Strong demand from new and existing breeders ensured a buoyant trade for Suffolk females at a show and sale at Beeston, last weekend, where a top price of 1500gns was achieved for a ewe lamb.

Selling at this price was the pre-sale champion from Stephen Bolland’s Wharfe flock, based in Bolton Abbey, near Skipton. This Limestone Saracen daughter, out of a home-bred ewe, was knocked down at 1500gns to new breeder, Oliver Sparks, Miskin, near Cardiff.

Mr Bolland also took 700gns for a Limestone Brigadier-sired ewe lamb from young Congleton breeder, Harry Lyons.

The second prize winner to the champion, a lamb by Rhaedr Raring to Go out of a ewe by Cairness Cognac, from Welsh breeder Myfyr Evans' Rhaedr flock, also proved popular, selling for 1000gns to M Oare, Brynford, Flintshire, who bought another out of the same pen for 700gns.

A strong class of in-lamb gimmers was topped at 1250gns by the best from the Cox family, Church Eaton, Shropshire. By Carony Trump, and due with twins in January to Pexhill George, she was snapped up by O Whitehead, Anglesey.

Another Trump daughter due with twins to George in January from the Tomcroft flock made 880gns to Messrs Whitticase, St Martins, Oswestry.

The Cox family's Tomcroft flock was also at the fore amongst the ewes, selling a 2015-born Tomcroft Trogen-sired entry for 1000gns to Harley Turner, Hatton, Derbyshire. Another Tomcroft ewe, this time a 2016-born Sitlow Stardom daughter carrying twins to Carony Trump, joining the contingent heading for Anglesey with Owen Whitehead at 950gns.

Back amongst the gimmers and Geoff and Gill Biddulph's best from their Pexhill flock from Gawswroth, Macclesfield, made 720gns. This Salopian He’s the Boy daughter out of a ewe by Cairness Great Expectations, changed hands in lamb to Cairness Beast from the East, again selling to young Harry Lyons.

Averages: 20 ewes, £531.83; 29 gimmers, £469.60; 20 ewe lambs, £517.65.

Auctioneers: Wright Marshall.