PRICES peaked at £450 per head at Harrison and Hetherington's show and sale of 3800 registered and unregistered Swaledale ewes and gimmers at Kirkby Stephen, for the champion pen of 10 from R Hutchinson and Sons, Valley Farm, Barnard Castle, purchased by Burncroft Farm, Eggleston.

Overall, Valley farm sold 120 ewes which averaged £188.33, with a pen of 20 from the same flock making £235 per head.

The reserve pen, selected by G Cartmel, Threlkeld, was a pen of 10 from WH and M Hutchinson, Uldale, Ravenstonedale, that later made £250 selling to Lilburn Estates Farming, North Middleton.

Overall averages dropped on the year with ewes cashing in at £96.23, down £30.24 while gimmers slipped £13.41 to level at £94.34.

The sale of 1719 Swaledale ewe lambs the following day was topped at £140 for a pen of 10 from Messrs Addison, West Stoney Keld, Barnard Castle. The sold up to Lanark with Messrs Forrest.

LEADING prices

Ewes – £450, £300, £235, £152, £142, £138, £135, £132 Valley Farm; £250, £110 Uldale Farm; £200, £160, £120, £115 Helbeck Farm; £168, £155, £140, £124, £106 Hoggarths Farm; £160, £100 Arngill House; £158 Greenhow; £155, £125, £102 Buddle House; £155, £108, £106 Barras Farm; £148 Flakebridge Farm; £140, £102 (2) Gapshields; £140, £110 New Hall; £130 High Stennerskeugh; £130 (2) Pennine View; £130, £118 Old Spital Farm; £125, £118 (2), £115, £108, £100 Cotegill; £118, £106, £104 Garnthwaite; £112 (2) Long Green; £105 Slakes Farm; £102 Frith Holme; £102 Sleddale Hall; £100 West Stoney Keld; £100 Helbeck Farm.

Gimmers – £350, £130, £128, £120 Barras Farm; £155, £135, £130, £92 Hoggarths Farm; £140 Town End Farm; £138 Slip Cottage; £125, £105 (2) The Croft; £125, £90 Heather Bank; £110 Helbeck Farm; £110, £108, £92, £90 Thorpe House Farm; £105 Broadmea Farm; £102 Brookfield; £96 Long Green; £95 Helbeck Farm.

Ewe lambs – £140 West Stoneykeld; £115, £85 Stoneriggs; £105, £88, £80 New Hall; £105, £80, £75, £68 West End; £98, £88, £80, £72 Hoggarths; £95, £66, £65 Gill Gate; £92 Slip Cottage; £90 Woolpits Hill; £88 High Stennerskeugh; £81 Heather Bank; £80 Helbeck Farm;£75 Rudd Hills; £70 Town End Farm; £70 Kisdon; £70 Half Penny House; £65 Prospect House.