HEXHAM and Northern Marts held its opening show and sale of breeding ewe lambs at its principal centre, lest week, which included a catalogued entry of 1780 North of England Mule ewe lambs on behalf of members and non-members of the North of England Mule Sheep Association, as well as North of England Blackface ewe lambs.

Judging the pens of 25 Mule ewe lambs was Joe Vickers, from South Rennington, who awarded the red ticket to Martyn Archer, Carry House, for a pen which later sold to J Leiper and Sons, Black Heddon, for £125.

It was, however, a pen from J Browell and Sons, Quarry House, that topped the section at £135 as lambs met a strong trade and the sale average was down only £3.20 compared to 2017.

The company offered 625 Hexham-type Blackface ewe lambs where Harry Morshead, Harsondale, judged the pre-sale show. He awarded first place to a pen from Wandwood Partners, Wanwood Hill, which later sold for £138, a price matched by the third prize pen from Charlie Halbert, Prospect House.

Also forward were 376 Texel and Suffolk cross ewe lambs, where a pen of ¾ Texel crosses from father and daughter team, Graham and Gemma Common, Low Ardley, led the trade at £105.

LEADING awards:

Mule ewe lambs – 1, RD Archer and Son, Carry House, £125; 2, R and J English, Brownsleazes, £122; 3, J and A Hunter, The Steel, £124. Best run of 100 – Brownsleazes.

Blackface ewe lambs – 1, Wanwood Partners, Wanwood Hill, £135; 2, A Murray and Sons, Sewingshields, £118; 3, C Halbert, Prospect House, £135.

LEADING prices:

Ewe lambs – Mule – £135, £122 (x3), £120, £118 Quarry House; £134, £123, £100 Great Chesters; £131, £125, £121, £120, £116 Carry House; £126, £117 Edlingham Newtown; £124, £121, £120, £119, £116 The Steel; £122, £118, £112 Brownsleazes; £121, £116, £114 (x2), £112, £108 Shitlington Hall; £120, £112, £111 (x2), £102, £100 Whiteside; £120, £106 Pitland Hills; £119, £118, £106 Hole Farm; £118, £106 Penpeugh; £113, £104, £102 Broomhope; £111 Edges Green. BF – £138, £114, £110 Wanwood Hill; £138, £115, £88 Prospect House; £136, £126, £120 (x2), £108, £92 Close A Burn; £118, £112, £82 Sewingshields; £111 The Lampert; £100, £88 Greenleighton; £80 Townfoot Woodburn. Tex X – £105, £96, £94, £92, £90, £86 Low Ardley; £98, £92, £86, £84 Stone Hall. Tex – £85 Chapel House.