ALL rams proved easy to sell at Darlington Farmers’ Auction Mart’s tup sale, where an increased entry cashed in to average £404 with a 90% clearance rate. 
It was a good day for Colin and Andrew Whitfield, from The Barn, Castledene, when they produced the top priced lot at 750gns as well as the champion at the pre-sale show. 
Their sale leader was a Texel cross shearling which was bought by David Teasdale, Folly, Hamsterley, while the champion, a non MV-accredited three-quarter Texel shearling, made 700gns to GE Beadle and Son, Carlton.
Second top price was 720gns paid for the MV-accredited winner, a Texel shearling from Teward Bros, New View, Staindrop, which sold to JJ Horn, Marske. 
Charollais peaked at 600gns for a shearling from CD Timm, West End, selling to JR Todd, High Toft Hill, and a lamb from P Lupton, Greenholme, led the Suffolk trade at 550gns selling to D Sparke, Salmonfield, Hexham. 

LEADING prices:

Tex (including crosses) – 750gns, 700gns (x2), 600gns (x2), 550gns CS and V Whitfield; 720gns, 660gns, 600gns, 550gns (x2), 500gns, 400gns, Teward Bros; 620gns (x2), 600gns, 580gns, 460gns (x3) CM Firby; 600gns GD Warriner and Son; 600gns (x2), 500gns (x2), JR Todd; 600gns P Lupton; 580gns, 440gns, 400gns P Dawson; 460gns (x3), 400gns JV Hodgson and Son; 450gns TJ Carr. 
Char – 600gns, 480gns CD Timm; 400gns D Dennis. 
Suff – 550gns, 480gns P Lupton; 500gns, 380gns, PK and HC Dowson; 420gns CD Timm; 400gns JT and E Midgley. 
Belt (including crosses) – 400gns (x2) CD Timm; 400gns M Crowe.