Perthshire breeder, Robert Cockburn enjoyed the best of the Texel gimmer trade at Lanark, staged the evening before the Scottish National Ram sale, selling the lead priced lot at 5800gns.

His sole entry from the Knap flock at Hill of Errol, Perth, is bred from the same ewe – a daughter of Charben Valentine – that produced the 6000gns Knap gimmer sold at Worcester last year, being sired by Auldhouseburn Billy The Kid. The buyer was Eamonn Vaughan, buying for the Partridge Nest flock, Staffordshire.

Second top on an evening which saw an 83% clearance rate, was 5000gns paid for a Blackstown gimmer from Northern Ireland breeders, J Wilson and Wilson Moses, Crumlin. Another bred from a noted dam line, she is out of an Eglur Viscount daughter that bred the 2018 NI gimmer of the year and sired by Auldhouseburn Black Magic. She sold to Charlie Boden of the Sportsmans flock, Macclesfield, Stockport.

The same buyer also paid 4200gns for pen leader of the Procters Farm, Slaidburn, Lancs, a Fordafourie Balvenie daughter out of a dam by Glenside Whiskey Galore.

Susan Campbell and Cameron Jackson, who own the Damside flock at Lochgoilhead, went to 3800gns for an entry from Rob Bennett’s Plasucha flock from Wales. This Donrho Aristocrat daughter, is out of an Auldhouseburn-bred ewe by Glenside Willie Winkie.

At 2700gns, Carl Henry Bellis sold a gimmer from his Cosyn flock, from Holywell, Fintshire, to Adam and Jessica Neachell, buying for their Cromwell flock from Staffs. The breeding behind this transaction includes Lower Reiss Blackjack onto a dam by Milnbank Van Wilder.

Averages: 54 gimmers, £1305.69 (-£207.38 for 24 fewer sold).

Auctioneers: Lawrie and Symington.