Lanark

Despite the doom and gloom surrounding Brexit, Lawrie and Symington's sale of 5700 Blackface ewe lambs was as fast as ever, selling to £2100 per head for a pen of three from Hugh and Alan Blackwood, Auldhouseburn, Muirkirk, to Cobys Farm, Co Donegal.

Next at £800 was a pen from Mary McCall Smith, Connachan, Crieff, purchased by Neil and Stuart Barclay, Harestone, Insch.

The overall average was £85.66 (+18p per head on the year).

LEADING flock averages

Flock (No) Top £ Avg

Auldhouseburn (3) 2100 2100.00

High Staward (3) 680 680.00

Dalwyne (37) 700 493.50

Connachan (25) 800 191.20

Calla (65) 145 145.00

Dalblair (73) 750 125.00

Greenside (80) 180 124.00

Crossflatt (79) 180 120.00

Midlock (42) 165 118.43

Nunnerie (46) 150 106.41

Kirkland Farming (51) 120 106.00

West Cobbinshaw (15) 104 104.00

Mitchelhill (166) 140 100.58

Blackhouse (140) 145 99.10

Aitkenhead (27) 115 99.07

Wester Crosswoodhill (121) 126 98.84

Highfield (36) 112 98.38

Tinnis (120) 120 97.67

Upper Cleugh (94) 140 97.55

Hartside (205) 138 97.46

Fallburns (46) 114 92.96

Craigdarroch 164 125 92.32

Windhill (31) 102 91.03

Woolfords (46) 122 86.65

Whelphill (263) 112 85.59

Longtown

Pure-bred Texel gimmers from AJ and LJ Haston, Dearham, topped C and D Auction Marts' sale of 2000 lowland breeding gimmers and ewes, with a pen selling at £220 per head.

The champion pen of 10 North of England Mule gimmers from T Edgar, Whitton, realised £142.

LEADING awards

North of England Mule shearlings – 1, T Edgar, Whitton; 2, T Edgar, Whitton; 3, Snab Farm, The Snab.

Scotch Mule shearlings – 1, Hoscote Estate; 2, Borthwick Brae Farms.

Suffolk X shearlings – 1, Borthwick Brae Farms

Continental shearlings – 1, IR Armstrong, Shankfieldhead; 2, Borthwick Brae Farms.

LEADING prices

Gimmers – Tex – £220, £180, £170, £165, Dearham Hall; £168, Upper Mains. Suff X – £145, Upper Mains; £130, £125, Borthwick Brae. Mule – £135, Hoscote Estate and Hoddomtown and Whitton; £130, Hoddomtown; £129, Whitton. Char – £120, Woodfoot. Half-bred – £116, Shankfieldhead.

Breeding ewes – Tex – £110, £95, Shankfieldhead; £108, Mary Street. Mule – £96, Ragithwhaite; £92, Paulsland and Grainhead; £90, Chapel & Hallsoven.

Cockermouth

In excess of 5000 breeding sheep were forward for Mitchells Auction Mart's sale at Cockermouth, where Lanarkshire breeder, Jimmy Bell and Alistair Mackintosh, Muncaster, judged the Mule gimmers.

Top honours were presented to a pen of gimmers from D and C Mattinson of Cragg Farm, Eaglesfield, which later sold for £170 per head to AM Tarry Smith, Redhouse Farm. The second prize pen from the same home, topped the section at £175 per head to NC Marston, Millstone Moor.

Top price amongst the gimmers was £185 per head paid for continental cross gimmers from AW Beattie, Stone House, purchased by Messrs Harryman, Keskadale.

Champion amongst the breeding rams was a Beltex cross Texel shearling ram from KJ and CS Wilson, Wood Farm, Thursby, which sold for the top price of £1000 to the judges, Joseph and Julia Wilson, Cameron. The reserve from the same home, a Texel shearling made £500.

LEADING prices

Ewes – Tex – £145 (x2); £128 Robin Hood; £138, £132, £130 Grange Farm (Mounsey); £125 Grange Farm(Hayton). Suff – £140 Grange Farm, £112 Burton House. Mule – £136, £134 (x4), £132 (x2), £130 Shatton Lodge; £135, £130 Bayshore House; £132 Tarn Bank; £132 Manor Farm; £130 Flimby Hall; £130 (x2) Langfauld. KH – £138 Flagstaff Farm. BDM – £110 Grange Farm(Mounsey). Zwart – £100 Tarn Bank. Chev – £88 Crosbythwaite.

