A huge ringside of buyers ensured a buoyant demand for Mitchell's Auction Mart's annual show and sale of rams and breeding sheep at Cockermouth, where the judge, Mrs Jane Jackson, Ericstane, awarded the top award amongst the males to a Texel shearling.

The tup, from MJ Reed, Orchard House, later sold for the top price of £2200, with the ram sale witnessing a 90% clearance.

Local farmer, Richard Connell selected the winners in the breeding female section and found his champion in the first prize pen of Mule gimmers from Messrs Mattinson, Cragg Farm, which achieved a new centre record price of £240.

LEADING prices

Shearling rams – Tex – £2200, £450 Orchard House; £1150, £580, £550, £520, £480 (x2) Wardwarrow; £620 Wood Farm; £580, £480 Stone House; £580, £550, £500 (x2), £480 Terrace Farm; £520 High Low Hall; £500 Crosshow; £480, £450 Summer Hill. Belt – £660, £500 Mayfield; £600, £550, £380 Brow Top; £580, £550 (x2), £500 (x2), £480, £450 Wood Farm; £550, £520, Corney Hall. Dutch Tex – £420 Nook Farm Crosshow.

Ram lambs – Tex – £330, £210, £200, Orchard House. Suff – £280, £260 Hyton Farm; £250(x2) Burgh Head. Char – 220, Smithy Cottage.

Ewes – Tex – £172, £148, £145(x2), £140, Nook Farm; £152 (x2), Row Farm; £148, Stone House. Mule – £143, £138, Cragg Farm; £142, £140, £138, Shatton Lodge. BDM – £110, £88 (x2) Row Farm. Suff – £92 Row Farm.

Gimmers – Mules – £240, £165 (x2), £162 (x2), £158 (x2), £152 (x2), Cragg Farm; £158, Hollins Farm; £155, West Field. Tex – £185, £168 Stone House; £185, £160, £155, £145, New Hall; £165, £145 Mayfield; £155, £145, Demense Farm; £155, £152 (x2) Shatton Lodge Farm; £150, Skelsceugh; £148 Hollins Farm; £145, Horrace Farm.