averages:

217 lamb rams, £429.73 (+£16.17 for 17 more); 34 aged/ shearling rams, £417.35 (-£68.02 for seven less); 38 females, £331.05 (-£43.39 for 25 fewer).

A catalogued number of 445 traditional Bluefaced Leicesters saw just 289 sell through the ring for Harrison and Hetherington’s annual show and sale – but there would be an element of sheep already sold within that stat.

At the top of the tree, Alan McClymont, Kirkstead, Yarrow, triumphed when he sold his best for £4500 – the bill for which was paid for a ram lamb by HG and DJ Dixon, Alwinton Farm, Alwinton, Morpeth.

This one is an ET-bred lamb carrying some great show star breeding – he is sired by a £2000 Burndale which was Royal Highland Show champion twice, in 2016 and 2018, and out of a home-bred ewe, which was twice a winner of the Scottish progeny show in 2015 and 2016.

Frank Johnston’s Ashes flock, West Shipley, Hamsterley, Bishop Auckland, then got £3200 which was paid for his home-bred ram lamb. This went down to the north of Wales with MC Roberts, Myfyrian Isaf, Gaerwen, Gwynedd. He is a son of the £1400 Howlea sire which was purchased privately from Lynsey Currie, and out of an Elian ewe, which bred the champion here in 2017.

On the same money, was the second in from Margaret Suddes, Towdypotts, Wolsingham, Bishop Auckland, which went north to Whinnyhall with Martin Quinn, Kinglassie, Lochgelly, Fife. He is by the Howlea sire which goes back to a Cernyw tup and out of a home-bred ewe sired by a Burndale tup.

Edward Peart’s best from Woodcroft, Frosterley, Bishop Auckland, saw the hammer fall at £2600 for the third prize ram lamb, which this time headed to Ayrshire with Alistair Clark, Avisyard, Cumnock. He is a son of the 6L1 Old Parks, which was purchased here last year for £1500 and out of a Lyneside ewe, which was also bought at Carlisle for £500.

After his earlier purchase, Martin Quinn sold his best at £1800 to Alan McClymont, Kirkstead. This ram lamb is a son of Craig Yr Orsedd and out of a home-bred ewe by a Rossiebank sire.

The Whinnyhall flock made another purchase at £1600, this time for a ram lamb from G and L Wood, Snapegate, Hamsterley, Bishop, Co Durham. This Burndale son goes back to Lower Down and is out of a home-bred ewe sired by a Cernyw tup.

Leading the way in the shearling and aged rams was CR Purvis, Halterburn, Kelso, Roxburghshire, selling at £1300 which was purchased by Welsh breeders, MS Williams, Lower Gwernerin, Llandinam, Powys. This four-year-old was originally bred by Edward Peart, and is a son of a Derwenlas sire, out of a home-bred ewe by a Cernyw tup.

Top price amongst the females was the last out of the pen from P Howell, Fir Tree, Wentor, Bishops Castle, Shropshire, which was purchased by DL Jones, Ddole, Llanbadarn Fynydd, Llandrindod Wells, Powys, for £600. This home-bred gimmer was female champion in the morning prior to the sale and is a daughter of a Piel View tup, out of a home-bred ewe sired by a Cassington Elite Plus-rated ram.

FLOCKaverages:

Ram lambs

Bewcastle (6) 800 341.67

Fog Close (3) 550 316.67

Paddhen (3) 200 200.00

Duhonw (7) 3500 978.57

Forebrae (4) 800 562.50

Homilton (4) 300 275.00

Riddings (5) 900 580.00

Mid Knockglass (4) 800 412.50

Sealhouse (3) 500 373.33

Morley (6) 1000 533.33

Penhill (3) 2000 900.00

Cretlevane (6) 1500 641.67

J and D Blues (3) 5000 2566.67

Yore House (5) 1000 630.00

Drimsynie (4) 3500 1550.00

Quarry House (5) 1000 700.00

Carry House (7) 1600 1071.43

Nunscleugh (8) 1800 807.50

Steel (3) 2500 1400.00

Scarrowmanwick (5) 300 236.00

Glenrath (3) 4500 2166.67

Underwood (4) 550 500.00

Shitlington (6) 1200 570.00

Hassiewells (4) 1200 675.00

Assloss (7) 1100 521.43

West Biggins (4) 2200 1600.00

Blarnavaid (6) 7500 2208.33

TY- Gwyn (6) 650 483.33

Dreva (3) 300 276.67

Dawyck (5) 5800 1604.00

Black Edge (5) 650 470.00

Yelland (3) 500 433.33

Llanilltyd (3) 2400 1233.33

Breck House (4) 1000 482.50

New Hartrigg (5) 400 304.00

Sky High (3) 900 533.33

Shafthill (6) 1100 858.33

Midlock (7) 5000 2185.71

Firth (5) 550 350.00

Rowntree (3) 300 266.67

Linkshead (3) 2000 983.33

Hanging Wells (3) 350 283.33

Rowandale (3) 550 423.33

Hill End (4) 1600 712.50

Todhills (3) 850 500.00