A CHAMPION winning male topped the Dorset sheep society show and sale at Carlisle, last week selling at 2900gns down to Wales with Messrs Downes, Tregaron, Ceredigion.

The tup, Huish Zenith, a shearling ram by Downkillybegs Unique, from Devon-based breeder, DW Rossiter, Burton, Galmpton, was champion at the Devon County and Cornwall and also made up part of the inter-breed pairs at the former. He is bred from a home-bred ewe by Blackhill Kipper.

Mr Rossiter also produced the equal top priced ram lamb at 1050gns, when Huish Apollo, by Huish Fanfare, was knocked down to Messrs Gray, Ilkley, West Yorkshire.

Matching that bid was Ballytaggart Alonso, a Braeview Xterminator son from Irish breeder, Thomas Wright, Ballymoney, Co Antrim. The buyers were Messrs Weston, Eastmoor, Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

Selling up to Aberdeenshire with Messrs Byrnes, Turriff, was Graham Cubitt's second prize tup lamb, Kildowney Amigo, a Downkillybegs Watson-sired lamb from Glarryford, Ballymena, Northern Ireland.

Mr Cubitt's Kildowney flock was back in the money amongst the females with ewe lamb sales at 1050gns and 1000gns, both of which were purchased by Messrs Weston, Eastmoor.

The first, a September 2017-born lamb which stood second in her class, is by Downkillybegs Watson and sold served, while the 1000gns entry, a similarly aged and bred lamb was female and overall champion at the pre-sale show.

Also making 1000gns was the first prize gimmer and reserve female champion, Byeways Zara, a two-year-old in-lamb female by a Huish sire. Consigned by Joe Larder, Sandford, Somerset, she was knocked down to Messrs Hanna, Newtownards, Northern Ireland.

Averages: Three shearling rams, £1225.00 (+£752.50 for one less); 13 ram lambs, £671.19 (+£135.69 for one more); 21 gimmers, £425.00 (+£56.92 for three more); 64 ewe lambs, £338.30 (+£79.85 for seven more); 21 pens of females, £252.50.

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