Blackface lambs secured the overall sheep championship at C and D Auction Marts' Christmas show and sale at Longtown.

The sale of 6738 prime lambs saw a pen of 10 Blackies from Messrs Carruthers, Peela Hill, Bewcastle, secure the top award before selling to the judge, William Tinning, Dunbia. They scaled in at 42kg and realised £100 per head or 238p per kg.

South Country Cheviot lambs weighing 43kg, from Elliot and Neil Cavers, Sorbie, Langholm, picked up the reserve honours and also sold to the judge, at £80 per head.

Top price per kg was 245p, paid for Beltex lambs from Messrs Lines, Killocraw, Kintyre with the sale averaging 167p overall, with an SQQ of 172p.

Leading the sale of 4387 cast ewes and rams at £152 were Texel rams from EJC Dean, Kirk House, with ewes peaking at £146 for Texels from GJ Toppin, Bascodyke Foot.

The sale of 67 cattle, comprising of 25 cows, four prime bulls and 38 clean cattle, saw a Limousin heifer from John and Lindsey Vevers, lift the championship, with the judge Jim Robertson, Galashiels, then giving the reserve winning slap to a Limousin steer from James Chrichton.

The champion realised 270p per kg to the Kirkup family for their butchers shops in Longtown and Silloth, with the reserve being knocked down to Peter Smith, Highgate Meats, at 228p.

Top price for cows was 136p paid twice, firstly for the cow from Messrs Gass, Nunscleugh, and secondly for a Limousin cross from Norman Douglas. Dairy cows sold to £837.90 for the first prize cow.

LEADING awards

Prime cattle – Bullocks – Lim – 1, Messrs Crichton, Loughrigg – 590kg, 228p

Heifers – Native black – 1, Messrs Kilnstown and Watson, 600kg, 220p; 2, Kyle, Spoutbank, 520kg, 207p. Lim – 1, Messrs Vevers, High Stenries, 615kg, 270p; 2, Loughrigg, 565kg, 242p. Char – 1, Messrs Fiddler, Barrow Ling, 590kg, 204p.

Bulls – Cont – 1 and 2, Messrs Coulthard, Justicetown, 565kg, 185p and 645kg, 163p.

Cows – Beef – 1 and 2, Messrs Gass, Nunscleugh, 650kg, 136p and 605kg 126p. Dairy – 1, Messrs Irving, Becton Hall, 855kg, 98p; 2, Messrs Beard, Dormansteads, 755kg, 82p.

Lambs – Tex X – 1, Messrs Story, Newbiggin, 42kg, £94; 2, Messrs Lines, Killocraw, 41kg, £82. Belt – 1, Killocraw, 40kg, £98; 2, Messrs Cavers, Sorbie, 41kg, £88. Other Cont – 1, Messrs Scott, West Meiklethwaite, 41kg, £97; 2, Messrs Brodie, Allfornaught, 44kg, £75. Suff X – 1, Messrs Armstrong, Sceughdyke, 50kg, £80; 2, Messrs Fisher, Beeches, 53kg, £83. North of England Mule – Spoutbank Farming, 49kg, £70; 2, Messrs Lawson, Stubsgill, 50kg, £72. Scotch Mule – 1, Messrs Ballantyne, Cowburnrigg, 49kg, £70; 2, Messrs Simpson, Kirkhouse, 49kg, £71.50. NCC – 1, West Kirkcarsewell Farming, 44kg, £73. SCC – 1, Messrs Cavers, Sorbie, 43kg, £80; 2, Messrs Bridgewater and Wood, Potholm, 43kg, £73. BF – 1, Messrs Carruthers, Peela Hill, 42kg, £100; 2, Sorbie, 45kg, £71.