The champion park-type female from father and son team Jim and Willie Thomson, Hownam Grange, Kelso, secured the day’s lead price of £1200 at a show and sale of Cheviot females at Lockerbie, last weekend, selling to Derbyshire breeder, James Burton, Ilam Tops, Ilam, Ashbourne.

Mr Burton, who bought his first Cheviots in 2006-07 and now runs 90 ewes, went to this money for an in-lamb gimmer by the Ericstane The Laird son, Hownam Grange Wizzard.

Innes Graham’s Carruthers flock from Waterbeck, also had a good day with female sales at £920, £850 and £700. Tops was the second prize gimmer to the champion which also sold to Mr Burton. She is by Gilston Cheap Trick, and sold scanned with twins to Hownam Grange The Duke.

Next at £850 was a four-crop ewe by Crookston Arveladze, purchased by Hownam Grange. She sold due with twins to Carruthers Boomerang.