ALL classes sold substantially dearer on the year with some vendors reporting their best trade of the season at Penrith and District Farmers’ Mart’s annual show and sale of gimmers and ewes, where a total of 5288 were sold. 
Selling for the top price of £280 was the second prize pen of continental gimmers, 10 Beltex from D Barker, Derwent Dale, which were purchased by the judge, Adam Bindloss, Shap Abbey. 
Mule gimmers from TR and PE Little, Low Moor Dyke, topped the Mule section at £200 for a pen of 10 which sold to WH Brass, Low Row, followed at £195 for the second prize pen of 10 from J Ackerley, Milton Mains, which sold to TH Gibson and Son, Toadpool Farm. 
Overall, Mule gimmers levelled at £143, a rise of £7 on the year, with Beltex gimmers at £165 and Texel gimmers at £134. 
Two-shear Mule ewes also sold more favourably on the year to average £139.75, a rise of £11, and were topped at £190 for the first prize pen of 15 from BW Hewitson, Shatton Lodge, which sold to regular customers, A and ED Booth, Settle. 

LEADING awards:

Mule gimmers (pens of 10) – 1, JJ and E Lawson and Sons, Hundith House, £175 to AC Simpson and Son, McNeil Farm, Bishop Auckland; 2, J Ackerley, Milton Mains, £195 to TH Gibson and Son, Toadpool Farm, Kendal; 3, Messrs Sowerby, Terrys Farm, £185 to TH Gibson and Son. 
Mule one-crop ewes (pens of 15) – 1, BW Hewitson, Shatton Lodge Farm, £190 to A and ED Booth, Lane Ends Farm, Settle; 2, J Dixon and Sons, Lesson Hall, £165 to A Todd, Helwith Bridge, Settle; 3r, Messrs Brough, Langfauld, £180 to TA Robson and Son, Newstead Grangem, Malton. 
Continental gimmers (pens of 10) – 1, T Cradddock and Son, Flass Farm, £220 to M Bindloss and Son, Shap Abbey; 2, D Barker, Derwent Dale Farm, £280 to M Bindloss and Son; 3, Irton House Farm, £135 to A and R Lyle, Staingills, Culgaith. 

LEADING prices:
Gimmers – Belt – £280, £250, £170, £160 (x2), £150 Derwent Dale Farm; £250, £168, £160 Eamont Bridge Farm; £230, £195, £182, £170, £140 Far Broom. Tex – £220 (x2) Flass Farm; £160, £145 Close Farm; £155, £140 Crosby Hall; £145 East Cliff; £140 Hardendale; £140 Towcett Farm. Mule – £200, £185, £180 Low Moor Dyke; £195, £175, £165, £152 (x2), £148 Milton Mains; £185, £180, £162 Terrys Farm; £175, £170, £168, £165, £158, £155 Hundith House; £165, £160, £155, £150, £148 Rye Hill; £160 Howe Nook; £158, £148, £145, £142 (x2) Hill Top (Taylor); £152 Wheatsheaf; £150 The Faulds; £150, £142 (x2) High House (Wilson); £145 Dalton Old Hall; £142 (x2), £140 Hole House Farm (Sibson); £140 Park House Farm (Brennand). Suff – £145, £135 Romanvale. Chev Mule – £140 High Lane (Boustead); £130 Crosby Hall. 
Two-shear ewes – Mule – £190, £155, £150, £148, £145 (x3), £140 Shatton Lodge Farm; £180, £150, £145 Langfauld; £168, £145 (x3), £140 (x2) Stubsgill; £165 Lesson Hall; £155, £145, £140 (x2) High House (Dickinson); £148, £142 (x3), £140 (x2) East Cliff; £140 Lingstubbs; £140 Firbank. Suff – £148 Romanvale; £122 Kirkbarrow Hall (Dickinson). Masham – £120, £120 Firbank. Belt – £115 Eusemere Farm House. 
Aged ewes – Tex – £110, £92, £90 Kirkbarrow Hall (Dickinson); £98 Midtown (Hall). Mule – £110 Clappers Farm; £110 Helm Croft; £96 (x2) Low Abbey; £94 Midtown (Hall).