Sales history was created on Nov. 26 when Shirley Anderson-Jolag became the first female bloodstock auctioneer in Britain. The first lot she dropped the hammer on during an accomplished debut was Lot 211 at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale.
The Ubettabelieveit colt from Mickley Stud was knocked down to Peter Kelly, who signed the docket as HWRS at 1,000gns (US$1,370, 1 guinea=US$1.37). In a break from sales ring convention, the crowd gave Anderson-Jolag a hearty round of applause after she brought the gavel down.
"I really enjoyed it, but the 10 minutes before were fairly nerve-wracking," said Anderson-Jolag. "It flew by. All I remember is looking around seeing all my favorite people. The ring was full of people who've been there from day one of my Tattersalls career, as well as clients who've since become great friends. It was really special to see, and the round of applause just shows how many people wanted me to do well.
"I was very good the night before; I went to bed early and left my phone outside my bedroom for the first time in my life so I didn't look at any form of social media. I practiced this morning and did a test run. I felt sick before but I really loved it, and actually, I wish I'd had a few more to sell."
Anderson-Jolag had something of a baptism of fire as she also had to contend with an upcoming lot bursting through the rope and entering the ring before his time.
"The round of applause was nice, but then during the next lot the foal burst his way into the ring!" she said. "It's all good experience, though."
Asked whether the significance of being the first woman to auction bloodstock in Britain had weighed on her mind during the build-up to Tuesday's debut, she said: "Until last night I hadn't really thought about it, but when someone posted about it on social media was when it really hit me. I wanted to be good for me but also for other women as well and for everyone else. I won't buy into the first female thing too much but it's great that I've done it and hopefully, it can become the norm."
Anderson-Jolag said auctioneering was something she had always aspired to since she joined the Tattersalls team in 2015. Despite her presence on the rostrum at the world's oldest auction house being entirely unprecedented, she said there has been no shortage of support from within the company.
While Anderson-Jolag is the first woman to wield the gavel at Tattersalls, others have taken the rostrum elsewhere in the world. In May 2014 Stephanie Grentell auctioneered at the Inglis Scone Yearling Sale in Australia, while Aurelie Branere took charge of selling during the Arqana Autumn Sale in Deauville the following year.