Gimmers – Tex – £185, £155 Stone House; £180, £160, £150 Shatton Lodge; £165 Bell Mount; £150, £140 Irton House; £140 Somerfield House.

Mule – £175, £170, £160, £152, £150, £148, £145 (x2), £142, £141 Cragg Farm; £145 (x2) West Field; £145 Tarn Bank; £144 Broom Hill; £142 Bayshore House.

Shearling rams – Belt – £1000, £900, £580, £500, Wood Farm. Tex – £950, £800, £650, £580, £550 Summerhill; £750, £650 Terrace Farm;£600 (x2), £550, £500 Tercrosset, £580, £520 Newton Field, £500 Orchard House, £500 Chapel House. Char – £650 Wood Farm. Dut Tex – £400 Middlegill.

Ram lambs – Belt – £340 Low Farm. Char – £260 Smithy Wood. Tex – £260, £220 Highmoor Bungalows; £220 Westwinds. Suff – £240 Burgh Head.

Dingwall

Gimmers and ewe lambs met a steady trade throughout at the Highland Mule Breeders' Association show and sale on Monday, where 3719 head changed hands.

The gimmer judge, A Coghill, Skinnet, Halkirk, awarded the championship to a pen from D and DM Leslie, Redhill, which realised £168 to S Montgomery, Isle of Lewis. The ewe lamb judge, G McKilligan, Coxton, Cornhill, found his champion winners in a pen from K and J Matheson, Milton Farm, Aberarder which sold at £142 per head to IG Robertson, Lower Inchcorsie, Rothiemay.

Breed averages were down on the year, with Highland Mule gimmers averaging at £143.03 (-£1.84) selling to £170 from Croftdhu, Ballindalloch. Other breeds of gimmers levelled out at £138.41 (-£6.59) hitting a top of £145.00 for Cheviot Mules from Achnabat, Dores.

Highland Mule ewe lambs cashed in at £85.85 (-£3.60) having peaked at £142 from Milton, Aberarder, with other breeds balancing out at £72.00 (-£24.80) selling to £72 for Charollais crosses from Tulloch, Dingwall.

FLOCK averages

Flock No Top (£) Avg

Highland Mule gimmers

Tulloch (24) 132 125.25

Croftdhu (99) 170 161.51

Cawdor Estate (88) 145 142.25

Balchraggan (55) 160 151.40

Blackford (27) 160 153.33

Achnabat (16) 148 140.75

Gorthleck Mains (42) 145 140.00

Balloan (92) 142 133.00

Galcantray (23) 165 160.43

Mountrich (112) 160 150.98

Abersky (13) 150 133.84

Redhill (109) 168 161.61

Dalmigavie (31) 115 111.45

Coxton (209) 160 139.89

Alvie Estate (51) 122 118.43

Glebe of Deisher (27) 100 95.18

Highland Mule ewe lambs

Bochruben (40) 78 77.00

Glebe of Deisher (241) 100 82.68

Dell (39) 92 88.10

Viewhill (345) 96 81.97

Abersky (136) 120 85.97

Dalmigavie (51) 79 78.64

Achnabat (148) 102 98.35

Gorthleck Mains (211) 90 83.28

Polbain House (9) 70 70.00

Alvie Estate (50) 74 68.80

Balchraggan (180) 99 86.20

Milton of Aberarder (483) 142 92.85

Blackford (259) 102 86.89

Tulloch (160) 101 84.63

Glendoe Estate (135) 97 85.29

The Arr (162) 105 79.42

*The sale of 1612 store and breeding sheep which incorporated the annual sale of HISHA accredited sheep on behalf of Lewis Livestock Producers, met a firm demand.

Gimmers (543) levelled out at £99.89 (+£1.67 on the year) selling to £148 for a pen of Cheviot Mules from Newmore, Muir of Ord.

Ewes (149) cashed in at £70.77 (+£23.27 on the year) having peaked at £126 for Texel crosses from the dispersal of 3 Balnabeen, Conon Bridge.

Ewe lambs (838) averaged £62.92 (-£0.80 on the year) reaching £100 for Texels from Woodside Croft, Ardersier.

