A new centre record of £10,500 was paid at Dingwall and Highland Marts’ sale of North Country Cheviot rams, last week, where 663 were knocked down to average £532.29, up £118.91 on the corresponding year for 62 fewer rams sold.

The sale leader and pre-sale show reserve overall was a home-bred two-shear ram from Martyn Cook's 700-ewe flock at Dorrery, Caithness. Used on loan as a shearling by Hughie Mackenzie, Badanloch, this stylish ram has produced progeny that have made their mark at the summer shows. Sired by a £2600 Eriboll ram sold at Lairg last year, and out of a home-bred ewe, he headed home with James McCaig, to Wester Jawcraig, Falkirk.

Rams from Scott and Farquhar Renwick, from Inverbroom, near Ullapool, topped at £6000 in the form of a two-shear ram, sired by Suisgill Parahandy – bought here three years ago for £1600 – and out of a home-bred dam. Forking out the money for him, and buying back some of their own genetics, was Suisgill Estate, Kildonan, Helmsdale.

Next in the trade stakes at £4500 was the pen leader from Leslie and Tina Robertson's Inkstack flock from Barrock, Thurso, a three-shear purchased by Michael Elliot for use in his Woodside flock, near Yetholm, Kelso. He is sired by the home-bred ram, Inkstack Insignia and out of a ewe by a Badanloch ram. Another ram from the Inkstack flock was knocked down at £3300. Backed by home-bred genetics, he is by Inkstack Sandy, out of a home-bred ewe and was purchased by Keodale Sheep Club, Durness, Lairg. The Robertsons also achieved the highest flock average selling nine rams to cash in at £1800.

Next best at £4200 was the two-shear ram – Longoe Warlord – from The Queen Elizabeth Castle of Mey Trust's Longoe flock, in Caithness, selling to Suisgill Estates. Brought out by brothers Sandy and Danny McCarthy, was a son of Longoe Transformer, out of an Attonburn Lionheart-sired dam. Another from the Longoe flock, and of the same genetics, realised £3200 to David Renwick, Keppoch, Dundonnell.

More than financing that transaction, a two-shear David Renwick, Keppoch made £3800 selling to the Renwick's from Inverbroom. He is a son of a Gilston ram and out of a home-bred dam.

The best from Bill and Fanny Elliot's Hethpool flock, from Wooler, was the home-bred four-shear ram, Hethpool Tower, which made £3400. Sired by Hethpool Reverend, he has produced progeny that include this year's Yetholm Show champion and sold back down across the Border with Messrs Campbell, High Hillock Howe, Bramton, Penrith.

Two rams sold for £3200, both of which were from Fiona MacLeod's Migdale flock at Bonar Bridge. Her first, a shearling sired by Suisgill Trademark, out of a home-bred ewe, was purchased by R MacPherson, Riverfoot, Glenelg, Kyle of Lochalsh. The second, a two-shear by Badanloch The Seer, headed home with Hugh and Sandy Wilson, Newbank, Moffat.

Judge Peter Tweedie, Buchtrig, Hownam, found his champion in a three-shear ram from Hughie Mackenzie's Badanloch flock, from Kinbrace, Sutherland, which later realising £1700 to Pat Wilson Farms, Loanleven, Almondbank, Perth.

* The sale of 339 continental rams staged the same day saw prices peak at £900 twice for Texel shearlings from the Paterson family at Veltigar, Tankerness in Orkney.

OTHERLEADING prices:

NCC rams – Shearlings – £2800, £2400, £2000 185 Migdale; £1700 South Balkeith, Tain; £1200 Dunbeath Estates.

Two-shear – £2800 Migdale; £2400 Kintail, Dingwall.

Three-shear – £2200 Badanloch; £1800 Torrish Estate, Kinbrace and Kelsocleugh Farming; £1700 Badanloch and Torrish Estate.

Four-shear and aged – £800 Inkstack Farm; £700 185 Migdale.

Continental rams – Belt – £480 Upper Auchenlay, Dunblane; £450 Overhouse. Char – £320 Upper Auchenlay, Dunblane. BFL – £500 Easter Urray Farm, Muir of Ord; £450 1 Georgetown Farm. Suff – £650, £600 Stonyford Farm; £550 The Arr, Lethen. Tex – £800, £750 (x2), £720 Veltigar; £750 Broombank, Inverness; £700 Balmaglaster, Spean Bridge; £700 Bardnaclavan Farm, Thurso. Cross – £700 (x3), £650 Stonyford Farm; £550 Upper Auchenlay; £520 The Arr.

LEADING flock averages:

Flock (No) Top (£) Avg (£)

Inkstack (9) 4500 1800

Longoe (10) 4200 1260

Badanloch (11) 2200 (x2) 1236.36

185 Migdale (22) 3200 (x2) 1110.45

Armadale (5) 1300 1100

Inverbroom (S Renwick) (16) 6000 975

South Balkeith (5) 1700 920

Hethpool (7) 3400 907.14

Hownam Grange (4) 1500 887.50

Keppoch (17) 3800 867.64

Kintail (12) 2400 779

Torrish (15) 1800 750

Ardmore (Heathmount) (7) 1400 714.28

Kelsocleugh (6) 1800 691.66

186 Migdale (8) 1000 (x2) 681.25

Inverbroom (F Renwick) (9) 2100 681.11

Badralloch (13) 1350 676.92

Allanshaws (3) 900 650

Suisgill (shepherd) (3) 900 650

Auctioneers: Dingwall and Highland Marts