TEXEL shearling rams topped the trade at Hexham and Northern Marts' annual show and sale of terminal sire breeding rams at Hexham, which had a catalogued entry of 633 head.

Sale leader at £3400 was the third prize winner from Steven and Andrew Reed, Lands Farm, Weardale, purchased by Messrs Smith, Roachburn, Brampton.

The reserve sold next at £2600 for Richard and Christopher Thornton, Cornhills, selling to Greenchesters Farm, Otterburn.

And, the champion, from Messrs Bissett, Middle Dukesfield, made £1900 to father and daughter duo, Graham and Gemma Common, Low Ardley.

LEADING prices

Tex – Shearlings – £3400 Lands Farm; £2600 Cornhills; £1900 Middle Dukesfield; £1700, £1400 Lands Farm; £1300 Low Ardley, Lands Farm and Delight Cottage; £1250, £1200 Cornhills; £1150 Blackaddermains;

£1100 Cornhills (x2) and West Heddon; £1050 Delight Cottage; £1000 Cornhills and Middle Dukesfield. Two-shear – £720 Blackaddermains; £400 West Heddon.

Belt – MV accred – Shearlings – 620gns, Ivanhoe; 320gns, Borderesk and Jewitt. Ewe lambs – 400gns, Ivanhoe. Non MV – Shearlings – £1000 Rosehill and Steeley Farm; £700, £520 (x2) Steeley Farm.

Cont and cross bred – Shearlings – Dutch Tex – £1450, £1200, £850, £750, Woodhead, £700 Little Swinburne (x2) and Woodhead. Tex X – £1100, £950, £820, £650, High Castle Dene. Suff X – £650, £620, Black Heddon. Char X – £550, £480 Great Tosson. Belt X – £700, £600 Yatesfield; £520 Quarry House and Cornhills. Two-shear – £500 Hallington New Houses.

Suff – Shearlings – £1300 Black Heddon (x2) and High Dalton; £1200 Black Heddon; £1150 Edlingham Newtown; £1100 (x2) Black Heddon; £1000 Black Heddon and Goatstones; £950 Black Heddon; £900 and £850

Goatstones. Ram lambs – £300 Ashknowe.

BFL – Shearlings – £900 (x2), £850, £800, £750 (x2) and £550 Lowes Fell, £520 The Shield, £500 Edlingham Newtown and Lowes Fell. Two-shear – £480 The Shield. Three-shear – £450 Lowes Fell.

LEADINGFLOCK averages

Flock No Top Average (£)

Texel shearlings

Lands Farm (15) 3400 1063.00

Cornhills (24) 2600 895.00

Delight (6) 1300 890.00

Blackadder Mains (4) 1150 767.00

Middle Dukesfield (14) 1900 677.00

West Wharmley (4) 900 675.00

Rosehill (3) 780 660.00

Harbottle Grange (9) 850 592.00

Quarry House (3) 600 556.00

Brinkburn (18) 850 532.00