Store lambs (82) balanced out at £46.20 (+£5.52 on the year) selling to £57.50 for a Suffolk cross from Wester Craiglands, Fortrose and the 519 Lewis Livestock Producers lambs sold at £51 twice for pens of cross lambs from 30A Breasclete, and 2 Breasclete, Isle of Lewis.

LEADING prices

Gimmers – CHM – 1 Newmore, £145. Tex X – Smerral Farm, Bower, £135 (x2); Moulinard House, Tain, £125; Carnoch Farm, Errogie, £105. Suff X – Woodside Croft, £125; Fair A Far, Kirkhill, £60. BD X – Ballochroan, Newtonmore, £122. Tex – Woodside Croft, £118. Mule – Davidson Croft, Heights of Fodderty, £108; Cypress, Achterneed, £100; 13 Kirkton Gardens, Lochcarron, £60. Char X – Smallburn Farms, Duffus, £100. Lly X – Ardlarach, Isle of Luing, £100 (x2). HB – Smallburn Farms, £90. Suff – Viewhill Farm, Gollanfield, £90. Kry X – Smallburn Farms, £85. Chev – 21 Ardachu, Rogart, £72; Fair A Far, £58; Alltnadurack, Kildary, £55.

Ewes – Tex X – 3 Balnabeen, £110; 13 Kirkton Gardens, Lochcarron, £80. Suff X – Woodside Croft, £100. CHM – 3 Balnabeen, £92. Suff – Woodside Croft, £90. Chev – Dunmore House, Beauly, £72; 13 Kirkton Gardens, £63. Mule – Dunmore House, £68. Cross – 13 Kirkton Gardens, £46. BF – 13 Kirkton Gardens, £40.

Ewe lambs – Suff X – Muirton Mains, Urray, £80; Smallburn Farms, £67; Wester Craiglands, £60. CHM – Tombreck, Dallas, £80 (x2); Achnamoine, Watten, £73; Wester Craiglands, £72. Mule – Aberarder Estate, Inverness, £74; Invereen, Tomatin & Aberarder Estate, £66; 1 Brae Farm Cottage, Dingwall, Achnamoine & Aberarder Estate, £60. Tex X – Smallburn Farms, £71; Bogburn Farm, Duncanston, £65.50; Wester Craiglands, £55. Char X – Achnamoine, £61.50. Belt X – Ballochroan, £57 (x2).

Store lambs – Tex X – 8 Maryhill, Stornoway, £52. Char X – 17 North Erradale, Gairloch, £50. Mule – Achnamoine, £48.50. Chev – 17 North Erradale, £46.50; Achnamoine, £45. Belt X – Ivy Croft, Heights of Brae, £45.50. Cross – 17 North Erradale, £41.

*Lewis Livestock Producers – Chev – 25 Breasclete, £47; 2 Breasclete, £45; 11 Breasclete, £37. Cross – 33 Callinish, Isle of Lewis, £47; 21 Holm Road, Stornoway, £46.50; 15 Breasclete, £44. BF – 4 Carishader, Uig, £42; 11 Breasclete, £40; 2 Ardroil, Uig, £39. Tex X – 10 Garynahine, Isle of Lewis, £41.

St Boswells

Prices peaked at £182 for a pen of Scotch Half-bred gimmers from Mains of Auchleuchries, sold on the first day at Harrison and Hetherington's two-day sale of ewe lambs, gimmers and stock ewes, at St Boswells.

Half-bred gimmers were the desired choice, producing the lead average of £172 compared to £145 for Scotch Mule gimmers and £135 for Texel and Suffolk cross gimmers.

On the second day, Scotch Mule ewe lambs proved the star attraction with averages rising £15 on the year to level at £126. Judge W Pate, from Mossilee, backed his decision bought his champion pen at £150 per head from Burncastle, Lauder.

Half-bred ewe lambs slipped £10 on the year to average £109 from a top price of £148 for the first prize pen from Stobshiel Mains, purchased by the judge, P Stott, Elilaw.

Suffolk cross Half-breds peaked at £135 twice for pens from Marvinston and Nesbit to average £112 and Suffolk Mule ewe lambs levelled at £101 up £9 on the year, peaking at £118 from Branton Eastside.

LEADING awards

Gimmers – Scotch Half Bred – 1, Headshaw; 2 and 3, Mains of Auchleuchries. Scotch Mule – Branton Eastside; 2, Kaeside; 3, Crailing Nook. Tex and Suff X – 1, Roxburgh Mill; 2 and 3, Drinkstone.

