AVERAGES dropped on the year at United Auctions' sale of 5016 Scotch Mule and cross-bred gimmers at Stirling, where the show of Mules was judged by John Hamilton, Aikengall, Dunbar.

He awarded the championship to a pen from Davie and Heather Gray, Drumnessie, which was later knocked down to the Mairs from Kinnermit, Turriff, for £155. The Mule section was led at £158 on three occasions for the third prize pen from J and M Hamilton, Crosswoodhill, the fifth prize pen from Burncastle Farming and a pen from Alex McKenzie and Partners, Ardgate.

The accredited Mule section levelled at £141.73 (-£0.07 on the year) with non-accredited Mules at £122.65 (-£5.91).

In the cross section, a pen of Cheviot Mules from S Knox and Son, North Balloch, topped at £140 to average £120.99, with Suffolk crosses cashing in at £114.57 (-£18.37) and Texel crosses at £115.68 (-£21.22).

LEADINGawards:

Scotch Mule gimmers – 1, WA Gray, Drumnessie £155; 2, Messrs Paterson, East Dykes £152; 3, J and M Hamilton, Crosswoodhill £158; 4, Drimsynie Est £148; 5, Burncastle Farming £158.

FLOCKaverages

Flock (No sold) Top Avg Flock (No sold) Top Avg

Accredited Scotch Mule Gimmers

Kinaldy (119) 142 137

Crosswood Hill (34) 158 155

Knowehead (152) 142 130

Lochend (45) 150 150

Easter Gallovie (101) 140 131

Millglen Farms Ltd (216) 192 154

Non-acredited Scotch Mule gimmers

Middlehill (30) 135 135

East Dykes (101) 152 149

Wardhead (215) 148 139

Grange of Kinneff (80) 135 126

Kinaldy (162) 138 131

Clunebeg (100) 128 116

Burncastle Farming Co (90) 158 153

Dounepark Farms (113) 125 118

Drumtee (31) 136 135

Gartness (70) 145 134

Croftintygan (38) 120 117

Porterstown (74) 135 126

West Meikle Pinkerton (80) 151 141

Ardgate (78) 158 147

Woodend (14) 138 138

Drumnessie (22) 155 155

Inchie (67) 128 122

Tollishill Farming (90) 146 140

Shields (29) 122 122

Tinnis (15) 138 138

Kipperoch (71) 126 122

Drimsynie Estate (20) 148 148

Knowes (89) 138 121

Acc and Non-acc cross gimmers

Chev/Mule

Kinaldy (14) 130 130

North Balloch (40) 140 135

Lathockar Mains (47) 120 117

Texel cross

Kinaldy (78) 120 114

Dalmoir (8) 120 116

Airthrey Kerse (114) 128 118

Knowes (5) 130 130

Grange of Kinneff (20) 138 138

Suffolk cross

Handaxwood (26) 120 119

Stuartslaw (103) 128 123

Kinaldy (39) 124 121