BELTEX lambs from John and Kirsty Guthrie secured the champion and reserve honours at Caledonian Marts' Christmas show and sale of prime sheep, which was judged by Andrew Morton jnr, of Lochend, Denny.

The winning trio from the Guthries, of Cuiltburn, Muthill, tipped the scales at 51kg and were knocked down for Hugh Black Butchers, Port Street, Stirling, for £158 apiece or 310p per kg.

The reserve pen, which weighed in at 46.5kg, made £140 or 301p when sold to A Gray Butchers, Upper Craigs, Stirling.

The sale cashed in to average 175.6p per kg, a rise of 3p on the week, and outwith the show it was more Beltex from Cuiltburn that topped the trade at £111, followed by Beltex crosses from West Lundie at £110 and £107.

Also on offer were 705 cast ewes and tups, where 185 heavy ewes averaged £68.56 and 293 export ewes levelled at £36.29. They hit a top of £126 for a Border Leicester ram from Sandy and Alex Watson, Cultichealdoch Cottage, Muthill, while ewes reached £121 for a heavy Beltex from Andrew Morton snr, Lochend, Denny.

LEADING awards:

Pens of three – Beltex –1 and champion, JB Guthrie, Cuiltburn, 51kg, £158, 310p; 2 and reserve, Cuiltburn, 46.5kg, £140, 301p; 3, Cuiltburn, 48.5kg, £110, 227p. Texel – 1, WM Bell and Son, Craigend, 51.5kg, £110, 213p; 2, BCF Lambie Partnership, 42.5kg, £89, 209p; 3, T Mitchell, Easter Goremyre, 40.5kg, £87, 215p. Suffolk – 1 and 2, DS and RC Taylor, Easter Ochtermuthill, 46kg, £100, 217p, and 42.5kg, £85, 200p; 3, R Bell and Partners, Craigo, 46kg, £81, 176p. Mule – 1, RA Campbell and Son, Meikle Seggie, 45kg, £77, 171p. Blackface – 1 and 2, R Kyle, Bailanstruth, 46kg, £82, 178p, and 47.5kg, £82, 172p; 3, J Smith, Midhouse, 43kg, £76, 177p.