Highland Valais Blacknose breeders, Raymond Irvine and Jenni McAllister, were well rewarded for their hard work importing the breed and establishing the UK society, when they secured the overall championship and the top price of 3600gns at the breed's inaugural show and sale.

The event, staged at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, attracted huge interest from enthusiasts eager to find out more about this novel breed and they were far from disappointed with more than 150 sheep entered for the first ever UK Valais Blacknose Sheep Society show, which included a sale of a select number.

Supreme overall was Raymond and Jenni's female champion, Highland Breeze, an in-lamb gimmer from their flock based at Ballindalloch.The couple also picked up the reserve male honours with the aged ram, Highland King Kong. Both sheep were only forward for the show.

Tim Dunne, Westmorland, Cumbria, picked up the male championship and reserve supreme with the tup lamb Westmorland Dancer. He also scooped the runner up sash amongst the females, with the ewe lamb, Westmorland Dilly, by Prendwick Eros.

Topping the sale at 3600gns was Highland Blossom, an in-lamb gimmer from the Irvine/McAllister partnership, purchased by GW Lee and Sons, Stockley Burn Farm, Frosterley, Co Durham.

Mr Dunne's reserve female, a ewe lamb sold next at 3400gns to GW Lee and Sons, who concluded their purchasing with another ewe lamb at 2500gns from Jim Kennedy, Lyonpark Livestock, Maybole FOR FULL REPORT and PICTURES see this week's SCOTTISH FARMER