Ever increasing demand for double muscled sheep ensured a buoyant demand for the first Beltex Crackers Female sale at Carlisle, where consignments from five leading flocks saw trade peak at 5000gns for a gimmer.

The event which featured consignments from the Headlind, Jewitt, Matts, Tiptop and Withy Trees flocks, was led by Andrew and Claire Wood's No 2 gimmer from the 70-ewe Withy Trees flock from Whittingham, Preston. Living up to her name was Withy Trees Be Lucky, this year's show gimmer by Kingledores Wigglesworth – a tup bought here for 8000gns. Bred from Buckles Watercress, a daughter of the Great Yorkshire show tup, Broxty Supreme, that was bought for 5000gns after standing overall champion at the 2015 Premier Sale at Carlisle, she changed hands carrying a single to the 13,000gns Cree Action Man. Be Lucky sold over the telephone to D Duckworth, Blackburn, Lancs.

The couple also sold one of the lead priced ewe lambs at 2100gns, when Withy Trees Champagne ET, made 2100gns selling to Richard Wood and John Wood, Kingledores, Broughton, Biggar. Buying back some of their own genetics, Champagne is out of the Glenkeen Sanders-sired Kingledorews Wendoline ET, that was bought for 4200gns as a gimmer in 2015.

Brechin-based breeders, Graham and Fiona Burke, Cairndrum Cottage, Edzell, bought the second top priced lot at 4600gns. This was Headlind Buzzy Lizzy ET, the second prize gimmer at the Great Yorkshire and the Royal Welsh this year which went on to stand overall champion at Peebles, this year. A daughter of Callacrag Wise Crack, bred from an imported ewe by Willy Nine Hundred, she sold carrying a pair to Hackney BBF and with a recipient Lleyn ewe carrying two embryos by Kingledores Carter ET.

Northern Ireland breeder, Matthew Burleigh, who runs 70 ewes at Shanra, Enniskillen, also enjoyed a good sale with gimmers to 4000gns and 3000gns and ewe lambs to 3000gns.

Dearest was the flock's show gimmer, Matt's Betty Boo ET, a daughter of the 5000gns Hackney Wonderboy, that secured a blue ticket at Balmoral. Bred from the Southern Acres Ptolomey-sired Horseclose Tiramisu, which was bought for 1800gns at the 2014 in-lamb sale, she sold back to Northern Ireland with Gary Beacom, who is better known for his Lakeview Suffolk flock from Fivemiletown, Co Fermanagh. Betty Boo sold served carrying a pair to Hackney Corker – a son of the record priced 60,000gns Topflite Alpacino.

Minutes later, Carrigans Bambi, also by Wonderboy, made 3000gns selling to ME Wannop and Sons, Heaton Hall, Morecambe, Lancs. Bred by M Kerrins, she is out of the Corstane Mighty Max-sired Clary Realthing and again sold carrying a pair of lambs by Hackney Corker.

The breeders of Corker, Paul Tippetts and Christine Williams, Lodge Hill, Shifnal, Shropshire, bought Mr Burleigh's lead priced ewe lamb at 3000gns. This was Matt's Corker ET, a March-born lamb that was champion ewe lamb at the Irish National Show, while her dam, Matt's Accolade, by Hackney Warrior, is a full sister to the Irish National inter-breed winner, Matt's Actress. Her sire is Kingledores Apollo, which has bred sons to 2700gns for the flock.

Top price for Henry Jewitt's Jewitt flock from Co Durham was 2400gns paid for a gimmer by Belvoir View Apple Jack ET, the 2015 champion winner at the Great Yorkshire, Newark and Lincolnshire, bought privately. Jewitt Beau Dancer ET, is bred from the imported ET, Quick Glitter from the Capplelle flock in Belgium, and sold in lamb either to Glantre Avici or Dooley Bulldozer, to R Dakin, Panbeck Farm, Hellifield, Skipton.

Averages: Headlind flock – Five gimmers, £1354.50. Withy Trees – 13 gimmers, £1163.88; four ewe lambs, £1220.63. Tip Top – Eight gimmers, £698.25; six ewe lambs, 476.00; three recipients, £1120.00. Jewitt – Eight gimmers, £892.50. Matts – 12 gimmers, £1337.88; six ewe lambs, £1102.50.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington