Heber Park Carmen, the reserve female champion at the pre-sale show proved the star attraction amongst the Beltcx gimmers, selling for the top price of 7500gns.

The sale, staged at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, and part of the breed society's three-day show and sale of gimmers, ram lambs, aged and shearling rams, was led by the best from DW and KCB Shuttleworth, Heber House Farm, Gargrave, Lancs, who sold five gimmers to average £2552.

Carmen, a daughter of Buckles Balmoral, is bred from the Kingledores Walter daughter, Heber Park Ariettie, and was knocked down to Paul and Christine Tippets, buying for their Tippets and Wilodge flocks based at Shifnal, Shropshire.

Scottish breeder, Andrew Wainwright, a vet to trade who was selling females for the second time here from his 40-ewe flock from Dairsie, Cupar, also came up with the goods when Todhall Cider made 6200gns. His No 2 entry, is by Rathbone Alien, a former male champion at the Great Yorkshire Show that was bought here as a shearling for 3800gns. The dam, Todhall Wendy, which is a sister to Todhall Superstar – the sire of the 16,000gns Blackjack Well Hun – is by Woodies Pride of North. She sold up to Aberdeenshire with G and L Carroll, Edendiack, Huntly.

Three gimmers came under the hammer for 4000gns including the only daughter to be offered for sale out of the 10,000gns Kingledores Arienne, from Adam Cromwell of Cromwell Livestoc, Aldridge, Staffs. Cromwell Chardonnay, an ET, is by the 9500gns Broughton Willie Wonder and was knocked down to Messrs Cropper, Rossendale, Lancashire.

Jock Cowan's Brickrow Cocopop, from Brickrow, Ayr, another ET, this time bred from the Brickrow Robbie daughter, Brickrow Shining Glory, made the same money, selling to Gary Beacom, Co Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. Fifth in her class at the Highland Show in June, and fourth at the pre-sale show, Cocopop is sired by Loandhu Bullet.

Ian Reid, who owns the Osprey flock from Methven, Perth, bought the last of the 4000gns gimmers in Richard and John Wood's Kingledores Caitlyn ET, from Kingledores, Broughton, Biggar. Backed by the best of breeding, Caitlyn is a full sister to the Woods' record priced tup lamb sold last year, Kingledores Armani, which made 27,000gns, being bred from the former Highland Show champion, Kingledores Pearl and sired by Glantre Armani.

Just behind on 3500gns, Andrew Baillie, who owns the Callacrag flock from Carstairs Mains, Lanark, sold Callacrag Chambermaid ET, to Messrs Yarr, Edzell. Another boasting some first class genetics, she is a full sister to the flock's show gimmers being bred from Callacrag Rana, the dam of the 13,000gns Callacrag Wisecrack and sired by the 7000gns Hackney Braveheart.

However, while the top end sold well, a huge increase in the numbers entered for the sale saw only 59% of the catalogued entry find new homes.

Averages: 261 gimmers £791.89 (-£44.36 for 40 less).

LEADINGFLOCK averages

Flock (No) Top (Gns) Average (£)

Tiree (7) 2500 1155.00

Burnside (4) 3000 1352.00

Shuttleworth (5) 7500 2552.00

Cromwell (7) 4000 1207.50

Brickrow (6) 4000 1828.75

Aviemore (8) 2200 1027.68

Kingledores (8) 4000 1680.00

Withytrees (6) 1800 1365.00

Todhall (7) 6200 1434.00

Tiptop (3) 1700 1032.50

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.