Ian Reid the pre-sale judge at the Beltex Scotland female sale at Lanark, backed his decision and bought his choice of champion and reserve at 1250gns and 700gns, respectively.

Mr Reid, a full time master technician at the Volvo garage in Perth, runs just 30 ewes in his Osprey flock from Methven, and first went to 1250gns for Mortons Caffe Latte, a gimmer from Andrew and Hilary Morton, son Andrew and daughter Kirsty. Their show stopper, a daughter of the 10,000gns Kingledores Battleaxe, bred from Mortons Rhianna, a Beachy Norman-sired ewe, sold carrying a pair of lambs either by the Hillview Charlie tup bought at Welshpool, or Matts Dare Devil.

Reserve was a ewe lamb from John Cowan's Ayr-based Brickrow flock. This was Brickrow Davina, an ET bred from the Beechcross The Mr T daughter, Brickrow Apricot and sired by Jewitt Bonzo.

Andrew Baillie's Callacrag flock from Carstairs, enjoyed one of the best sales, selling eight to average £645.75 with a lead price paid of 1200gns paid for an unshown gimmer, brought out with assistance of shepherd Kenny O' Connor. This was their No 3, Callacrag Caroline, a daughter of the 3000gns lamb, Aviemore Black Spot, bred from the Clary Navy-sired Callacrag Tampon, by Clary Navy. She changed hands scanned for a pair to the 10,000gns Quarrymount William Wallace to Tom Moffat, Hillend, Biggar.

The same buyer also went to 820gns for Callacrag Cassie, another by Black Spot, from this same home, this time due to Broxty Bruiser.

Top price for Andrew and Tommy Taylor's Heatheryhall flock from Thankerton, Lanark, was 900gns paid for Heatheryhall Cassie, a Rathbone Aggressive-sired gimmer due to Aviemore Dane Hill. The buyer was Murray Stevenson, Balcaimie, Dailly.

Averages: Mortons flock – Three gimmers, £717.50. Callacrag – Eight gimmers, £645.75. Heatheryhall – Four gimmers, £716.62. Cochrane's – Five gimmers, £296.10. Brickrow – Four gimmers, £603.75. Blackjack – Six gimmers, £367.50. Overall, 34 gimmers, £557.74.

Auctioneers: Lawrie and Symington.