Ewe lambs – Scotch Mule – 1, Burncastle; 2, Easter Dawyck; 3, Tinnis. Scotch Half Bred – 1, Stobshiel Mains; 2, Earlside Whitehill; 3, Tinnis. Suffolk Half-Bred – 1, Marvingston; 2, Nesbit; 3, Blackhill. Suffolk Mule – 1 and 2, Branton Eastside; 3, Blegbie.

LEADING prices,

Ewe lambs – Scotch – £150, £145, £140, Burncastle; £142, Easter Dawyck; £140, £138, Tinnis. £140 (x2), Tollishill; £132, £130, Longcroft. Scotch HB – £148, £135, £118, Stobshiel Mains; £128, £122, Earlside Whitehill; £130, £120, High Moat. Suff HB – £135, £122, £120, £118, Nesbit; £135, £125, Marvingston; £112 Easter Middleton. Suff Mule – £118, £108, Branton Eastside; £112, £105 Blegbie. Chev – £158, £152, Humbleheugh; £135, £130 (x2) Wardshill. Tex – £106, Philiphaugh; £98, Wester Ulston. Che – £96, Linbriggs; £92, Philiphaugh.

Gimmers – HB – £182, £178 (x2), £175, £174, Mains of Auchleuchries; £170, Headshaw. Chev – £177.50, Humbleheugh. Mule – £165, £152, Branton Eastside; £162, £152, Headshaw; £160, £158, £152 (x2), Milrighall; £158, Kaeside; £155, Crailing Nook. Tex – £148, Roxburgh Mill; £148, £147, Drinkstone; £140, South Dissington. Suff – £136, Drinkstone. Chev Mule – £131, South Dissington; £130, Bridgehouse.

Store (1400) – Belt – £67 (x2), Threeburnford. Tex – £63.50, Highfield Farming; £63, Hawksnest; £62.50, Woolaw; £62 East Middle. Suff X – £62, Ruletownhead; £62, Hawksnest; £60.50 Highfield Farming. NCC – £61.50, Birneyknowe; £58, £56 Yetholm Mains; £56, Dunshiel. BF – £50, The Yett.

East Middle dispersal – Lly X – 4/5-crop, £70; 3-crop, £89; 2-crop, £96, £95; 1-crop, £99, £88; gimmers, £86, £85.

Eden Brook reduction – Suff X – 4-crop, £115; 3-crop, £122, £130; 2-crop, £112; gimmers, £130. Tex – 4-crop, £100; 2-crop, £110; 1-crop, £110; gimmers, £105.

Thainstone

A pen of 32 Scotch Mule ewe lambs from CR and ES Millican, Newton of Hassiwells, Rothienorman, secured the pre-sale championship and topped Aberdeen and Northern Marts' sale of 4105 store lambs, breeding gimmers, ewes and rams, selling at £140 per head.

Ewe lambs (71) sold to £116 for a pen of Beltex from Bogiefeulach, Tornaveen, whereas breeding gimmers and ewes (58) sold to £120 for two-year-old Suffolk cross ewes from Harestone, Crathes.

Store Lambs (1568) peaked at £72 for Beltex from Eastertown Croft, Oldmeldrum, and island lambs (2135) sold to £77 for Suffolks from Millfield, Haroldswick.

Island ewes (70) hit a top of £110 for Cheviot gimmers from Swinister, Ollaberry.

LEADING awards

Pen of 20 and over Mule ewe lambs – 1, CR and ES Millican, Newton of Hassiewells, Rothienorman; 2, JH Thomson and Son, Mains of Glenbuchat, Strathdon; 3, A Jolly, Clyne, Newmachar.

LEADING prices

Ewe lambs – Belt – Bogiefeulach, £114. Bel X – Bogiefeulach, £113. Chev Mule – Wester Bleaton, Bridge of Cally, £89. Suff X – Upper Sauchen, Ordhead, £87.

