Local Texel sheep breeder David Towell, who runs the Moor Top flock at Upper Leys Farm on Glusburn Moor, was the standout performer on price with a 3000gns sale at Skipton Auction Mart’s multi-breed show and sale of pedigree sheep.

Sale leader was a shearling ram by last year's 1400gns home-bred Moor Top Yorkie, purchased by Norfolk breeders Henry Harvey and Son, from Waxham Hall, Waxham.

Mr Towell’s pen of 18 shearlings averaged £870 per head.

One of the busiest days of the year at Skipton, the entry of 1178 rams and females saw four rings in action covering Bluefaced Leicester, Suffolk, Blue Texel, Zwartbles, Texel, Charollais and Beltex breeds.

Second top price was 2000gns paid for a Texel ram lamb from John Mellin's recently dispersed Hull House flock from Hellifield. He sold locally to Harold Peel in Embsay, with the Hull House consignment of 20 lambs averaging £432.

Cumbrian Texel breeder Peter Woof, sold 12 lambs from his Stainton Hall flock near Kendal, at £426.

Other notable shearling averages saw John Green, Melrose, sell 13 to average £622 with a top price of £1100, and Procters Farm, Wray, Lancaster, sold 23 at £709, of which four made 900gns.

Bluefaced Leicesters peaked at 1600gns for the section leader from Thomas Walker, Fold Farm, Appletreewick, purchased by John and Claire Mason buying for their Oddacres flock in Embsay.

Judge Jonathan Hodgson, Windermere, bought his choice of champion, a shearling ram from the Kitching family – brothers Richard and Charles, and sons Frank, Jack and Thomas – at Grisedale Farm, Threshfield, for 1400gns.

Just behind, on 1200gns, father and son, Francis and James Caton, from Weston, Otley, sold their lead shearling to Richard Woodsworth, of Storiths.

More than 400 pure and cross-bred continental tups met a healthy trade in the Non MV accredited ring where Thomas and James Whiteford, Tercrosset, Brampton and brother and sister duo, Geoff and Ann Robinson, of Lucerne Farm, Pannal, Harrogate, were major consignors.

The Robinsons, who had 50 rams forward, topped proceeding with a Texel cross Beltex shearling selling locally for 1400gns to Frankland Farms in Rathmell. Top from the Whitefords who had 70 forward, was 1200gns paid by JR Jones, Penegoes, Wales.

Blue Texels again sold well, with Ayrshire-based breeder, David Alexander, Galston, selling to a top of 490gns for a gimmer purchased by K Cockran, of Darwen.

Auctioneers: CCM Auctions