A GOOD show of breeding stock was presented to the largest ringside of buyers ever witnessed at United Auctions’ Huntly centre, where buyers from all over the north of Scotland and the central belt resulted in all classes of sheep exceeding vendors’ expectations. 
The pre-sale show saw David Macarthur, Mid Fleenas, place the Scotch Mule gimmers. He found his winners in a pen from Ballindalloch Home Farm which later sold for £156. 
Leading the section at £158 was a pen from Redhill.
Graeme Smith, Towiemore, judged the ewe lambs and selected a pen from Messrs Forbes, Dalrachie, as his Cheviot Mule champion which later sold for £132 to top the section. 
The winning pen of Scotch Mule ewe lambs from Messrs Hunter, Wedderburn, realised £130, a price matched by a pen of the same from Newton of Hassiewells. 
In all, 1837 Mule gimmers levelled at £137.60 per head, a rise of £3 on the year, while the 197 Texel gimmers were back by £2.31 to average £135.33. The 73 Lleyn gimmers levelled at £135.52.
Among the ewe lambs 262 Cheviot Mules cashed in at £110.46 with 1350 Scotch Mule ewe lambs at £105.60.
The entry of 1549 store lambs, which incorporated a special section for sheep from Caithness, reached £61.50 for Texels from Dwarwick. 
LEADING awards:

Scotch Mule – Gimmers – 1, Ballindalloch Home Farm, £156; 2, Messrs Gordon, Adamstone, £150; 3, Messrs Matthew, Whitelumbs, £145. Ewe lambs – 1, Messrs Hunter, Wedderburn, £130; 2, Glenrinnes Estate, £116; 3, Messrs Stewart, Bomakelloch, £128. 
Cheviot Mule – Ewe lambs – 1, Messrs Forbes, Dalrachie, £132; 2, Messrs MacDonald, Castle Grant, £112; 3, Messrs Watt, Dualts, £111. 

LEADING prices:

Gimmers – Scotch Mule – £158, £150 Redhill; £155 Kinnermit; £150, £148 Towiemore; £150 Adamstone, Kirkland (x3); £148 Ballindalloch HF, St Johns Wells, Adamstone, Logie. Tex – £165, £148 Whitelumbs; £165 Meikle Beggshills; £150, £150 Dalrachie. Lleyn – £154 Newton. HB – £128 St Johns Wells. Suff – £150 Whitelumbs, Croftdhu. 
Ewe lambs – Scotch Mule – £130 Newton of Hassiewells; £128, £125 Mill of Fowlis; £126 Bomakelloch. Chev Mule – £116 Castle Grant Home Farm; £111 (x2) Dualts; £110 Harestone, Dalrachie, Honeysuckle Cottage. Lleyn – £100 Ballintomb. 
Ewes – Scotch Mule – £120 Mains of Auchleuchries; £106, £102 Strichen Mains. English Mule – £115, £114 Wardhead, £110; £99 Overhill. 
Stirkoke Mains dispersal – English Mule ewes – £112 (1cr), £101 (2xr), £105 (3cr); £100 (4cr), £78 (bm).     
Store lambs – Tex – £61.50 Dwarwick. Suff – £60 Mains of Skeith. Chev Mule – £60 Gaich. Tex X – £59 Bush. Chev – £56 Ham Farm. Mule – £55.50 19 Larel. BF – £45.50 Auchnerran.