Society chairman, Steve Richardson, produced the lead priced lot at the Northern area Texel Sheep Breeders' show and sale at Skipton, when his shearling ram, Stonebridge Albie, sold for 3400gns.

The tup, which stood fourth in its class at the pre-sale show and third at the Great Yorkshire, in July, is by the Knap Wot a Nut son, Proctors Ya Belter and bred from a ewe by Oldfield Upperclass. He sold to DH Ryder, Otley, Wharfdale.

Mr Richardson from Mount Pleasant Farm, Great Houghton, Barnsley, also received 1900gns for Stonebridge Angus, a Pant Wolf-sired shearling out of a ewe by Knap Viscious Sid. He headed home with the Cochran family, Darwen, Lancs.

In all, no fewer than 37 sheep sold at four-figure prices, with a second top price of 2200gns paid for the penultimate sheep to enter the ring late, the reserve male champion from Red Rose breeder James Robinson’s Kaker Mill flock in Carnforth, Lancaster.

His tup lamb, Kaker Mill Bailey, by the Knap You're The Man son, Tamnamoney Ultimate, out of a Sportsmans Tremendous 11 daughter, was purchased by Mark Keighley, runs the Manderlea flock in Leathley.

Richard Wilson’s Crimple Head flock from Beckwithshaw, Harrogate, came up with a 2100gns for his shearling ram, Crimple Head Apache. Sired by the Langside Thunderbird son, the Hellifield-bred Hull House Winner, out of a Hull House Rothchild ewe purchased at Skipton for 1900gns two years ago, Apache sold to Denton Park Estates.

The same buyers also went to 1900gns for another shearling ram from the same home, Crimple Head Adonis, by Parkholme Van Dyke, out of a Langside Thunderbird ewe.

Also catching the eye at 2000gns was the fifth prize shearling ram from Angela Nairey’s Meinspride flock in Liusey, Blackburn. Her Meinspride Abraham, by Meinspride Warrior, out of a Meinspride Viking dam, joined J Robinson, of Grantley, Ripon.

Peter Woof's Stainton flock from Storth End Farm, Kendal, stepped up on its reserve championship last year to take the supreme with Stainton Bart, the first prize recorded lamb. An embryo bred from a ewe by Sportsmans Tremendous II, he is by the Clinterty Yogi Bear-sired Eden Valley A1 and sold to A and C Watson, Whitehaven for 1600gns.

The first prize shearling, Goldies Action Man, bred by Bruce Goldie, but consigned by North Yorkshire's Tom Pateman, who farms at Hungate, Scarborough, made 1700gns to Simon Bennett, Silsden Moor.

Breed champion at Thornton-le-Dale, the ram, by the Irish-bred Ballynahone Yorkie, is out of a Knock Utara daughter.

Leading the females at 1200gns was the section champion and reserve supreme, a gimmer by Procters You're Mine, from mother and daughter duo, Freda Booth and Helen Keighley, who run the Wigglesworth flock near Settle. Nathan and Becky Dakin, Hellifield, forked out the cash for this entry bred from a Strathbogie Top Gun daughter.

Averages: Gimmers, £368.38, (-£71.44); ewe lambs, £241.50 (-£122.06); shearling rams, £757.36 (-£8.61); ram lambs, £402.34 (-£31.07).

Auctioneers: CCM