Store lambs – BDM – Ardhuncart, Kildrummy, £67. Suff X – Cormalet, Cairnie, £66. Tex X – Ardhuncart, £65.50. Tex – Tullochcoy, Crathie, £64. Cont – Glencat, Ballogie, £63. Cont X – Belnaglack, Glenbuchat, £61.50. BDMX – Ardhuncart, £61. Cross – Bogiebrae, Rhynie, £60.50. Suff – Cranna Bridge, Aberchirder, Glencuie, Glenkindie, Prony Farm, Ballater, Cormalet, £60. Down – Cormalet, £59. Blue Tex X – Speylea, Fochabers, £56. BF – Glencat, £55. Zwarb – Speylea, £53.50.

Island lambs – Suff – Vidlin Farm, Vidlin, £71. Suff X – Millfield, £69. Down X – 25a Valladale, Heylor, £68.50. Down – Ungersta, Haroldswick, £67.50. Tex – Briarlea, Sullom, £60.50. Tex X – Swinister, Seabreeze, Ollaberry, £60. Cont – 8 Marthastoon, Aith, £59.

Island ewes – Chev – Swinister, £85. SHC – Ungersta, £46.

Breeding gimmers and ewes – Suff X gmr – Harestone Farm, £110. 4Y Suff X ewe – Harestone, £110. 3Y Tex X ewe – Clovenstone Croft, Kintore, £100. 2Y Suf ewe – Harestone, £98. 3Y HB ewe – Birkhill, Dyce, £80. WM Mule ewe – Clovenstone Croft, £90. WM Suf ewe – Clovenstone Croft, £75.

Penrith

A flock reduction sale of 500 Beltex cross Dutch Texel breeding sheep from R Hall and Son, Inglewood Edge, met a flying trade through Penrith and District Farmers’ Mart, selling to £380 twice for a pair of three-shear ewes, purchased by Messrs Mitchell, Grassknop, and for a two-shear ewe, purchased by TH Hall and Son, Horsley Hill, Roxborough.

Dutch Texel cross Beltex two and three-shear ewes averaged £200.95, with their gimmer equivalents levelling at £204.71 and ewe lambs of the same cross at £118.42. Cheviot cross Beltex gimmers averaged £144.50.

The dispersal of 150 regular aged Texel cross Beltex ewes from JB Bowness, Bank Farm, staged the same day peaked at £160 twice for two-shear ewes.

On Tuesday, the firm's annual show and sale of just shy of 5000 breeding sheep to include Mule, Suffolk and Texel cross gimmers and ewes was topped at £240 per head for the first prize pen of continental gimmers from D Barker, Derwent Dale and a single Texel gimmer from R Pigg and Son, Gaitsgill Hall.

Mule gimmers were topped at £170 per head for the second prize pen from TR and PE Little, Low Moor Dyke.

By the end of the day, Mule gimmers averaged £129 with two shears at £138 and three-shear Mule ewes at £122. Continental cross gimmers levelled at £148.

LEADING prices

Inglewood Edge – Gimmers – Dutch Tex X – £260, £230 (x3), £210 (x4), £200 (x2). Rou – £230. Chev X Belt – £150 (x2), £140 (x2).

Ewes – Two-shear – Dutch Tex X – £380, £360, £340, £300 (x2), £270 (x2), £260, £250 (x2), £240 (x2), £230 (x2), £220 (x3), £210 (x9), £200. Rou ­– £220. Three-shear – Dutch Tex X – £380, £300, £290, £240, £210 (x3), £200 (x2).

Ewe lambs – Dutch Tex X – £160, £150, £140, £130 (x2), £110 (x4) £100.

Bank Farm – Ewes – Two-shear – £160 (x2), £145, £135. Three-shear – £145 (x2), £135. Four-shear – £170, £135, £130 (x2).

Collective sale – Gimmers – Tex – £240, £210 (x2), £200 (x3), £190 (x2), £185 (x2), £180, £175, £165, £160 Derwent Dale Farm; £240, £200 (x2) Gaitsgill Hall; £220 (x2), £180 (2), £160 Dearham Hall Bungalow; £160 Hardendale; £158, £150 Rye Hill; £150 Towcett Farm; £150 Nixon Terrace. Belt X Mill Bleu – £184 Nixon Terrace. Beltex – £175 Laypool. Mule – £170, £165, £158, £140 Low Moor Dyke; £165, £140 Hundith House; £165 Park House Farm (Brennand); £160 Laypool; £155 & £148 Milton Mains; £150 & £142 Bank House (Elliott); £148 (2), £145 (5) & £142 Cragg Farm; £148, £145 (x2), £144, £140 Rye Hill; £140 High House (Wilson); £140 The Harras. Chev Mule – £160 High House (Wilson). Suff – £120 The Harras.

