History has been made at the bloodstock sales after a woman conducted an auction for the first time.
Shirley Anderson-Jolag stepped onto the famous rostrum at Park Paddocks in Newmarket at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale to become Britain’s first female bloodstock auctioneer.
The sale of lot 211, a filly by Ubettabelieveit, did not break any price barriers, but the auction will live long in the history books as she became the first horse sold by a female auctioneer at Tattersalls and at a public thoroughbred sale in Britain or Ireland.
The filly’s successful sale produced a round of applause and, when Anderson-Jolag emerged from the rostrum after selling her draft of five lots, she was at a slight loss for words and a little overcome with emotion
“When I decided that this is what I wanted to do, it has been two years of practising, with a good solid year of practice with Edmond [Mahony],” she said.
“Harvey Bell has been really helpful, too, and I have sold cattle, antiques, sold after auction races and at charity events.
“About a year and a half ago it was Hannah Wall and David Redvers who gave me my first charity auction at a hunt ball – they kind of made me do it, which was great as I would probably have said no.”
She added: “It has been nothing but positive from everyone, and I am glad I have finally done it. Standing behind Edmond to go up to the front of the rostrum I felt as sick as a dog, but I knew I had the support of people and, once I saw people coming into the ring, that made me really happy, it was lovely. Once I got that first lot under my belt, I was okay.”
Anderson-Jolag is a longstanding member of the Tattersalls team having started with the company in 2015, she has since played a key role in developing and promoting Tattersalls sales at Cheltenham, in addition to her recent role as UK Client Relations liaison for Tattersalls Ireland.
Earlier this year she was promoted to Sales Manager of Tattersalls Cheltenham, a role which she has settled into seamlessly and recently enjoyed her first sale in her new management role at the Tattersalls Cheltenham November Sale where strong trade was seen throughout.
An active owner/breeder in both the Flat and National Hunt spheres, Anderson-Jolag has been instrumental in the growth of the Tattersalls Cheltenham Sales in recent years and has established strong relationships with vendors and purchasers in both markets.
Auctioneering has been an ambition of Anderson-Jolag’s for over two years and she has developed the skill alongside her day-to-day responsibilities within.
She said she is hopeful that Tuesday’s debut will encourage further females into the unique role of bloodstock auctioneering.
Anderson-Jolag returns to the rostrum on Saturday for a stint on the last day of foals and she added: “Hopefully, in five years it will be the norm, and loads of women will be doing this.
“It did weigh on me a bit coming into day, but only for positive reasons because I wanted to be good for other women coming through.”
This news appeared first on @Mirror
