Sheep Sale Stalwart
31st July 2025
Sale stalwart Charles Marwood will be bringing his rams to the Brecon early sale organized by the NSA Wales & Border Ram Sales committee. His Foulrice shearling took the top price of 3,800 guineas at the Early Sale two years ago and he feels that, while the alternative sale in Hereford is a welcome option for many, his ‘happy place’ is Wales.
The five hour trip has become a family event and they always looking forward to meeting loyal customers and the many friends they have made over twenty or more years. This year Charles and Val, his wife of 54 years, will be bringing 16 pedigree Foulrice Charollais shearlings and three ram lambs. Daughter Deborah Whitcher will bring 11 shearlings. Charles says: “Most of our customers are in Wales and we want to be there for them. And apart from anything else we have a lot of good friends at the sales there. “Also we like Wales. It’s a fantastic ride down from York, about 220 miles to Builth Wells and a bit more to Brecon. We take the A483 from Chester to Builth and it’s a fantastic ride, with lovely scenery, a bit slow at times but everything is there to be enjoyed.
“We have made so many friends in the Charollais and sheep world, so travelling to these sales is all part of what we do. It’s important to make a living, but at the end of the day people are more important.” The run up to the sale isn’t easy, given the bluetongue restrictions. They had to apply for a licence ten days before the sale, then there were the blood samples taken seven days before for the PCR test.
The sheep have all been vaccinated with Boehringer Bultavo 3 vaccine, something Charles firmly believes is vital. He says the experience of 2007 was that broad take up of vaccination in the national flock seemed to hinder further spread of the disease. Charles and Val have just celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary with a photo taken at the Main Sale in Builth Wells. And they hope that by the time they are back for the sale on 22nd September, bluetongue regulations will have been eased.
Note: The NSA Wales & Border Early Sales will be held at Brecon on Monday 4th August, beginning at 10.30am and at Hereford on Tuesday 5th August, beginning at 1pm.
