A DUTCH Texel led the other breeds on offer when a shearling from Stuart Wood, of the Woodies Dutch Texel and Beltex flocks at Woolhillock, Skene, topped at £1800.

Heading to work at Low Garth, Bewaldeth, Cumbria, for JG Richardson, he is by Stuart's noted Hercules ram – a 3500gns purchase that has bred well with all females retained – while the mother is an imported ewe. Stuart sold four Dutch Texels to average £1137.50.

Border Leicesters were next in the trade stakes when two sold for £1300 apiece. The first of these came from David and Ian Walker's Alticane flock near Pinwherry, Girvan, in the shape of a son to Meidrum Mighty, a tup bought at Builth Wells that went on to sire the father and son duo's top ram lambs, while his mother is by Knockglass Cruiser. He sold for Half-bred production at Neil Hamilton's Earlside unit near Hawick.

Matching that £1300 price tag was the champion from the pre-sale show from John Mauchlen's local Kelso-based Spotsmains flock. His leader is among the first sons sold by the Lanark-bought Kilphin Kingpin, and out of a West Forth Clyde daughter in the 20-ewe flock. Forking out the cash was Eleanor Stokeld for her Doulton flock at Tunstall Lane, Nunthorpe.

John Lamb forked out £1200 for the dearest from Sandy and Alex Watson's Intock flock at Culticheldoch, Muthill.

Lleyn rams peaked at £1000 and £900, with both of these coming from Jim Goldie and sons, Bruce and Hamish's Goldies flock at Orchard Cottage, Ruthwell, Dumfries. Selling to repeat customers, the Andrew family at Letter, Dunkeld, was a high indexed shearling son of the new stock sire named Explosion, which was bought at Ruthin, while is mother is a home-bred ewe.

Home genetics were behind the £900 sale too was by a home-bred tup used as a lamb before selling as a shearling, with this one selling to Messrs Cairns and Logan, South Riccalton, Jedburgh.

Among the Berrichons it was a ram lamb from Arabella Johnston, of the Kirkton flock, near Bothennar, Falkirk, that led at £900 when sold to GW Green and Sons, Wandon, Wooler.