Averages: Four shearling rams £538 (+£170.50 for the same number); seven ram lambs £378 (-£103 for one more sold); 10 gimmers £386; eight ewe lambs £417.

Quality Hampshire Downs met a strong demand at a breed show and sale at United Auctions, Stirling, last week, selling to a top of 650gns for the pre-sale champion.

Making top dollar was a shearling ram by Thorbeck Heineken out of a Pode Hole-bred ewe from Mrs and Mrs D Middleditch and Son’s St Paul flock, Sudbury, Suffolk. He went to join J Hooks and L Gouldthorpe’s Halikeld flock, Northallerton, North Yorkshire.

Another Heineken-sired shearling ram from the same breeders made 450gns to K Dickson, Fintry, Stirling.

The Middleditch’s success continued in the female ring where they topped the section with a Heineken-sired gimmer selling at 520gns to CC and R Dewey, St Andrews, Fife.

Second top price was 600gns paid for Grant Brand's shearling ram from East Fortune, North Berwick. He is by a Wattisfield What If ram and sold to Michaela Cornish, Thirsk, North Yorkshire.

Heading the ewe lamb trade at 500gns was the reserve champion, a Graylen Haley daughter from Graham and Judith Galbraith’s Grayley flock, Endmoor, Kendal.

The Galbraiths also sold two Iceman-sired gimmers at 420gns each up to Aberdeenshire. The first was bought by A and H Rae, Ellon, with the second selling to Messrs Glass and Robinson, Alford.

Top price for Kevin McCarthy's Ballycreelly flock from Comber, Co Down was 480gns paid for a ewe lamb by Clogherny Eric purchased by James Miller, Luncarty, Perthshire. Mr McCarthy also received 420gns for a Yarcombe-bred gimmer by Westland Fusilier from A and H Rae, Ellon.

Breed newcomer, Helen Shepherd, Crieff, also came up with the goods, selling a tup lamb by East Fortune Archie, for 420gns. The buyer was the pre-sale judge, Allen McFadden, Banbridge, C Down.

Auctioneers: United Auctions