SHIRLEY Anderson-Jolag made history at Tattersalls on Tuesday, as she became the first female bloodstock auctioneer in Britain.

Anderson-Jolag, who has worked her way up to Sales Manager at Tattersalls Cheltenham, took to the rostrum for five lots, the first finding a buyer at 1,000gns. The fall of the hammer was followed by a round of applause from well-wishers and friends.

Speaking to The Irish Field, Anderson-Jolag reflected on the occassion: “I will always be my own biggest critic, so I know I can always improve in areas. But it was very, very special to have everyone around the ring and the amount of people wanting to do well.

“It did overwhelm me from that side of things, it was really lovely. I just felt a lot of gratitude from the minute I started until the minute I came off the rostrum.”

Anderson-Jolag joined Tattersalls in 2015, but her auctioneering ambitions are more recent, she explained: “I got the idea since COVID, when I was outside on the podium, doing the outdoor bid spotting. I realized that I loved it, and I thought I’d love to do this professionally inside as well.

“So, I spoke to Edmond [Mahony, Chairman of Tattersalls] and he was very, very positive and pro me doing it. It was from there that I kind of started, and then I gave it a little break, and then I really, really got into it last year.”

Route to the rostrum

As well as training with Mahony, Anderson-Jolag has gained valuable experience auctioneering in other markets. “I’ve been at a place called Rowley Fine Art in Ely. The gentleman who owns it, Roddy, has been really good to me, giving me days there. I’m actually going to carry on auctioneering there, just to keep building my confidence.

“I think I’ll never stop learning from that side of it. I’ll definitely carry on selling there for a while, and the seller race at Huntington and charity hunt ball type things, as and when they’re offered to me.”

Anderson-Jolag’s debut comes 10 years after Stephanie Grentell became the first female bloodstock auctioneer worldwide, when raising her gavel at the Inglis Scone Yearling Sale in Australia. Europe followed suit the following year, when Aurelie Branere auctioneered at the Arqana Autumn Sale.

Anderson-Jolag is believed to be the only woman currently auctioneering in bloodstock sales, though it is not unusual in other industries, she says. “In antiques, it seems to be a good mix, so slowly, it’ll be the norm here.

“If I’m being totally honest, I hadn’t put a lot of energy into thinking about it from the female angle, I just wanted to make sure that I was good enough to be there in the first place.”

She would strongly encourage anyone wishing to follow in her footsteps, she adds: “100%. If you want to do it, if you’re willing to put in hard work, do it. I think if you want something enough, you should definitely go after it. I think here at Tatts, there will be more going up there.”