Irish sheep breeders, Wade and Alison McCrabbe, made their presence felt at the Border Leicester Sheep Breeders' Society show and sale of females at Carlisle, on Monday, buying two of the top four highest priced lots.

The couple, who are better known for their Ardstewart Beltex flock flock from Raphoe, Co Donegal, first went to 2000gns to buy the overall champion – a ewe from father and son team, David and Ian Walker, Laigh Alticane, Girvan. Their show stopper is backed by some top genetics being sired by Lynham Lord Kelso, and out of an Atok Atomic daughter that bred the £3300 ram purchased by the Kilphin flock. She sold scanned with two lambs by Meidrim Mighty.

The McCrabbes also went to 850gns for the fourth prize gimmer from Sandy and Alex Watson's Intock flock from Culticheldoch, Muthill, Crieff. By Eildon Rob Roy and bred from a ewe by Didcot Drambuie, she sold carrying a pair to Drennans Dazzler.

Another from the Intoch flock by Eildon Rob Roy made 800gns selling to Messrs Watson, Carleton, Holmrook, Cumbria. This gimmer is bred the National Show champion in 2016 and sold scanned with twins to Dazzler.

Second top price was 1000gns paid for the pen leader from Mary Laidlaw, Kennel Mount, Galston. The third prize gimmer at the pre-sale show, she is a daughter of Alticane Athlete, out of a Clola Character-sired ewe and sold down to Cornwall with Messrs Martyn, Boyton, due to Alticane Altens.

Having sold the top priced lot at 2000gns, Alticane was back in the money with a 900gns sale for a ewe by the same sire as their sale leader. She is out of a ewe by Knockglass Cruiser and sold carrying a pair to Meidrim Mighty to F and R Farms, Ravenstonedale, Kirkby Stephen.

Averages: Five ewes, £997.50; 13 gimmers, £631.61; 12 ewe hoggs, £395.50.