Averages: Three aged ewes, £143.50; 51 gimmers , £395.71 (+£20.80 for the same number); 61 ewe lambs, £387.30 (-£13.22 for eight fewer); three aged rams, £455.00; 16 shearling rams,£604.73 (+£166.15 for three more); 39 ram lambs, £490.00 (+£28.00 for four more).

NORTHERN Ireland Zwartbles breeders, A and R Megarrell, who own the Killymallaght flock from Cullion, Co Londonderry, triumphed to sell the top two highest priced lots in the males and the females at a breed show and sale at Carlisle.

Dearest at 1900gns, was Killymallaght Enrique, a February-born ram lamb by the show tup, Smiddy Hill Caeser, which stood second in his class at the pre-sale show.

Maternal brother to Killymallaght Dexter that was unbeaten in Northern Ireland as a lamb and sold for 1100gns, Enrique is bred from Killmallaght Tailspin and sold to Lancs breeder, RJ Heigh, Brook House Farm, Bentham.

Just behind, on 1800gns, the Megarrell's sold Killymallaght Enigma, another by Caeser, but out of another East Middle Rip Van Winkle daughter, in Killymallaght Absolute Star, a show ewe which won her class at the Royal Ulster Show, in 2014. Young Faye Wilkie, Whitestone, Skene, Westhill, forked out the cash for December-born lamb that scooped the male championship at the pre-sale show.

Gimmer daughters of the show tup, Broomfield Ben produced the top two female sales for the family, when Killymallaght Dixie and Killymallaght Damsel, made 1800gns and 1600gns, respectively with both selling to Wigtownshire breeder, D Brisbane, Little Tongue, Castle Kennedy, Stranraer.

The former, which was first prize gimmer at Balmoral, was also reserve female at the pre-sale show and is out of the Rip Van Winkle daughter, Killymallaght Apple.

The latter, is out of Killmallaght Bacardi, by a Bishopsbrae sire.

Karen McLaren and Ally Baird, who own the Greystone flock from Dunblane, sold the lead priced ewe lamb at 1200gns, to GT Booth, Downshaw Farm, Lothersdale, Keighley. Greystone Eden, is by Selside Cassanova, out of Corrybrae Ballerina, and stood second in her class.

Northern Ireland breeder, Susan Smyth, of the Bessiebell flock from Newtownsteart, also enjoyed a good day with ewe lamb sales at 1050gns and 1000gns for daughters of Gillhall Amarok. First was Bessiebell Eye-Opener, by Gillhall Amarok, purchased by Banffshire breeder, S Stewart, Buttery Brae, Drummuir, Keith. Eye-Opener was first at the NI national show and fifth at the pre-sale show.

Dumfriesshire breeder, J Millar, Woodhousehill, Kirkpatrick Fleming, Lockerbie, bought the 1000gns lot, Bessibell EMZ.

Back amongst the males and Hannah Sloan, Rigghead, Collin, Dumfries, was also in the money with sales at 1450gns and 1400gns. Her dearest was Top Notch Eurostar, a tup lamb by Pistyll Calvin Klein, out of Top Notch Amelia which stood female champion at the Highland Show in 2014. Northern Ireland breeder, D Cashel, Hillview, Ballinamallard, Co Fermanagh, was the last man in.

Hannah's 1400gns was the lead priced shearling ram which also stood reserve male champion. This was Top Notch Dynamo, another by Calvin Klein, but out of a home-bred ewe by Greenhill Stefano. Second prize at the Highland and first at Ayr, he also sold across the Irish Sea with Mark Thompson, Newmills, Dungannon.

On the other side of the coin, Miss Sloan, forked out 1300gns for Hayberries Executive, a son of Beech Hay Chancellor, from P and S Addison, Hayberries, Mickleton, Barnard Castle.