Ewes – Two-shear – Mule – £170 (x2), £160, £158, £150, £135, £132 (x2), £130 (x2) Shatton Lodge Farm; £168, £165, £158, £148, £145 (x2) Stubbsgill Farm; £158, £150, £145 (x2), £132, £130 (x2) East Cliff; £145, £130 Langfauld; £142, £140, £136 High House (Dickinson); £130 Rye Hill. Tex – £160, £158 Rye Hill; £138, £130, £125, £115 High Hullock Howe; £115 Greystone House (Dawson); £110 High House. Suff – £135 High Hullock Howe. Mash – £120 Firbank. Three-shear – Mule - £131, £124 Foulsyke Farm; £120, £116 Clappers Farm; £105 Lingstubbs

Bentham

Texel cross gimmers from JT and J Kelsall, Cotes, led the way at a show and sale of breeding ewes and gimmers at Bentham, selling for the top price of £400 per head.

The first prize pen of Mule ewes from T and S Binns, Clitheroe, realised £145.

FLOCK averages

Flock Breed Top (£) Avg

Gimmerss

C Hewitt (Belt) 220 186.00

P and K Strickland (Blue Tex) 300 185.00

JS and KM Wilson (Chev Mule) 195 166.00

T Crosdale (Char) 132 132.00

AHB Murray (Cont) 170 159.00

Rowland and Woodward (Dale Mule) 120 120.00

J Moorhouse (Lle) 142 142.00

JM Jackson (Mash) 160 125.00

BW and C Lawson (Mule) 220 127.00

J Gate (Rou) 150 150.00

MJ Lawson (Scot Mule) 122 122.00

Ross Bros (Suff X) 150 140.00

P and K Strickland (Tex) 400 200.00

JT and J Kelsall (Tex X) 400 153.00

Ewes

C Wilson (Chev Mule) 138 124.00

P and K Strickland (Cont) 354 148.00

T and S Binns (Mule) 145 102.00

Ross Bros (Suff X) 142 135.00

Aged ewes

J and A Lawson (Cont) 118 118.00

J Smith (Mule) 66 66.00

Hexham

Averages were down £9.52 per head on the year at Hexham and Northern Marts' show and sale of Mule ewe lambs out of North of England Blackface ewes, where Martyn Archer, Carry House, secured the overall championship for the second consecutive year with a pen of 25 which later sold at £135 per head, to EH Pennie and Son, Montgomery.

The same buyers also bought the reserve pen from John and Andrew Hunter, The Steel, which sold for the top price of £139.

LEADING prices

Ewe lambs – Mule – £139, The Steel; £135, Carry House; £130, Edlingham Newtown, Quarry House; £122, £119, £118 Carry House; £117, Shitlington Hall; £116, Shitlington Hall, Great Chesters; £114, The Steel; £112, Shitlington Hall, The Steel; £110, Stell Green; Quarry House, Brownsleazes; £108, Hotbank, Shitlington Hall (x2), Carry House, Whiteside, Great Chesters; £107, Carry House; £106, Whiteside,The Steel; £105, Penpeugh, Hole Farm, £104, Shitlington Hall (x2), Great Chesters; £103, Pitland Hills, The Steel; £102, Stell Green, Whiteside, West Nubbock; £101, Penpeugh; £100, Stell Green, Greta Chesters, Brownsleazes; £99, Edges Green, Whiteside; £98, Hotbank; £97, Whiteside; £96, West Nubbock, Pitland Hills; £95, Edges Green, Whiteside; £94, Hotbank, Stell Green; £93, Penpeugh, Brownsleazes; £92, Whiteside, Burnbank, Quarry House (x3); £91, Hole Farm; £90 Quarry House. Suff – £125, South Hanging Wells. Suff X – £108, Kirkhouse. Tex X – £103, Stone Hall; £102, £90 (x2), £87 (x2), Low Ardley; £86 (x2), Stone Hall. BF – £152, Sewingshields; £126, £120, Close A Burn; £118, Wanwood Hill, Prospect House; £116, Close A Burn; £110, Close A Burn (x2); £108, Sewingshields, The Lampert; £104, Wanwood Hill; £102, Prospect House; £101, Sewingshields; £100, Close A Burn; £95, £94, Sewingshields; £81, The Lampert; £80, Close A Burn; £77 Greenleighton.

