An increased entry of 676 rams, including 427 pure-bred Texel shearling rams and tup lambs, was forward for Hexham and Northern Marts’ multi-breed sale at Hexham, where a top price of £2800 was achieved.
Selling at that trade was the reserve champion Texel, a shearling ram from S and A Reed, Lands Farm, which sold in a two-way split to Messrs Scott, Low Leam, and Messrs Charlton, Tenter House.
Leading the Suffolk section at £1400 was the breed champion, a shearling ram J Leiper and Sons, Black Heddon, purchased by the judges, Messrs Ballantyne, Cowburn Rigg.
This £1400 price tag was matched by the champion Bluefaced Leicester, a shearling from TL Forster and Son, Lowes Fell, that went home with N Murray, Cross House.
The first show and sale of Beltex at this event saw 25 pure tups forward and a lead price of £650 from Messrs Harryman and Warriner, Swainsea Barn.
Cross-bred tups met a flying trade, peaking at £1000 for a three-quarter Texel cross Beltex from CS Whitfield, High Castle Dene, Knitsley.

LEADING prices:

Shearling rams – Tex – £2800, £2000, £1500, £1000 (x2) Lands Farm; £2500, £2000, £1500, £1300 (x2), £1250, £1200, £1150 (x2), £1100 (x4), £1050, £1000 (x4) Cornhills; £1700, £1000 Yatesfield; £1300, £1200 (x2), £1100 (x3), £1000 (x2) Low Ardley; £1100, £1000 West Heddon; £1150, £1100, £1000 (x2) Harbottle Grange; £1050, £1000 (x2) Townfoot; £1050 Butterknowes; £1050 Fell House; £1000 Brinkburn; £1000 New Houses, Dotland Park. Suff – £1400, £1000, £820, £800 Black Heddon; £900, £700 Flotterton; £800 Warton. BFL – £1400, £1300, £1050, £950, £750 (x2), £600, £500 Lowes Fell; £600, £500 Lowes Fell and Blueburn. Belt – £650 Swainsea Barn; £620 Steeley Farm; £580 Morrow Edge; £500 Hobbiesburn; £480 Ravenside Bungalow. Belt X Tex – £900, £800, £650, £520 Cornhills. Belt X Char – £520 Great Tosson. Belt X Suff – £450, £420, Black Heddon. Tex X Belt – £1000, £950 (x2), £750, £520, £480 High Castle Dene. Dut Tex – £950, £900, £700, £650, £550 (x2), £520 (x3), £500 (x3), Little Swinburne. BFL X Tex – £360, £350, Middle Farm.
Ram lambs – Suff – £420, £300 South Hanging Wells. BFL – £380 West Butsfield; £350 Burndale.


LEADINGFLOCK averages

Flock (No)    Top(£) Avg(£)
Texels
Brinkburn New Houses (16)    1000    739
Low Ardley (21)    1300    836
Cornhills (24)    2500    1162
West Heddon (19)    1300    647
Butterknowes (15)    1050    575
Yatesfield (4)    1700    875
Dotland Park (12)    1000    559
Harbottle Grange (15)    1150    836
Lough Green (11)    900    654
Fell House (3)    1050    713
Lands Farm (17)    2800    1016
Townfoot (10)    1050    790