A GOOD trade was had by all at the Blue Belles show and sale of traditional Bluefaced Leicester females at Carlisle, on Monday, where two lots shared the joint top of 3000gns and a further five attracted four-figure bids.

First to hit the 3000gns mark was the second prize gimmer from Alan McClymont's Kirkstead flock from Yarrow, Selkirk, brought out with assistance from sons Sam and Oliver. A daughter of the former Highland Show champion, Burndale G1 ram that led the breed in 2016 and 2018 and out of a home-bred ewe by the D17 Shrewbridge, she is a twin to a £1400 shearling sold last year. She changed hands carrying triplet lambs to the H16 Mendick shearling bought at Kelso, to Derek Henderson, buying for his Burndale flock from Wylam, Hexham.

Kirkstead's first entry, a gimmer by the same sire and again carrying triplets to the Mendick ram, was purchased by the Campbell Partnership, Stow, Galashiels at 2000gns. She was fourth at the Highland last year and at the pre-sale show.

On the debit side, Kirkstead bought the second 3000gns entry from Mickey and Nicky Gray's Espley flock based at Low Espley, Morpeth. Champion at the pre-sale show this 2016-born entry that also stood first in her class at Penrith and Peebles, last year, is a daughter of an Espley-bred son of the Ashes F2 ram, and out of a ewe by a Red Cottage ram. She sold scanned for four to a K1 Kirkstead.

The Grays had a great day with other sales at 2000gns and 1000gns. The former, a gimmer that stood first at the pre-sale show and at the Penrith Progeny Show last year and the Highland in 2017, was knocked down to the judge, Andrew Carter, Wigton, Cumbria. She is by an H1 Shrewbridge and bred from another ewe by a different Espley sire.

Espley's pen leader, a 2016-born ewe by an F2 Ashes due with twins to an L3 Alwinton, made 1000gns to D Messrs, Thankerton, Biggar.

On the other side of the equation, Espley forked out 1050gns and 900gns bids for gimmers from Welsh breeder, GP Williams' Elian flock. The dearest, by an H1 Addingham, sold carrying twin lambs to a K1 Mendick, while the latter, by a J1 Carrog, changed hands due with a pair to the K7 Kirkstead.

Another from the Elian flock made 1000gns again selling to the Campbell Partnership, Galashiels. This was the third prize ewe, a 2015-born entry by a G4 Woodcroft that sold carrying a pair to a K1 Mendick..

Top priced ewe hogg at 850gns was Matthew Seed's first prize winner from Turriff and the Black Isle Show, from the Auchry flock based at Cuminestown, Turriff. A daughter of an H1 Myfyrian bred from an Auchry ewe by Cassington Elite Plus D1, she was knocked down to Messrs Roberts, Gaerwen, Gwynedd.

Averages: 11 ewes, £697.77; 20 gimmers, £791.70; three hoggs, £465.50.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.