STRONG demand for some for the best crossing bloodlines available in the Bluefaced Leicester breed prevailed at a breed show and sale at Hawes last weekend, where priced peaked at a whopping £10,200 – for a ewe hogg.

The event which also featured the dispersal of Mark Nelson's Bull and Cave flock from Lancaster, saw the champion, from Robin Booth's Smearsett flock from Feizor, Settle, top the trade, selling to Jack and Eileen Lawson and son Adam, who run 50 ewes in their Hundith flock from Threapland, Aspatria, and Richard Harker, Grayrigg Hall, Kendall

Backed by some of the flock's best genetics, she is by Black Tag – the B13 Smearsett tup that has bred some of the best Mule gimmers, while the dam, which bred the G11 Smearsett or Ted as he's better known, is by the Z4 Hundith.

Smearsett enjoyed a great day in the show and the sale, with their ewe taking the reserve honours and second equal top price of £6000. A daughter of the 7800gns C1 Shafthill, bought at Carlisle, she is out of the same ewe that bred Black Tag and also bred the E1 and G1 Smearsett tups. Kevin Barker, who owns the Keer flock at Arkholme, Carnforth, was the last man in on this ewe carrying triplets to the D15 Smearsett.

The Lord brothers' Hewgill flock from Kirkby Stephen, also took £6000 for a ewe hogg that goes back to the E1 and D17 Hewgill lines, purchased by Northern Ireland breeder, Michael McKenna, of the Glenshane flock run by Michael McKenna.

Just behind, on £5200 was a two-crop ewe from the Bull and Cave dispersal purchased by Richard Hargreaves, of the Barley flock from Meadow Bank, Burnley, Lancs. She is by the B3 Barley, out of a ewe by the Y30 Lunesdale, and sold carrying twins to the G35 Midlock, an £11,000 purchase at Hawes. Bull and Cave averaged £1103 for their 31 sheep.

LEADINGprices

Ewes – WA and A Booth, £6000; J Nelson and Son, £5200, £2800, £2500, £1500, £1400 x 3, £1200, £1000 x 4; A Caton, £1000.

Gimmers – WA and A Booth, £2800 x 2, £2600, £2400, £1400; J Wight and Sons, £2600, £2000, £1400, £1200, £1000, £800; JE Thorpe, £1100, £1000; J Nelson and Son, £1100 x 2, £1000 x 2.

Ewe hoggs – WA and A Booth, £10,200, £2600; Messrs Lord, £6000, £1300, £1100; G and HR Shields, £3400; WM Hutchinson and Son, £2500; Messrs Lawson, £1300; J Nelson and Son, £1100.

Auctioneers: Hawes Auction Mart.