Black, coloured sheep sell well

A coloured sheep walks around the sale ring at the Waimate Showgrounds, guided by Stuart Albrey, with David Howden on the gate, as auctioneers Madison Taylor (left) and Lindsay Holland seek bids. Photos / Sally Brooker.

All but four sheep sold at the national black and coloured sheep sale in Waimate on Saturday.

The audience included a Nelson contingent which had driven to the Waimate Showgrounds in a minibus.

The sale began with Phillippa Sanders, president of the Black and Coloured Sheep Breeders' Association of New Zealand presenting the Champion Animal of the Show trophy to David Thompson, of Ashburton.

Black and Coloured Sheep Breeders' Association of New Zealand president Phillippa Sanders congratulates Ashburton breeder David Thompson (far right) for winning the Champion Animal of the Show trophy with this registered Romney ram. Photo / Sally Brooker

The Romney ram, one of twins, was "the best-natured ram I've ever worked with", Mr Thompson said. It was being offered for sale only because there were already brothers on the ground back home.

Peter Walsh and Associates auctioneer Madison Taylor described it as "a nice big, bold sort of a ram" with "depth and width throughout".

It was passed in at the auction, but sold afterwards for $125. Top price on the day was $350 for an unregistered Romney two-tooth ram bred by J.D. and M.L. Stewart, of Ashburton.

Sale convener Reg Partridge said there was a good turnout at the afternoon programme at Sue and Stuart Albrey's nearby farm. The topics were judging sheep and wool, and handcrafts using coloured fleeces.

"There was a lot of interest in what we're doing,"Mr Partridge said.