THE first Dutch Spotted Sheep UK sale staged last week, at Carlisle, proved highly successful, with four figure averages in all sections backed up by a top price of 3500gns

Selling at this price was Damson Bailey, a naturally-born ram lamb son of the 2016 import, Spotted Dick, out of Dotty, a ewe from the same import group. Megan, who runs a flock of 15 sheep at Jutland Avenue, Grange over Sands, saw her red ticket-holding lamb sell to Messrs Barber-Fleming, Castle Douglas.

The same home also produced the lead priced female, when Messrs Jackson, High Bentham, Lancaster, paid 1900gns for Megan's first prize ewe lamb, another import.

At 3000gns, was the pre-sale champion, Ali Jackson’s Bullseye, a shearling ram that was among the 2017 imports and stood first prize Dutch Spotted at the Great Yorkshire. Forking out the cash for this entry from Ali’s 10-ewe flock from Maulscastle, Annan. were Messrs Davies, Aberbeeg, Gwent.

The reserve champion from breed secretary, Pam Parker and her husband Andrew, Springfield, Lochmaben, then sold to Messrs Johnstone on the Isle of Islay for 2200gns. The shearling ram, Atomic, is another from the 2017 import group and went to stand male champion and reserve any other continental at the Yorkshire this year.

Averages: Five ewe lambs, £1201.20; three shearling rams, £1470.00; 13 ram lambs, £1099.27.