A mixed trade at the Beltex Scotland Club's annual show and sale at Lanark, saw a buoyant demand for shearling rams, with prices peaking at 3600gns and 3200gns, while an increased entry of females were more selective.

Commercial producer, Ian Knight who runs 800 Beltex cross ewes at Stephnay, Calderbridge, Cumbria, bought the top two highest priced lots with his sale leader being Alfie Taylor's Heatheryhall Deric from Thankerton, Biggar.

The first shearling son sold by Skiddaw View Boggle, a 2800gns purchase shared with the Padkin flock, Deric is bred from Graham’s Tosh-sired Heatheryhall Beauty, which is a daughter of the foundation female, Edenfauld Ripple that is still going strong at eight-years of age.

The Taylors also topped the ram lamb trade with their male champion, the March-born entry, Heatheryhall Extra Special ET. James and Lynsey Forrest, buying for the Forrest flock from Eastend, Lanark, were the final bidders on this lamb by Aviemore Dane Hill bred from Heatheryhall Waterfall, a Clary Prankster daughter.

Mr Knight was back in action paying 3200gns for the shearling ram Roadside Darren from Jean Bunting who runs just 15 ewes in her flock from Balgray Gass, Lockerbie. This tup is the result of the in-lamb female purchase, Heatheryhall Barbara, a Quarrymount William Wallace daughter bought from the Taylors at the LiveScot sale in 2017, due to Skiddaw View Boggle.

Next best amongst the males was a 1800gns bid given for Ross and Kirsty Williams’ Black Jack Dangerous from near Huntly, selling to W Gribbon and Co, Troqueer, Dumfries. He is by Padkin Sugar Daddy while his dam is the Lugate Alex-sired Black Jack Bad Influence.

Alasdair MacLean’s Tiree Dynamite ET, all the way from the island, sold to George Cropper’s Hudhey flock, Baxenden, Accrington, Lancashire, and Adam Neachell’s Cromwell flock, Aldridge, Staffordshire, for 1400gns. Sired by Callacrag Wisecrack, Dynamite is out of the Corstane Waitangi daughter, Tiree Annette.

Irish breeders Wade and Alison McCrabbe, Raphoe, Co Donegal, also enjoyed a good day, selling their best, Ardstewart Dynamite ET to commercial breeder, Willie Stevenson, Pitlochry, for 1250gns. Bred out of Ardstewart Tough Diva, he is by Kingledores Crusader.

Ram lambs also reached 1200gns for Murrays Ethan ET from Stuart Wood and son, Murray, from Woollhillock, Skene. Sired by Bailey Brook CR7 and out of Smart Ass Welshie, Ethan heads to Saline, Fife, with Willie Shaw.

Females peaked at 2000gns for the second prize gimmer and reserve female Aviemore Dusty Patch 3 ET from Bruce and Colin Mair, Cuminestown, Turriff. Their sale leader is bred from Aviemore Red Patch, a Ballydown Magnus daughter, and sired by Airyolland Avicii. She sold to new breeder, Simon Stephen, who hopes to establish the Nessie flock based at Meikle Geddes, Nairn

Her full sister, Aviemore Dusty Patch 6 ET, then sold to Nick Gill and Kayley Kennedy for their Nikay flock in Borrowdale, Keswick, for 1100gns.

Matching that price was the third prize gimmer, Jimmy Young’s Bailey Brook CR7-sired Muirton Deborah from Alford. She is out of Smart Ass Amber.

Dearest of the ewe lambs at 920gns was Hodge’s Ellie ET from Daniel Hodge, Auchinleck, Ayrshire, which sold to Stuart Wood of the Woodies flock, Woolhillock, Skene. Reserve champion at Ayr Show, she is by Woodies Razzledazzle and bred from Riggroad Bonnie.

The final dispersal of Donald Douglas’ Beechcross flock from North Kessock, Inverness, peaked at 1600gns for his Black Isle Champion, Beechcross Danni. Sired by Fingle Cobra and out of Beechcross Blossom, she also sold to Mr Stephen, Nairn.

Averages: 125 shearling rams, £643.94 (+£25.72 for 19 fewer); 40 ram lambs, £535.50 (-£54.37 for three more); three aged ewes, £287.00; 39 gimmers, £446.38 (-£109.62 for 18 more); three ewe lambs, £584.50 (+£322.00 for the same number). Beechcross dispersal – 30 gimmers, £399.35.

Auctioneers: Lawrie and Symington.