With numerous quality females forward, both clearance rates and averages were up on the year at the Hampshire Down Sheep Breeders’ Association Autumn sale at Carlisle.

An almost 100% clearance for all categories of breeding females was achieved with prices peaking at 1150gns for the champion, a gimmer from Judith and Graham Galbraith, Kendal, purchased by DJ and S Dixon, Kirkby Stephen. Their purchase, a daughter of Kelsey Overlord, bred from a Graylen ewe by Ballycreelly Montgomery, changed hands in lamb to Graylen Laser.

The Galbraiths also sold the second top priced gimmer at 900gns to Harriet Heaps, buying for the Tavernbank flock from Halifax. Another by Kelsey Overlord and due to Graylen Laser, she is bred from a Wilstrop ewe by Graylen D'artagnan.

Janet and Brian Hill’s Isle of Bute flock from the island, was also in the money, selling two gimmers at 800gns. First was a daughter of Graylen Romeo out of a Kelsey ewe, purchased by Matthew Jones and Rebecca Smith. She changed hands in lamb to Yarcombe Pythagoras.

The second went home with new breeders Messrs Moffett and Horner, West Auckland.

Judge Alison Halcrow found her reserve champion in the best of the males, a ram lamb from Tom Marshall's Pitgair flock from Turriff. This entry, a Graylen Laser-sired lamb bred from a Graylen ewe by Kelsey Icon, made 600gns selling to Carlin Farms, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire.

Averages: gimmers, £578; senior ewes, £465; ewe lambs, £436; shearling rams, £252; ram lambs, £311.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.