Carlisle

No fewer than 12 lots of sheep sold for more than £400 per head at Harrison and Hetherington's 'Euro' sale at Carlisle which attracted an entry of 3500 head of continental cross breeding sheep.

The MV accredited section was topped at £1100 for a pure Texel gimmer from Messrs Wight, Midlock, Biggar, who also sold a pair at £700 a head.

Non-MV gimmers averaged £172.22, selling to £300 for a Millennium Bleu gimmer from C Cowan, Itonfield, Ivegill, while Texel cross Mule gimmers peaked at £200 for a pen of 25 from BW Hewitson, Shatton Lodge, Cockermouth, whose run of 139 averaged £180.65 per head.

Ewes sold to £200 for a pen of black Beltex from G and L Hewitt, Cardewless, Wigton.

Ewe lambs averaged £91.16, peaking at £148 on two occasions for singles from JA and LA Thompson, Woodhead, Scaleby.

LEADING prices

Gimmers – Tex – £1100, £700, £600, £520, £500, £340, Midlock; £620, £600, £490, £340, £330 (x2), Four O Boot; £620, £480, £360, Strawfrank; £460, £400, £380 (x2), Langside; £360, Carmavy Road; £330, Halbeath; £300, £290, Arkleby House; £300, Kilncroft. Mil Bleu – £300, £250, £210, £205, £200 (x2), £180, Itonfield Cottage; £215, £210, £190. Moor Belt – £220, £202, £195, Rigghead; £215 (x2), £185, £175, £172, Hill of Errol; £200, £175, £175, Bankdale; £185, Fowrass. Char – £220, £200, Rigghead; £155, £140, Orrisdale. Dutch Tex – £195, £152, £150, £140, The Barns; £152, £150, £148, Thorneyland. Suff – £160, Cambwell. Dutch Spot – £155 Maulscastle.

Ewes – Belt – £200, £170, £160 (x2), £150, Cardewlees. Tex – £175, £152 (x2), £148, Flimby Hall; £150, Street Head; £140, Mains of Airies.

Ewe lambs – Tex – £170, £130, Merkland Farm; £158, £100, Littlegala; £138, £100, Easterseat; £130, Jenny Mills Stables; £112, Tone Hall; £110, Raggetsyke; £102, £98, Greenshields; £102, Thinacre; £100, £98, Auchengool Cottage; £100, Chesterhall Parks; £95, Cornhills. Belt – £148 (x2), £135, £115, £105 (x2), £100 (x2), £98, £95, £91, Wood Head; £106, £95, Linnhead. Blue Tex – £90 (x2), Wyvill Grange. Dutch Tex – £90, £84, Limestone Cottage; £85, West Micklethwaite. Mil Bleu – £80 (x3), Barkbeth.

*The company's annual show and sale of North of England Mule gimmers saw an entry of 2700 head up £7-£10 on the year with more commercial types realising £115-£125 a head. Overall averages were £1 at £124.55.

Judge, Darren Clark, Stripes Farm, Waitby, awarded the championship to a pen from Messrs Ridsdale, Yew Tree Farm, Penrith, which went on to sell for £166.

Top price however was £177 per head paid for a pen of 25 from Messrs Baty, Broom Hills, Hethersgill, whose run of 235 levelled at £155.81.

Leading the continentals at £165 were Texel cross gimmers, from Messrs Irving, East Cliff, Kirklinton.

The annual continental ram sale peaked at £600 for a Millennium Bleu from Itonfield, Ivegill.

LEADING prices

Gimmers – GF – £177, £162, £160, £158, £154, £152 (x2), £150, £146, Broom Hill; £166, £162, £152, £150, Yew Tree; £150 (x2), Hundith House; £150, £148, Milton Mains; £148, £146, £144, Springfield. Tex – £165, £148, East Cliff; £158, £152, The Beeches; £158, £148 (x2), Courthill.

Breeding ewes – GF – £134, £129, £122, Low Barn. Tex – £110 (x2), High House.

Rams – Mil Bleu – £600, Itonfield. Belt – £550, Pasturewood; £300 (x2), Midtown; £280 (x2), £250, Flimby Hall. Tex – £300 (x4), Langdyke Cottage; £300, Lingstubbs; £300 (x2), Pasturewood.