Bluefaced Leicesters proved the star attraction at a show and sale of in-lamb females and ewe hoggs at J36 Rural Auction Centre, last weekend, securing the lead prices and averages.

The sale, which boasted an entry of 206 sheep included Rough Fells, Swaledales, Bluefaced Leicesters, Texels, Zwartbles and Mules, was topped at 1600gns by a Blue ewe hogg from Allan and Ben Wight's Midlock flock from Crawford, Abington. A daughter of a K1 Highberries, she to Martyn Archer, buying for his Carry House flock from Hexham.

The same home also produced the reserve champion Blue, a gimmer by the J6 Hewgill, that sold carrying triplets to the L27 Midlock. She made 900gns selling to K and A Woof, Moorview, Leyburn.

Jimmy and Wendy Bell's Cottage flock from Auchengray, Carnwath, also enjoyed a good day with a 1500gns sale for a ewe hogg by the Blarnavaid J012, while the dam goes back to the C024 Highberries. She headed back up north with Malcolm Thornborrow and sons Craig and Gary, Easter Dawyck, Stobo.

Matching that bid, Martin Allan's Greenhow flock from Dufton, Appleby, sold a similarly aged female by the K1 Riddings, to D Wood, Wilcock Farms, Bolton.

The champion Blue, a ewe hogg, by the G1 Highberries Highland out of a full sister to the J2 Carry House Jackpot, from Martyn Archer's Carry House flock made 1400gns, to Welsh breeder, BT Lones, Llanilltyd.

And, at 1000gns, the second prize gimmer from G and AJ Rawsthorne, Nether Kellet, Carnforth, was bought by Owlands Farms, Richmond. The breeding behind this entry includes the F3 Hundith onto a a home-bred ewe.

The inaugural show and sale of Swaledale females saw an entry of 24 and a top price of 1500gns paid on two occasions for ewes from John and Ben Richardson, Ghyll House, Appleby. The first and pre-sale champion, by a Clarkson ram, was knocked down to the judge, Andrew Bainbridge, Richmond, while the second which stood third in her class, sold for the same money to Messrs Lightfoot, Gillside, Penrith.

The reserve champion and second prize ewe, by a Bull and Cave sire, from Patrick and Kirsty Sowerby, Barras, made 750gns to TW Hutchinson, Bailhill, Barnard Castle.

Rough Fells sold to 650gns for a three-crop ewe from SL Hoggarth, Birkhaw.

Averages: Bluefaced Leicesters – 5 Ewes, £371; 9 gimmers, £640; 31ewe hoggs, £588. Rough Fells – Ewes, £430.50; gimmers, £478.80; ewe hoggs, £157.50.

Auctioneers: North West Auctions.