BREED records were smashed at the annual show and sale of North Country Cheviot females at Lockerbie, when a ewe hogg from Willie Thomson and his father Jimmy, sold for £4500.

Surpassing the previous best of £3200 paid for an entry from the Nuncote Nook flock, was the reserve champion at the pre-sale show, from Hownam Grange, Yetholm, Kelso.

Backed by the best of genetics on both sides, she is the first daughter sold off Synton Vanish – a great grandson of Hownam Grange Magic, the old show ewe that boasts two inter-breed championships a the Highland as well as breed titles at the Yorkshire and at Kelso. The dam, a home-bred ewe, is by a Gilston sire that sired last year's park champion at the Highland and the previous year, a son that sold for £2000. The ewe hogg sold down to Derbyshire with James Burton, Ilamtops.

Innes Graham's Carruthers flock from Waterbeck, Lockerbie, produced the champion, a home-bred gimmer by Wester Rocket, which changed hands in lamb to Hilltop Windsor. Judge, David Beech, Ormerley, Derby, was the final bidder at £1000.

The judge also bought Mr Graham's third prize ewe hogg, by Philiphaugh Tam O Shanter, for £1000.

Top price for George Milne's Kinaldy flock from St Andrews was £1800 paid for the second prize gimmer. She headed home with Alan Cowens, Philiphaugh, Selkirk.

An added feature of the sale was the dispersal of Jane Jackson's Ericstane flock from Moffat which saw prices peak at £2000 for a ewe hogg, purchased by Richard McCulloch, Hillhouse, Armadale, West Lothian. She is by Carruthers Vice President, a £3000 purchase at Lockerbie in 2017.

Mr McCulloch was back in action forking out £1800 for a gimmer from Ericstane by the £4800 Wandylaw Perfection.

Ewes from Ericstane sold to £400 on two occasions.

Averages – Collective sale – 13 ewes, £394.62 (-£88.38 for four more sold); 16 gimmers, £555.00 (+£80.42 for 19 fewer); 16 ewe hoggs, £678.75 (+£416.75 for nine fewer). Ericstane dispersal – 90 ewes, £183.46; 32 gimmers, £368.33; three ewe hoggs £973.33.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.