A top price of £800 was achieved at a show and sale of Suffolk, Texel and multi-breed rams at Aberdeen and Northern Marts' Thainstone Centre on Wednesday.

Sale leader was the first prize Texel shearling from Matthew Seed, Home Farm of Auchry, Cuminestown, Turriff, which sold to the judge Harry Emslie of Emslies Livestock, Kinknockie, Mintlaw.

The Texel champion and first prize Texel ram lamb from William and David Moir, Cairness, Fraserburgh, sold for £700. This was a home-bred ram lamb by Garngour Alabama, which sold to the same buyer.

Mr Emslie then paid £300 for the reserve champion Texel, a ram lamb from Graham Morrison of the Deveronvale flock at Inchbruich, Cornhill, Banff.

Father and son duo George and Melvin Stuart, Milltown of Birness, Ellon, stood champion in the Suffolks with a son of Limestone Legend, which later made £650 when purchased by A Logie, Whitebog, New Deer.

The reserve champion Suffolk was a shearling from Neil Benzie, Meikle Whiterashes, Turriff. He sold for £420 to J Baxter, Troup Home Farm, Gamrie, Banff.

LEADING awards

Suff – Shearling ram – 1 and reserve champion, AJ and AR Benzie, Meikle Whiterashes, Turriff £420; 2, Craig G Paterson, Cranna Bridge, Aberchirder, £350; 3, WG Blackhall, Bogfon, Maryculter, £320

Ram lamb – 1 and champion, GL Stuart, Milltown of Birness, Ellon, £650; 2, JL Lorimer, Cadgerford, Kingswells, £480; 3, GL Stuart, Milltown of Birness, £480; 4, Firm of Upper Woodside, Rothiemay, Huntly, £280; 5, JL Lorimer, Cadgerford, £400.