Strong demand for females at the North West Region Hampshire Down autumn sale at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, saw an almost 100% clearance for in-lamb females, with a top price of 1000gns paid for a gimmer from pre-sale judge, Kevin McCarthy.

His entry from the Ballycreelly flock from Mossbank, Comber, Co Down, Northern Ireland, is by Ballycreelly Devil’s Revenge and sold scanned carrying twins to the new Ballycreelly stock ram, 007, to Messrs Donaldson, buying for their newly established Pitgair flock, from Turriff, Aberdeenshire.

Ballycreelly also received 900gns for a gimmer by Ballycreelly What Thedevil carrying twins to Yarcombe Flashman, from Messrs Benson, Ulverston, Cumbria.

Matching that bid was the reserve champion, a ewe lamb from fellow Northern Ireland breeders, J and O Mercer of the Moybrick flock from Dromara, Dromore, purchased by new breeder, Carole Meaden, Shrewsbury, Shropshire. She is by Yarcombe Captain Hook.

Just behind on 850gns, the champion, a gimmer by Yarcombe Iceman, from Graham and Judith Galbraith, Endmoor, Kendal, sold to the Netherlands with Peter Beers. She sold due to Morley Kudos.

Averages: 22 Gimmers, £526.43 (+£26.37 for four more); nine ewe lambs, £431.08 (-£15.17 for three fewer).