FEMALES from Robin Booth's Smearsett flock led the way at a show and sale at Hawes, claiming both the champion and reserve tickets as well as many of the leading prices at a sale which met an improved gimmer trade which was up nearly £300 on the year to £1630. 

In contrast, with the winter condition curtailing some of the usual Scottish buyers making it south of the Border, ewe hoggs were back £8 to £1188 while ewes levelled at £893. 

Selling for the top price of £7000 was the third prize gimmer, J50 Smearsett from Robin, of Feizor, Settle. Sired by the home-bred G11 Smearsett known as Ted and out of a ewe by S1 Lunesdale, she is a full sister to the £24,000 ram lamb sold last back-end. She was snapped up by Messrs Pye, Abbeystead, and changed hands carrying twins to the H14 Highberries. 

Next at £5000 when sold to E Harkin and J McGrenaghan, County Tyrone, was the champion, a ewe hogg by the F3 Hundith shared with Gordon Rawesthorn and out of a ewe by the D17 Smearsett called Yellow Tag. 

The reserve champion was next in the trade steaks when knocked down to G Richmond, Preston, for £3000. Offering some different genetics to the former two, this gimmer is by the H1 Garscube tup which was bred from a £10,000 Smearsett ewe sold a few years back. The gimmer herself, which was scanned with triplets to the H3 Riddings, is out of a ewe by the renowned Z4 Hundith. 

Ashley Caton, Bell Busk, was keen to get some Smearsett genetics and paid £3800 and £2800 for two recipients carrying embryos bred from full sisters to the D15 Smearsett. The dearer recipient was carrying twins by Black Tag, and the second was due with two to Ted. 

The Hewgill flock from the Lord family was also in the money with a top of £4400 paid by M McKenna, County Derry, for ewe hogg by the home-bred H45 Hewgill ram which has bred tup lambs to £18,000. She is out of a ewe by the E47 Hewgill, which is a full sister to the G1 Hewgill used at Kirkby Redgate. 

Another Hewgill ewe hogg by the same H45 Hewgill then sold to MW Skidmore, Wolf Cleugh, for £2000. 

Making it a Hawes debut to remember, Jack Cartmel and Rachel Scrimgeour sold the dearest from their Red Howe flock for £2200. Their hogg, by G2 Highberries and out of a Z4 Hundith-sired ewe, she sold to Neil Marston, Cockermouth.