A packed audience looked on to see the champion pair of ewe hoggs/gimmers attract the lead price of 800gns per head, at last week's highly successful Highland Sheep staged at Sibmister Farm, by kind permission of the Sutherland family.

The pen, park-type North Country Cheviot gimmers from the Campbell family, Bardnaclavan, Thurso, were brought out by Jonny Campbell and sold to Welsh breeders, Messrs Thomas and Bevan, Knowle Harbour. This included a gimmer by Sebay Vermont, bred from a home-bred ewe by Cairnside Royal Male, with the second member of the pairing being a Durran Thunder daughter out of a ewe by Cairnside Northern Light.

Suffolk gimmers from Willie Barnetson and sons James and William, Lynegar, Watten, sold next at 600gns and 550gns. All four are by Lakeview Sandy and out of home-bred ewes.

LEADING awards

North Country Cheviot (Park) – 1 and overall champion, DN Campbell and Sons, Bardnaclavan, Westfield, Thurso, 800gns.

NCC (Hill) – 1, Badanloch Estate, Badanloch, Kinbrace, 220gns; 2, Jan MacKenzie, Langdale, Strathnaver, Kinbrace, 250gns.

Blackface – 1, DA and K Douglas, Achnamoine, Watten, 80gns.

Any other native bred (Suffolk) – 1 and 2, W Barnetson and Sons, Lynegar, Watten, 600gns and 550gns.

Any other continental – 1, Danny McCarthy, Longoe, Mey, Thurso, (Zwartbles) 380gns; 2, Nigel Shelton, Larkins, Upper Lybster, Lybster, (Blue Texels) 200gns.

Cross-bred – 1, Alexander Douglas, Achnamoine, Watten, (Shetland X NC Cheviot) 120gns.