With no new record price, ram lamb averages were always going to slide at the Blue Texel show and sale at Carlisle, where females led the trade selling to 2000gns.

Last year, the trade was bolstered by an 18,000gns record for a ram lamb, while the 2017 event saw females secure four of the top six prices.

Star attraction was Henry Jewitt's Sunnybank American Beauty, an ET gimmer that was reserve champion at Northumberland show and first at Cockermouth for the flock from Gracie's Farm, Romaldkirk, Barnard Castle. Bred from a Gregors ewe by Beautry Tybolt, and sired by Hackney Xcel, the gimmer which stood first in her class at the pre-sale show, made 2000gns selling to Glen and Heather Forsyth, Corra, Castle Douglas.

The second prize gimmer from Stasa Moyse, Woolhillock, Skene, Aberdeenshire, sold next at 1400gns to MSH Benson, Horrace Farm, Pennington, Ulverston. Saltire Blue Angel Eyes, another ET, this time bred from the Dutch-bred Saltire Blue was sired by Beili Blues Peter, another imported ram.

Her full sister, Saltire Blue Angelica then made 1000gns when purchased by Andrew Bishop, Pitfield Farm, Eldersfield, Gloucester.

On the debit side, Saltire Blue went to 1100gns for the second prize ewe lamb and reserve overall female, from Glyndwr Arrowsmith, Llowes, Hereford. This was Pen-y-Bec Bethan, which is backed by home-bred genetics going back to Glanrafon Blues and Turbo Blue Wacky Boy on the sire and dam sides, respectively.

Miss Moyse also topped the males, selling the first prize shearling ram and reserve male, for 1200gns. Saltire Blue Avitar, an ET bred from an imported female and sired by Foxhill Yogie. The buyer was R Campbell, Craigalbert Farm, Ballantrae, Girvan.

The male champion and supreme overall, a ram lamb from Neil Barclay's Harestone flock from Insch, Aberdeenshire, made 1000gns selling to CC and S Edwards, Freehold Farm, Norbury, Shropshire. He is by Saltire Blue Yogi, and out of a Corra-bred ewe.

Averages: 21 shearling rams, £419.75 (-£164.28 for 16 less); 34 lamb rams, £383.25 (-£954.19 for 10 more sold); 49 gimmers, £509.61 (+£37.53 for one less); 13 ewe lambs, £428.08 (-£147.67 for 11 less); seven ewes, £406.50.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.