NORTH Country Cheviot rams met an impressive trade at Dingwall, last week, when a record entry of 703 were cashed to average £504.69, up £92.55 on the year and for 90 more sold, with a lead price of £5500.
Attracting that top bid was Inkstack Splitter, a home-bred three-shear ram from well-known Caithness breeders, Leslie and Tina Robertson, who run 700 pure ewes near Thurso. A son of the home-bred ram, Inkstack Bingo 2, he sold to the pre-sale judge, Martyn Cook, who contract farms around 2500 ewes in Sutherland.
The Robertsons enjoyed a great sale, also selling a home-bred two-shear by Badanloch Mania for £2000 to Annandale Estates, Lockerbie.
Second top at £3100 was a two-shear ram by a Seaforth sire, from George Cormack, Wester Dunnet, Thurso. He is out of an Achentoul ewe and was knocked down to Badanloch Estate, managed by Hughie Mackenzie.
Two rams came under the hammer for £2800, including a two-shear from Stuart Henderson, who shepherds at Achentoul, Kinbrace. It sold to Suisgill Estates, Helmsdale.
Matching that price was an entry from J Blackhall, Easter Brachmont, Durris, purchased by Jimmy Thomson, Kelsocleugh Farming, Yetholm.
Stuart Henderson’s brother, Dennis, who is shepherd at Torrish Estate, Helmsdale, and runs his own Saluscraggie flock, also had cause to celebrate, when he received £2600 for a three-shear son of Northhouse Lion King, from Keppoch Estates.
Just behind, on £2500, a two-shear from the Mathesons, of Clashinglash, Achue, sold for £2500 to Blingery Farms.
Borders breeder, Forrest Irving, who dispersed his main flock last year, enjoyed a good day with his remaining tups which are now based at Mountbenger, Yarrow. His best, a two-shear by Hethpool Pisces, made £2200 when selling back down the road with Charlie Symons, Attonburn, Kelso.
Just behind, on £2100, Caithness breeder, Will Sutherland, Brackside, Reay, sold a two-shear to R Moffat, Ardgay, while Michael Elliot, Woodside, Yetholm, had a similarly aged entry at £2000. This son of Badanloch Mischevious, was purchased by WR Cameron, Arnat, Ardgay.
Joyce Campbell, who runs the Armadale flock at Thurso, produced the lead flock average at £1220 for 10 from a lead price of £1800.

LEADING prices:

North Country Cheviots
Shearlings – Woodside, Kelso £2000; 185 Migdale, Bonar Bridge, (MacLeod) £1700; Thistle House Croft, Thurso £1500; Inkstack Farm and 185 Migdale £1100; Bardnaclaven, Thurso £1050.
Two-shears – Achentoul Farms (Shepherds Pack), Kinbrace £2800; Clashinglash, Spinningdale£2500; Mountbenger, Yarrow £2200; Brackside, Reay £2100; Inkstack £2000; Inverbroom, Ullapool £1900; Stouphill, Humbleheugh and Armadale £1800; Suisgill Estate, Helmsdale £,600.
Three-shears – Torrish Estate, Helmsdale £2600; Keppoch, Dundonnell £1300; Inkstack and Torrish Estate £1000; 3 Borgie, Skerray, East Clyne, Brora and Badanloch Estate, Kinbrace £900; Castle Grant Home Farm, Grantown on Spey, Suisgill Estate (Shepherds Pack) and St Johns Kirk, Symington £800.  
Four-shears – Armadale Farm, £1200 (x2); 1 and 2 Ose, Struan £1050.
Ram lambs – 1 and 2 Ose, £550.
Continental rams – Breeding rams – Belt – Upper Auchenlay, Dunblane, £320, £220; Marian, Evanton, £250. Char – Upper Auchenlay, £350, £300, £280; Rhevackin Farm, Kiltarlity £280. BFL – Whitebog, Rosemarkie, £600, £500; Nether Aucharnie, £500; Broomhill Farm, Muir of Ord, £450. Suff – The Arr, Lethen, £450, £380, £300; Roadside Cottage, Lybster and Newton of Crathie, Ballater (x2), £400; Cummerton Farm, Fraserburgh, Stonyford Farm, Aboyne, Nether Aucharnie and Whitebog, £300; Tex – Boultach, Latheron, £900; Veltigar, £750; Clyth Mains, Occumster, £700; Glengolly Farm, Thurso, Balmaglaster, Spean Bridge, Veltigar and Clyth Mains, £600. Cross – The Arr £620; Stonyford Farm, £500; Cogle Farm, Watten, £400; Inverbroom Farm, Ullapool, £360 (x2). Lleyn – Todholes, £200, £140.