A NEW breed record was achieved at Bentham Auction Mart's annual multi-breed show and sale, when a Herdwick ewe sold for £1000.

Selling at this price and surpassing the previous best of £750, was the champion, a home-bred two-crop ewe from Arnold Lancaster's Brackenbarrow flock, from Coniston, Cumbria, purchased by A and M Brennand, Ellerbeck, Chapel Le Dale, Carnforth.

She is by a Ulcatrow ram and sold in lamb to Raceyghyll tup which is the full brother of the £5500 Raceyghyll sold last year 2016 to Anthony Hartley.

Centre records were also achieved in the Swaledale section when David and Robin Booth, Feizor, Austwick, Lancs, sold a two-crop ewe by Bull and Cave ram for £3000. She is scanned for twins to Patrick Sowerby-bred tup and was knocked down to Messrs Lightfoot, Gillside, Glenridding, Penrith.

The Booths were back in the money amongst the Bluefaced Leicesters too with sales at £1600 and £1200. The dearest, a ewe hogg was purchased by K and HA Ridley, Allenshields, Consett, Co Durham, while the £1200 entry, another ewe hogg that stood champion at the pre-sale show was purchased by William Linton, Mauldron, Fauldhouse, Bathgate.

David Lawson's Gragareth flock topped the Blue section with a ewe hogg by an F003 Hundith making £1700 to M Thomlinson, Derbyshire.

Auctioneers: Richard Turner and Son