A LARGE entry of 24 pens of lambs were forward for judging at Wallets Marts’ Christmas show and sale of prime lambs at Castle Douglas, last week, where local butcher Tom Grierson, of Grierson Brothers Butchers, was judging and lambs from Messrs Gray, Eastfield, Symington, secured the champion and reserve tickets. 
Taking the top title was a 42.7kg trio of Texels which My Grierson later bought for £100 per head while the reserve, 40.9kg Beltex, were also bought by Mr Grierson but this time for £99. 
But leading the trade at £102 and 248.8p per kg was a pen of Beltex from Gelston Castle. 
Overall, light and export weighted lambs were well bid for while over-fat and heavy lambs were difficult to sell. The 2738 on offer sold to average 160.38p with SQQ lambs at 165.83p. 
Cast sheep (319) saw all classes sell sharper, with Texel rams from High Borgue topping at £111. Ewes reached £89 for Texels from Carswadda. 
LEADING awards:
Trio of prime lambs – Texel – 1 and champion, Messrs Gray, Eastfield; 2, Messrs Brown, Drumcoultran; 3, Messrs Boyd, Terregles Town. Beltex – 1 and reserve, Eastfield; 2 and 3, Gelston Castle. Suffolk – 1, Messrs Fisher, Flathill; 2 and 3, West Kirkcarswell, Balmangan. Scotch Mule – 1 and 2, Messrs Sturgess, Cullinaw; 3, Messrs Lockhart, Culdoach. Blackface – 1, Culdoach; 2, Messrs Hamilton, Glenmanna; 3, Cullinaw. Cheviot – 1 and 2, Messrs Menzies, Burn.