Joint top prices of 3200gns for a ram lamb from Lanarkshire breeder, Richard and John Wood's Kingledores flock and for a shearling ram from Matthew Burleigh’s Matt’s flock in Northern Ireland were the highlights of the Beltex Sheep Society’s two-day show and sale at Skipton.

Top for the Wood's pedigree flock from Tweedsmuir, Biggar, was Kingledores Engleburt, a son of the 3000gns Arkle DJ that has sired sons at 11,000gns and 7000gns. The dam, Withy Trees Champagne, a daughter of Broxty Boxer, was bought as a ewe lamb for 2100gns as she was out of a 4200gns Kingledores gimmer. Engleburt was knocked down to Brian Hall, who runs the Ainstable flock at Ainstable Hall, Carlisle.

Mr Burleigh's 3200gns shearling, Matt's Draygon, from Shanra, Enniskillen, was the male champion and reserve overall. An ET son of the 3000gns Hackney Corker, he is out of Matt’s Www, a Pentland Showman daughter and sold to mother and daughter duo, Victoria and Gillian Bowring, for their 30-strong Windmill flock, based at Nether Langwith in Nottinghamshire’s Bassetlaw district.

John Green's Greenhall flock from Lilliesleaf, Melrose, came up with the goods too with shearling rams at 3000gns, 2200gns and 1600gns. All three were sons of Callacrag Barbarian, which has bred sons to 6000gns, and bred from Artnagullion Amber, a Rathbone Tony daughter. The dearest, Greenhall Dennis The Menace, sold to Elizabeth McAllister, buying for the Artnagullion flock in Northern Ireland, while the 2200gns ram, Greenhall Danger Mouse, sold to GW Lee and Son, Frosterley, Bishop Auckland.

Helping to finance that 3000gns purchase, Elizabeth McAllister and her brother William from Kells, Northern Ireland, sold the top priced female at 1900gns. This was Artnagullion Dixie, by the 8000gns Ardstewart Armani, and out of Artnagullion Wilma. Fifth in her class at the pre-sale show, she sold to H Owens, Leominster. Herefordshire.

It was a touching farewell to the Beltex breed for John and Jean Bradley from Giggleswick, Settle, when they sold the remainder of their Penyghent flock to 2200gns and 1800gns and also secured the supreme championship with Penyghent Dapper. The 2200gns and 1800gns twin brother and sister, Penyghent Dunhill and Penyghent Delphine, are by the Jewitt Candyman ram owned by daughter, Karen Shuttleworth, of the Heber Park flock, and out of Penyghent Bessie, an Airyolland Wild One daughter. The shearling, Penyghent Dunhill, sold to the show judge, Mark Ireland, who runs the Shamrock flock in Whalley, Clitheroe, while Penyghent Delphine was purchased by Andrew and Claire Wood for their Withy Trees flock near Whittingham, Preston.

Ewe lamb prices peaked at 700gns for the second prize winner from Cameron, Finlay and Archie Barclay’s Twinsplusone flock from Maybole, Ayrshire. Their January-born Twinsplusone Easy Girl, the family’s 2019 show lamb, which stood 10th at the Royal Highland Show, is by Smart Ass Carbon, out of Beachy Sue and sold to Calderdale’s SH Stott, of Sowerby Bridge.

Averages: Ram lambs, £648 (+£78); shearling rams, £635 (+£31); aged rams £651 (-£4); ewe lambs £312 (-£39); gimmers £480 (-£13); aged ewes £231 (-£174).