucestershire. However this encouraging price was surpassed a little later by a ram lamb from the Arberth flock of Mr D Lewis, Narberth, Pembrokeshire. Setting a new Coloured Ryeland record of 1100gns, this Ruslin sired lamb will now join the Ashley Moor Hall flock of B Summerfield, Ludlow.

The overall Coloured Breed Championship was awarded to a shearling ewe from the Mansel flock, the choice of judge Mrs C Bateman, Brecon. Bred by R and A Howell, the ewe was sire by Ruslin Topnotch and out of a home bred ewe.

Beating a coloured ewe lamb from the Black-a-lious flock to the championship, she went for 700gns to M and A Addington-Smith, Lostwithiel, Cornwall.

Averages: gns Top Price (gns Average);

Ryeland Shearling Ewes: 2700 (265).

Ryeland Breeding Ewes: 340 (218).

Ryeland Ewe Lambs: 2000 (368).

Ryeland Shearling Rams: 2600 (629).

Ryeland Senior Rams: 2400 (962).

Ryeland Ram Lambs: 1000 (378).

Coloured Ryeland Rams: 720 (258).

Coloured Ryeland Ram Lambs: 1100 (292).

Coloured Ryeland Ewes: 700 (249).

Coloured Ryeland Ewe Lambs: 500 (227).