Demand for top end North Country Cheviots was buoyant at the society's show and sale at Aberdeen and Northern Marts' Caithness Livestock Centre, where top prices of £4100 and £4000 were achieved.

The sale, staged alongside a multi-bred ram sale, attracted buyers from Wales, Northern Ireland and Shetland, was topped by Bardnaclavan Xanadu, from the Campbell family's 150-ewe flock from Bardnaclavan, Westfield, Thurso, brought out by son Johnny.

Their best, which is by Allanshaws Tank, a tup bought privately from Roderick Runciman, is out of a home-bred ewe by Smiddyquoy Freelander. Reserve male champion at the Highland, Xanadu was knocked down to Neil Barclay, Harestone, Crathes, Banchory.

Bardnaclavan also received £2200 for Bardnaclavan X Boyfriend, from George Cormack, Wester Dunnet, Thurso. This shearling is by Sebay Vermount and out of the second prize ewe at Caithness Show – a home-bred daughter of Allanshaws Silverstar.

Adding to the celebrations, the flock also scooped the female championship with a gimmer that later sold for £1400 to Northern Ireland breeder, JS Armstrong, Leam House, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh. Second in her class at the Highland, she is also bred from a home-bred Allanshaws Silverstar ewe but sired by the £1400 Durran Thunder.

James Mackay and his daughter Jacqueline, also enjoyed a good day, producing the champion and reserve winners in Biggins Xyler and Biggins Xach, shearling rams from Biggins, Killimster, Wick. Their show stopper, which later sold for £4000, is by the £1200 Smiddyquoy Ransom, out of a home-bred ewe by the £4500 Bardnaclavan Champion. He headed home with T Sinclair, Reaster, Lyth, Wick.

Reserve winner, Xach, which also bagged the same honours at the Black Isle, realised £2600 to Welsh breeder, M Thomas, Knowle Farm, New Radnor, Presteigne. The breeding behind this transaction includes Overton Wizard, onto a home-bred ewe by Biggins Samson.

Andrew Polson of the Smerlie flock from Roadside, Smerlie, Lybster, was another in the money with shearling rams at £2400 and £2200. The dearest, purchased by Orkney breeders, James Baillie and sons Hamish and Balfour, of Sebay, Tankerness, was Smerlie Xtreme, a son of the £3000 Allanshaws Sensation, out of a home-bred ewe.

Smerlie Xavier by the £3800 Upper Cornquoy Trademark, and out of a home-bred ewe, made £2200 selling to Charlie Angus, Oldfield, Thurso.

Matching that bid was Durran Xizang, a Bardnaclavan Terminator shearling from James Allan, Durran Mains, Thurso, purchased by W and S McCarthy, Myrelandhorn and HRH Queen Elizabeth’s Castle of Mey Trust, Longoe.

On the income side, the Baillies from Sebay sold two at £2000 apiece to include Sebay Xtra Special, a Nistaben Wonderboy-sired shearling, purchased by R Poleson, Swinister, Ollaberry.

Minutes later, Sebay Xcitable by Wester Trouble Maker, made the same money selling to J and M MacDonald, Tormore, Dunbeath.

Top price at the multi-breed sale was £1200 paid for the reserve champion Suffolk from Kenneth Sutherland and sons Stephen and Kenneth, of Stainland and Sibmister Farms, Thurso, purchased by Ronald Innes, Stirkoke Mains, Wick.

The champion Suffolk from JB and L Swanson, East Murkle, Castletown made £900 to MG and A Shearer, Lythmore, Bridge of Westfield.

Averages: 58 North Country Cheviot rams, £831.55 (-£124.06 for nine fewer); 33 Suffolk rams £563.63 (+£13.37 for seven fewer sold); 33 Texel shearlings, £486.87 (+£16.23 for 15 fewer).

OTHERLEADING prices

Suff – £800, £750, Stainland and Sibmister; £800 (x2), £750 (x2), £700 Lynegar.

Tex – £750 Latheronwheel Mains; £700, £650 Stainland and Sibmister Farms; £700, £650, £600, East Kirk.

FLOCK averages

Farm (No) Top (£) Averages

2019 2018

North Country Cheviot

Bardnaclavan (7) 4100 1485.71 1210

Sebay (4) 2000 1325.00 650

Biggins (7) 4000 1300.00 1369

Durran Mains (4) 2200 1175.00 633

Roadside (7) 2400 875.14 1040

Suffolk

East Murkle (5) 900 570.00 700

Lynegar (8) 800 687.50 579

Thuster (8) 550 437.50 570

Stainland and

Sibmister Farms (8) 1200 656.25 542

Texel

Stainland

and Sibmister Farms (7) 700 562.50 435

Latheronwheel Mains (4) 750 545.00 –

East Kirk (10) 700 540.00 448

Aimster (7) 500 464.29 –

Boultach (4) 550 437.50 661

Cairnside (3) 416.66 417

Burnside (3) 550 416.66 413