The overall champion, a ram lamb from Graham Cubitt's Kildowney flock from Northern Ireland led the way at a pedigree Dorset sheep show and sale at Carlisle, selling for the top price of 1000gns.

Sale leader for Mr Cubitt, from Kildowney Hill, Glarryford, Ballymena, was Kildowney Ben, a mid-December born lamb by Mainevalley Zorro bred from a home-bred ewe by Richhill Wyatt. He sold to Messrs French, Treneglos, Launceston, Cornwall.

Second top at 880gns Ben Lamb's Richhill Bashful, from Sleepy Valley, Richhill, Co Armagh, Northern Ireland, purchased by Messrs Larder, Sandford, Winscombe Avon. This yearling is by Richhill Xuberant and out of Legaloy ewe by Downkillybegs Noddy.

Minutes earlier, Richhill Brabus, from the same flock, made 850gns to Messrs Reid, Talgaiarn, Abergele, Conwy. The breeding behind this transaction includes Oliver Tree Zlatan onto a Richhill ewe by Sandelford Usain.

Females were topped at 750gns by the first prize gimmer and reserve female from Derbyshire breeder, Sam Driver's Sandy Lane flock from Chisworth, Glossop. Selling to Messrs Gray, Wharfedale, Ilkley, was a Ballytaggart Nijinsky sired gimmer, out of a home-bred. She sold served to Kildowney Zambezi, the 2017 NI champion.

averages: Five shearling rams, £413.70 (-£811.30 for two more); 32 gimmers, £348.14 (-£76.86 for 11 more); 12 ram lambs, £543.25 (-£127.94 for one less); 42 ewe lambs, £254 (-£84.30 for 22 less); 15 pens of females, £199.50 (-£53 for six less)

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.