A GIMMER from Stuart and Gail Currie's Beautry flock at Rathmell topped Craven Cattle Marts' recent sale of Beltex females at Skipton, where 19 gimmers levelled at £721, a rise of £147 on the year.

Selling for the top price of 1300gns was the Currie's reserve champion, Beautry Bany, a daughter of Matt's Ambassador, a sire which has bred gimmers to 2500gns. Out of Beautry Shannon and scanned carrying a single to Dean Brow Carlos, she sold to Andrew Wood of Whittingham, Preston.

Next best at 1050gns was the champion from Irish breeder, Matthew Burleigh who runs his 55-ewe Matt's flock at Shanra, Enniskileen, Co Fermanagh. That was the gimmer, Matt's Bumble Bee, a triplet sired by Kingledores Apollo which was purchased for 5580gns at Carlisle where it stood reserve supreme champion at Carlisle in August, 2015. Out of Matt's Waylan and scanned carrying a single to Hackney Corker, she sold to the show judge, Sue Wilkinson of the Langlands flock in Barningham, North Yorkshire.

Mr Burleigh had another four-figure sale at 1000gns with Matt's Beyonce, a gimmer by Hackney Wonderboy and scanned carrying twins to Hackey Corker. She sold to RM Cornforth and Sons, Tadcaster.

Among the annual sale of winter Texel females, a top price of 700gns was paid for a February 2015-born ewe from Mark and Val Collins' Longram flock at Low Ground Fold, Howsham. By Strathbogie Untouchable, out of a ewe by Glenside Razzle Dazzle – which was purchased at the Insch dispersal sale in 2014 and is a maternal sister to Millar's Windbrook – she sold to carrying twins to Millar's A One, to RN Kirby and Son, Northallerton.

LEADINGprices:

Auctioneers: CCM Auctions