New ground was broken at Tattersalls on Tuesday as Shirley Anderson-Jolag became Britain’s first female bloodstock auctioneer.

Whilst competition for Lot 211 was low at an eventual price of 1,000gns, the sales ring attracted many onlookers to witness history being made. As the gavel fell in favour of Peter Kelly, Anderson-Jolag was greeted with a round of applause.

After selling her draft of five lots, an emotional Anderson-Jolag relayed: “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."

Explaining the process that led to the occasion, she said: "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]. 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.”

Watch Anderson-Jolag in action here

The importance of her breakthrough wasn’t lost on Anderson-Jolag, she added: "Hopefully, in five years it will be 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."

An active owner/breeder in both the flat and National Hunt spheres, Shirley Anderson-Jolag joined Tattersalls in 2015 and has worked her way to the position of Sales Manager of Tattersalls Cheltenham.

Anderson-Jolag will return to the rostrum to auctioneer on Saturday, the final day of the December Foal Sale.