Centre records for Beltex sheep were well and truly smashed at a breed society sale at Skipton Auction Mart, when a ram lamb from first time exhibitor, Jock McMillan's Clary flock from Newton Stewart sold for 11,000gns.

Mr McMillan from Carse of Clary, went straight to the top with his pre-sale champion, Clary Cosmos ET, one of February-born triplets bred from Clary Wild Thing, a daughter of Clary Supersonic and champion winner at Ayr in 2015. The sire is the Belgium import Henry V/H/Vrijbos.

Producing a personal best for Mr McMillan's 35-ewe flock which runs alongside 200 cross-bred Beltex, Cosmos was knocked down to well known Texel breeder, Charlie Boden, Mellor Hall Farm, Mellor, Stockport, who currently runs five breeding ewes.

Adding to the celebrations, Cosmos' full brother, Clary Cracket ET, made 2500gns to C Birrell and Co, Castle Douglas.

The reserve champion sold next at 4200gns. This was Liz McAllister's Artnagullion Bull ET, the first prize shearling ram from the Artnagullion flock, which is run with her brother William at Kells in Ballymena. He is by Ardstewart Armani, which has bred sons to 6000gns and out of the Clary Platform daughter, Artnagullion Sinderella. The buyers were Nick Brown and his partner Charlotte Ormonroyd, from Claughton Hall Farm, Claughton, Lancaster.

Rams from Procters Farm, from Tatham, near Lancaster, peaked at 3000gns with their pen-leader, Proctors Banker ET, a shearling ram by Rathbone Wallace, out of the Graham Ringo’s daughter, Artnagullion Sizie, selling to the Lune Valley with James Wannop, from Heaton, Morecambe.

Also catching the eye at 2200gns was the second prize shearling ram from Cumbrian breeders Thomas and James Whiteford, who run the Tercrosset flock at West Hall, Brampton. Their Tercrosset Bedhead, by Airyolland Nailer and out of the home-bred dam, Penelope Pitstop, found a new home in Penyffordd, Chester, with L and SE Hewitt.

Local breeders Karen and David Shuttleworth, who run the Heber Park flock at Heber House, Gargrave, received 2000gns for Heber Park Bodywork, a shearling ram by Kingledores Walter, purchased by Paul Slater, Macclesfield.

Heber Park Big Banger, by Woodies Ring A Ding, from the same home, then made 1800gns to the Robinson family, from Pannal, Harrogate.

Another shearling ram selling for 2000gns was Brian Hall's Ainstable Ballast, a son of Airyolland Wizzard, purchased by D Murray, Downpatrick, Ireland.

The same home also produced the female champion in the first prize gimmer Ainstable Blaize, an Airyolland Thunder daughter purchased by A Wood and Sons, Whittington, for 1400gns.

And, the first prize ewe lamb .

Three rams made 1700gns including a shearling ram from Stuart Wood's Woodies flock; a shearling ram from Cumbrian breeder Anne Story, of the Borderesk flock and a ram lamb from Irish breeder Matthew Burleigh's Matt’s flock from Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh.

The first prize ewe lamb from John Barclay’s Beachy flock, Beachy Cute As A Button ET, a daughter of Kingledores Battleaxe, from Maybole, made 1000gns to Jeff Mellin, of Higham, Burnley.

At the end of the day, the entry of 459 head saw ram averages take a healthy lift, with ram lambs averaging £844 per head, against £524 in 2016, while shearling rams levelled at £780 against £710. Ewe lambs slipped from £653 last year to £423; gimmers averaged £443 (£497), aged ewes £231 (£326) and three aged rams £875 (£682).