averages:

Mershott and Roxburgh – 13 gimmers, £1255.96; Duhonw – 20 gimmers, £1076.25; Haymount ­– 20 gimmers, £784.88; Greenall – Six gimmers, £971.25; Blackadder – Four gimmers, £643.15; Brontemoor – Eight gimmers, £715.32; Loosebeare – Seven gimmers, £840; Brijon – Eight gimmers, £542.06.

Gimmers from Gordon Brooke Estate’s Mershott flock, proved supreme at the Christmas Cracker sale of in-lamb Texels at Carlisle, producing the majority of top prices and the highest average at £1255.96 for 13 gimmers.

Topping the trade at 3500gns was a Mershott gimmer, a daughter of the £23,000 Midlock You're The One and out of a Brackenridge Strongbow-sired dam. She was sold in-lamb to Canllefaes Bright Spark and was purchased by Ken Hodge, Cheshire, who also purchased her full brother at Kelso, in September, for £8500.

The second highest priced gimmer at 2500gns came from the Duhonw flock, owned by Michael James, Neuadd-Blaenduhonw, Maesmynis, Powys. She is a daughter of Strathbogie Yamaha, out of a Meinspride Usain-sired dam and is in-lamb to Garngour Awesome. Forking out the cash for her was Messrs Dent, Bishop Auckland, County Durham.

Next best, at 2200gns, was a gimmer John Elliot’s Roxburgh flock, based at Roxburgh Mains, Kelso. Sired by Duhonw You’re the One, she is out of a ewe by Kimbolton Va Va Voom. Selling in-lamb to Cannlefaes Bright Spark, she was bought by Ken Hodge.

The hammer went down at 1900gns for a gimmer from Jack Arnott’s Haymount flock, from Kelso. A Milnbank Awesome daughter, she is out of a Kidston Tyson-sired ewe. Served by Usk Vale Crackerjack, and headed home with Messrs Douglas, Yarrow, Selkirk.

Next in the trade stakes, at 1800gns, was another from the Mershott pen. A gimmer sired by Midlock You're The One and out of a dam by Hightecs Unbeatable, she sold in-lamb to Canllefaes Bright Spark and was knocked down to Messrs Smith and Son, Alford, Aberdeenshire.