A PAIR of Dutch Texel cross lambs scaling 46kg from Susan Sowerby, Terry Farm, Ormside, claimed the championship ticket at Harrison and Hetherington's Christmas show and sale of prime sheep held at Kirkby Stephen, last week.

With more than 50 pens of quality lambs forward, the pre-sale judge, M Helliwell from Rochdale, later bought his champion pen for the top price of £165 per head or 358.7p per kg.

Scooping the reserve honours was a pair of Beltex cross lambs scaling 48kg from young Harry Fairburn, Marriforth, Ripon, which also sold to M Helliwell for £160.

In all, prime lambs met a flying trade from start to finish as SQQs averaged 201.36p per kg with more than 40 pens of lambs selling between £100 and £165 or 240p to 358p, respectively. Lightweight lambs sold to £58.30 or 188.1p for a pen of 20 Swaledale lambs weighing 31kg from J Cartmel, Winter Crag, while heavy types sold dearer on the week as they topped at £85 for a pen of 10 Mules weighing 55kg from Messrs Fairburn, Ripon.

Cast sheep also met a strong trade when they peaked at £163.50 for a Bluefaced Leicester ram from Kilnstown Farms, Roweltown, while ewes sold to £138.50 for six Texel cross ewes from Messrs Dodd, West View, Temple Sowerby.

Store lambs hit £88.50 for Beltex from The Birches.

LEADINGawards:

Prime lambs – Tex – 1, S and RE Williamson, Littleburn, 45kg, £110 to Vivers Scotlamb Ltd; 2, K Porteous, Bolton Road, 48kg, £98 to Yorkshire Halal Meats Ltd; 3, E and EM Fairburn, Marriforth, 62kg, £125 to A Staffield Farm Meats. Belt – 1, H Fairburn, Marriforth, 48kg, £160 to RM Helliwell; 2, S Millman, Brackenslack, 48kg, £138 to Vivers Scotlamb Ltd; 3, S Millman, Brackenslack, 52kg, £128 to Dowding Butchers. Cont X – 1, S Sowerby, Terrys Farm, 46kg, £165 to RM Helliwell; 2, P and EB Robson, Middle Horsleyhope Farm, 40kg, £120 to Vivers Scotlamb Ltd; 3, JS and JO Dodd, West View, 42kg, £115 to Vivers Scotlamb Ltd. AOB – 1, S Millman, Brackenslack, 43kg, £124 to Vivers Scotlamb Ltd; 2, Beck Hill Farm Ltd, Greenbury, 44kg, £106 to Yorkshire Halal Meats Ltd; 3, E and EM Fairburn, Marriforth, 44kg, £108 to A Atkinson Livestock Ltd. Polled or lowland – 1, RE and S Williamson, Littleburn, 37kg, £94 to Vivers Scotlamb Ltd; 2, Messrs Jackson, Clarks Farm, 58kg, £90.80 to A Atkinson Livestock Ltd; 3, Messrs Jackson, Clarks Farm, 57kg, £82 to M Bowe. Chev – 1, E Hird and Son, Amersber, 41kg, £80 to Yorkshire Halal Meat Ltd. Mule – 1, RJ Bell and Son, Scarrowmanwick, 52kg, £82 to M Bowe; 2, CR and MJ Birbeck, High Stennerskeugh, 44kg, £77.30 to M Bowe; 3, Raine & Davidson, Thorney Gale, 53kg, £84 to Mr M Bowe. Hill – 1, K Porteous, Bolton Road, 46kg, £83 to Janan Meat Ltd; 2, CR and MJ Birbeck, High Stennerskeugh, 39kg, £67.30 to Yorkshire Halal Meat Ltd; 3, JG Thirlwall, Quarry Farm, 42kg, £65.80 to Yorkshire Halal Meat Ltd.

Cast ewes – Polled or lowland – 1, JS and JO Dodd, West View, £138.50, Tex; 2, JS and JO Dodd, £118, Tex; 3, Page Farm Partnership, Rookwith, £135.50, Tex.

Horned – 1, W and R Lawson, Stubsgill Farm, £64.50 (Swale); 2, W and CW Dent, Greenriggs, £55.50 (Swale); 3, JJ and E Lawson, Hundith House, £51.50 (Swale). Mule – 1, W and R Lawson, Stubsgill Farm, £68.50; 2, A and R Little, Row End, £72.50; 3, Page Farm Partnership, Rookwith, £66.50.