Derbyshire breeders made their presence felt at the annual North Country Cheviot in lamb show and sale at Lockerbie, buying five of the six top priced lots.

Top price was £1800, paid for a gimmer from Willie Thomson and his father, Jimmy, Hownam Grange, Yetholm, Kelso. Their topper, a daughter of Philiphaugh Shotgun, a tup that stood reserve champion at the Highland in 2016, is out of a ewe by Hownam Grange Wee Tam. She sold in lamb to the £2800 Synton Vesper to Derbyshire enthusiast, James Burton, Ilamtops.

Hownam Grange also received £1600 from Mr Burton, when he bought the reserve park champion, a gimmer by the Gilston ram 11532, which also sold due to Synton Vesper.

Another heading south with Mr Burton at £1000, was the second prize park gimmer from Innes Graham, Carruthers, Waterbeck. She is by Gospelhall Strongbow and sold scanned in lamb to Philiphaugh Tam O'Shanter

Jimmy Thomson's Kelsocleugh Farming Company, also from Kelso, also came up with the goods, winning the hill championship with a gimmer by Bedshiel Rockhall, in lamb to the home-bred Kelso Vichancelor. She made £1100 selling to Rod McKenzie, Muirton, Munlochy, Inverness.

Matching that bid was a one-crop ewe from Martin Taylor's Linburn flock from Peebles, bought by AF Rushton, Freshfields, Derbyshire. This cracker, which stood third in her class at the Highland in 2016, and was shown by Mr Taylor's sister, Jennifer Cowan, is by Ericstane the Real McCoy and sold in lamb to Belmaduthy Superstyler.

Ewe hoggs peaked at £1000 for an entry from Keith Stones, Nun Cote Nook, Richmond, purchased by D Beech, Derbyshire. First in her class at the pre-sale show, she is sired by Allanshaws Nutter.

Averages – Nine ewes £483.00 (-£175.57 for two more sold); 35 gimmers £474.58 (-£132.46 for eight more); 25 ewe hoggs £262 (-£381.33 for 10 more).

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.