GROWING demand for Bluefaced Leicesters ensured a bumper trade for females at a show and sale at Carlisle, on Monday, where averages improved on the year, to level at £1160.

Ewe hoggs proved the star attraction, securing several of the top prices including’s the day’s best at 6800gns. This was paid for the third prize crossing type from George Shields’ Skeughdale flock, Ravenstonedale, Kirkby Stephen.

By a home-bred son of C6 Hewgill, that bred North of England Mule ewe lambs to £450 at Hawes, and out of a ewe by the A3 Hewgill, she sold to Keith Ireland’s Stockhow flock, Kirkland, Frizington.

The Hutchinsons’ Kirkby Redgate flock, also from Kirkby Stephen – which produced last year’s 11,000gns record female – again enjoyed a flying trade, with ewe hogg sales at 6500gns and 5800gns, averaging £3000 for seven.

Dearest was the pre-sale crossing champion and pen leader, a daughter of the G17 Marriforth – the sire of Redgate’s £34,000 record priced tup lamb sold in 2015 at Hawes. She is out of a Hewgill ewe purchased for 5000gns, by the B41 Hewgill, and sold to Northern Ireland breeder, Lee Beacom, who runs eight Blue ewes in his Lakeview flock at Fivemiletown.

Redgate’s 5800gns hogg, brought out by Richard Hutchinson, also sold across the Irish Sea, in a two-way split between Graham and Julie Loughery, and Michael Smyth, both of Terrydoo Road, Limavady. She is by the £14,000 H1 Skeughdale, a tup that has bred sons to the same value, and out of a ewe by A1 Hewgill.

Andrew Campbell, who runs 16 Blue ewes in his Drimsynie flock, at Lochgoilhead, bought the reserve crossing champion at 5500gns. This was the second prize ewe hogg from Colin and Tom Willoughby’s Penhill flock, Woodend, Leyburn. A daughter of the £5000 E29 Midlock, that bred sons to £16,000, she was reserve champion at Reeth Show and out of a home-bred daughter of a Smearsett ewe by Hundith X Factor.

Her full sister then made 2800gns to SW Mawson and Son for their High Side flock, High Barn, Bassenthwaite, Keswick.

Gimmers from Allan and Ben Wight’s Midlock flock, Crawford, Lanarkshire, always sell well and this year they sold to 4800gns, to average £2067 for 22.

Dearest was a daughter of an £11,000 Hewgill, out of E29 Midlock’s dam that sold to Penhill, by the B004 £14,000 Tanhouse, which again sold to Lee Beacom. A twin sister to the first prize ewe lamb at Peebles Show, she is carrying triplets to E001 Bull and Cave.

Her maternal sister, sired by Midlock G Mac – a son of E1 Hewgill retained for breeding – then made 2800gns to Graham and Julie Loughrey, Northern Ireland. The service sire was F11 Midlock.

Also heading across the water at the same money, Jimmy Mills, Kilwaughter, bought a Midlock gimmer out of Midlock Mustang’s sister, and by E001 Hewgill. She changed hands carrying triplets to the Bull and Cave ram.

A crossing ewe hogg led for John Smith Jackson’s Shafthill flock, Hexham, selling for 4200gns to Malcolm Thornborrow, Easter Dawyck, Stobo, Peebles.

This was a daughter of C2 Shafthill – a tup that won the progeny show for a record breaking three years with Mule lambs – out of a Scarrowmanwick ewe by the A3 Scarrowmanwick.

Minutes later, Jamie Pirie, Blairnavaid, Drymen, went to 3000gns for a Shafthill hogg by E28 Midlock and out of a C2 Shafthill ewe.

Leading Michael James’ Duhonw flock, Builth Wells, at 3200gns was the first prize crossing gimmer, by E1 Swathburn, which sold carrying a pair to G1 Midlock. She is out of a E7 Riddings ewe and was purchased by R and R Gornall, for their Dokra flock, Cowgill, Sedbergh.

Mr James also received 3000gns for a ewe hogg bred the same way as his £12,000 J2 tup lamb sold last year at Hawes. Messrs Porter, Riddings, Reeth, forked out the cash for this entry by G1 Midlock and out of a ewe by E1 Swathburn.