Breed records were well and truly smashed at last weekend's Charollais sheep sale at Worcester when Knockin Shockin, a ram lamb from Abbie Moseley sold for whopping 25,000gns.

More than doubling the previous best of 10,800gns paid for a Logie Durno ram in 2011, was the pre-sale champion purchased by Shropshire breeder, Robert Gregory, who owns the Edstaston flock from Harmer Hill, Shrewsbury.

“I have followed the progress of this lamb for a long time and always felt he was something really special," said Mr Gregory.

"He has outstanding Charollais qualities of length, width and a serious backend and to boot is in the top 5% of the breed on performance.”

The breeding behind this cracker includes Oakchurch Ruben, a ram purchased at last year's sale here for 3200gns onto a home-bred gimmer that goes back to the Arjane Jumanji ewe and sired by Dalby Malachite from Abbie’s farm based at Knockin Hall, near Oswestry.

Oakchurch Ruben was also the sire of Knockin Smart Arse which made 6000gns to Northern Ireland breeders, William McAllister and Ian Craig. Another that goes back to the Arjane ewe, his dam produced Knock Rock n Roll that sold to Scottish breeder, James Clanachan.

Lanarkshire breeder, Russell Gray, Langside and CD Timm, Yorkshire, then went to 5800gns for Knockin Stud Muffin, a son tup, Bronwydd Pride of Pembroke that stood first at the Royal Welsh last year for Robert Gregory who bought him at Builth as a lamb in 2015 for 2300gns. The grand-dam of Stud Muffin is a twin sister to the grand-dam of the 25,000gns Knockin Shockin.

Second top price for the breed which was celebrating it's 40th anniversary in the UK, was 9000gns paid for Justin Evans' Sant Andras Sergeant Major from Dinas Powys, purchased by Southern Ireland breeder, Michael Power. For his money he gets a son of Rhaeadr Prince, out of a Glyn Coch ewe purchased at the Worcester Saucy sale in 2013.

Long-time supporters of the breed, Mark and Margie Rushbrooke from Bewdley in Worcestershire, also came up with the goods when their Brettles Sherman realised 7000gns to the Wernfawr flock of David Curran and the Glyn Coch flock of Adrian Davies both from Wales. This Rainbow Road to Utopia son is out of a home-bred ewe by Crogham Logic.

More than financing that transaction, Mr Curran also received 7000gns for Wernfawr Spartacus which sold to Tim Prichard, Castellau Flock and Emyr Hughes, Bronwydd flock both from Wales. Reserve champion lamb at the pre-sale show, he is by the Foulrice Jake son, Wernfawr Nijinsky which bred the 7000gns Wernfawr Red bull which sold to the Logie Durno flock here last year, and out of a Glantren Legend-sired ewe.

First time vendor, Dave Roberts from Kenley in Shrewsbury, also enjoyed a good day, with the pick of his pen making 5500gns to Ben James from Tenbury Wells, Worcester. The lamb, Boyo Super Ted, was the product of a purchase from the dispersal sale of the Banwy flock and sired by Aberkinsey Nitrogen.

The highest performance index lamb forward was Dalby Sherman from Charles Sercombe's flock from near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. This lamb which boasts an index of 446 – the second highest indexed lamb in the breed this year – bred from a home-bred ewe by Brettles Jetstream, made 5100gns to Charles Marwood, buying for his Foulrice flock from York.

Recouping some of his outlay on the top-priced lamb, Robert Gregory, sold his two top lambs at 4200gns and 4000gns. Dearest was Edstaston Silver Lining, by Bronwydd Pride of Pembroke which sold to Northern Ireland breeders, McConnell Bros for their Hollylodge Flock.

The 4000gns sale came for Edstaston Sotogrande, a Skelton Whin Odyssey son out of a show yearling going back to Edstaston Dubai. Clubbing together to secure his services were Jonathan Corbett of the Wedderburn flock, based at New House Farm, Newent, Gloucestershire and Dewi Evans from Anglesey.

Scottish breeders, Gregor and Bruce Ingram who own the Loanhead flock at Logie Durno, Inverurie, sold the two top priced shearling rams at 3400gns.

First up was the champion shearling, Loanhead Ringleader, a son of Rhaeadr Orlando – the 2016 Highland Show champion that stood male champion this year – purchased by Glyn Meyrick of the Bould flock in Oxfordshire.

Making the same money was Loanhead Renegade, also by Orlando, but purchased by TF Duncan from Co Antrim in Northern Ireland.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary breed, a special sale of ‘Super Stars’ females was also staged the previous evening which saw a lead price of 3000gns paid for the best from first time vendors, Kenny, Sheila and Geoffrey Malcomson, Donaghmore, Newry, Co Down, Northern Ireland.

Their ewe, Ringclare Rionach was an embryo daughter of Ballyhibben Lulu which was purchased from Michael Power for €4700 euros and sired by Riverdale Kidd, a former show winning ram in Ireland. The buyers were Andrew and Jan Walton buying for their Rainbow flock, Church Farm, Backford in Cheshire.

Averages: 25 gimmers, £1104.50; three senior rams, £525.00; 30 shearling rams, £1225.70 (+£320 for one more); 121 ram lambs £1617.00 (+£430 for six fewer).

Auctioneers: McCartneys.