A DECEMBER-born ewe lamb led the Zwartbles show and sale of females at Carlisle, attracting for the top price of 1100gns.

The lamb, Olbre Firecracker from Oliver Breeze's Olbre flock from Darlington, Co Durham, was tapped out champion by pre-sale show judge, Ally Baird, Dunblane, and sold to Inverness breeders, L and J Sharp, buying for their Paddock flock from Gorghlech. The last lot in the catalogue, Firecracker is a December-born daughter of Wallacetown Carbon, out of the bought in Wallacetown Christine, by Brotherton Woodcomb.

The reserve champion was also a ewe lamb from Colin Rae, Collin, Dumfries. His Wallacetown Fern, a similarly aged quad by Wallacetown Eclipse out of an imported dam, made 900gns selling to J Powell, Co Roscommon.

Second top price was 1000gns paid for the second prize gimmer from Matthew Simpson's Kilmarnock-based Tardoes flock. His Tardoes Eve Anna, by Whinnow de Niro, out of Glencoy Anna, was breed champion at Strathaven Show where she also made up part of the reserve inter-breed pairs. She changed hands carrying twins to Tardoes Evoque, the first prize ram at the Scottish National Show at Biggar, to H Pritchard’s Evistones flock from Rochester, Newcastle Upon Tyne.

Co Durham breeders, P and S Addison, Hayberries, Barnard Castle, received 950gns for Castle Hill Emma, a gimmer bred by SJ Inns, which changed hands due with a pair to Beechhay Chancellor. A daughter of Brickfield Cecil, out of Castle Hill Bumble, she was knocked down to B Wenmoth, buying for his Radland flock from Cornwall.

On the other side of the coin, the Addisons went to 900gns for the fourth prize ewe lamb, Whinnow Fae, a December-born triplet from local breeders, T and G Blamire, Mid Whinnow, Thursby. She is by Stainmore Earl Grey and out of a Skyhigh-bred female.

The Blamires also received 780gns for the first prize gimmer, Whinnow Echo, a Blacklee Black Diamond-sired entry out of Whinnow Cartier. She sold carrying a pair of lambs to Whinnow Dark Secret, again to B Wenmoth.

Averages: 11 ewes, £268.22; 31 gimmers, £326.51; ewe lambs, £282.21

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.