CENTRE records were smashed at Bentham Auction's annual sale of individual hill-bred breeding sheep, when a one-crop Swaledale ewe from Patrick and Kirsty Sowerby sold for £7000.

The home-bred ewe, from Oakbank Farm, Kirkby Stephen, stood champion at the pre-sale show and sold to Frank Brennand, Chapel le Dale, Ingleton. Backed by home-bred genetics on both sides, this sheep is by Oakbank Amos, which was the result of a £4500 in-lamb ewe purchase from Wayne Winspear, and bred from a ewe by the privately purchased Mossdale Intercepter. She changed hands carry a pair of twin lambs to the £38,000 Oakbank Delboy.

LEADING prices:

Swaledale – Ewes – £1600, WA and A Booth, Feizor; £1200, P Hallam, Glossop. Gimmers – £1100, J and JE Bradley, Penny Grange.
Dalesbred – Gimmers – £1250, T and J Kelsall. Ewes – £1100, T and J Kelsall.
Herdwick – Ewes – £600, Arnold Lancaster, Coniston. Ewe hoggs – £500, J Wilson, Dockray.