WITH a full ringside of buyers present from across the UK, Cheviot Mule ewe lambs and gimmers met a strong demand at C and D Auctions' sale of 11,329 on Tuesday, where gimmers from Robert and Hazel McNee, Over Finlarg, topped the trade at £210 for a second consecutive year.

Judging the pens of 20 in the pre-sale show was WR Williams, Ty-Hen, Gwynedd, who picked out a lamb from PW Hedley, Swinside Townfoot, Jedburgh, as ewe lamb champion before topping the section at £160 when sold to the judge, while the gimmer championship went to Archbank Farming Company, Moffat, which realised £185 to Messrs Parkin, Maryport.

Trade for lambs was less on last year's trade as an extra 2000 of mainly smaller lambs were forward which resulted in a drop of more than £20 on the year. In all, the 6414 Cheviot Mule ewe lambs averaged £87.33 and 1661 Cheviot Mule cross ewe lambs cashed in at £84.89 and peaked at £114 for Texel crosses from Messrs Smith, West Bolton.

While the 2878 Cheviot Mule gimmers levelled at £139.15 and matched last year's record price from the same home at £210, the 216 Cheviot Mule cross gimmers averaged £126.44 and sold to £152 for Cheviot Mule cross Texels from Upper Mains, with Skelfhill Half-bred gimmers from High Moat at £122.

Cheviot Mule stock ewes (160) averaged £103.43 and reached £110 for two-crops from Hindmarsh Partners, Blakehopeburnhaugh.

LEADINGawards:

Ewe lambs – 1, P W Hedley, Swinside Townfoot, £160 to Messrs Williams, Wales; 2, Messrs Beard, Dormansteads, £142 to Messrs Williams, Wales; 3, S and JA Watemore, Holystone Estate, £114 to G Shankland, Dumfries.

Gimmers – 1, Archbank Farming Co. - £185 to Messrs Parkin, Maryport; 2, RW and EM Coates, Crowdieknowe, £165 to SG Mair and Sons, Turriff; 3, IHG Warden, Skelfhill, £180 to SG Mair and Sons, Aberdeen.

LEADINGprices:

Chev Mule ewe lambs – £160 Swinside Townfoot; £142 Dormansteads; £138, £135, £132 Swinside Townfoot; £132 Gospel Hall and Brockhouse; £130 Hownam Grange; £125 Dormansteads; £122 Kingside; Nisbet Mill and Swinside Townfoot; £118 Crossdykes; Gospel Hall, Ranbeck and Swinside Townfoot; £116 Stobshiel Mains and Gospel Hall; £115 Kirk House; £114 Holystone Estate, Potholm and Gospel Hall; £112 Dodgsonstown, Archbank, Brockhouse, Hownam Grange, Swinside Townfoot and Embley; £110 Nisbet Mill; Philiphaugh Estate, Skelling and Swinside Townfoot. Tex X – £114 West Bolton; £106 Upper Hundalee; £101 West Bolton; £100 Upper Hundalee; £98 Blakehopeburnhaugh; £96 West Bolton; £95 (x2) Upper Hundalee; £94 (x2), £90 West Bolton; £90 Byers. Suff X – £101, £99, £90 Philiphaugh.

Chev Mule and cross gimmers – £210, £200 Over Finlarg; £185 Aldermanseat, Archbank and North Balloch;£180 Skelfhill; £175 Over Finlarg and Todhillmuir; £170 Hartree Mill, Mains of Machermore and North Balloch; £165 Crowdieknowe and Archbank; £162 Newbank; £160 Raehills, Todhillmuir, Glenjaan and Skelfhill.