Enthusiasm for the double-muscled Beltex sheep breed continued at Skipton when a new centre record for a shearling ram of 9000gns was paid at the Northern Club sale and averages improved by £240 on the year.

That top price was backed up by a strong commercial demand throughout which saw no fewer than 37 at 1000gns or more and averages up in all sections.

Topping the trade was Kingledores Elvis, from Richard Wood and his father John’s flock from near Biggar, who also sold the highest priced ram lamb, Kingledores Frederick ET, at 4400gns.

A full brother to the 3200gns Kingledores Engleburt that shared the top price here last year, Elvis is by Arkle DJ which also sired the 11,000gns Kingledores Edmund and 7000gns Kingledores Endeavour sold at Carlisle Premier sale. His dam is the Broxty Boxer-sired Withy Trees Champagne which in turn was out of a 4200gns Kingledores ewe.

Buying back some of their own genetics, Elvis sold to Andrew and Claire Wood of the Withy Trees flock near Whittingham, Preston, with young Rafe Cartman who has around 15 ewes in his newly established Atherton flock, also taking a share.

Kingledores Frederick ET, was also bred out of the Withy Trees Champagne ewe, but this time by the 10,000gns Ryder DIY. He caught the eye of Jo Higgs of the Great Argoed flock, Churchstoke, who will share him with Scott Sinclair’s Unigarth flock on Orkney.

Aberdeenshire’s Stuart Wood, was in the money too, when he sold Woodies Electric Boy to P Broughton, Fadmoor, York, for 2800gns. Full of home-bred and Belgian genetics, Electric Boy is by Woodies Adonis whose full brother sold for 11,000gns, while his dam is in imported ewe.

Libby McAllister and her brother William, from Kells, Ballymena, received 2600gns in a joint bid from Stuart Currie, Beautry flock, Rathmell, and Becki Braithwaite, Sovereign flock, for Artnagullion Elmo ET. This shearling ram is bred from the flock’s consistent brood ewe, the Woodies Snoop Dog-sired Artnagullion Willa, while his sire is Ardstewart Worzel Gumidge.

Hitting 2400gns was Mike Davis’ Rathbone Electric from Eldroth, Austwick. Bred from Woodies Talia, Electric is by Y-Bedol A-Team and sold to AL Thompson, Foulridge, Colne.

Northern Ireland breeder Matthew Burleigh, sold the ram lamb, Matt’s Focalist for 2400gns. He is by the 11,000gns Kingledores Edmund, and goes out to work in Owen Wells’ Barleyclose flock from Monyash, Bakewell. His dam is Matt’s Diaphanous.

Females sold to 2000gns for a gimmer from Brian Hall, Ainstable Hall. Ainstable Ecc lestiastic ET is a daughter of the 15,000gns Black Jack Casanova, out of Clary Beauty and sold to George Hall, Pinmoor, Prescot.

Auctioneers: CCM Auctions.

averages: 141 shearling rams, £875 (+£239 for the same number); 17 ram lambs, £988 (+£339 for 13 fewer); 73 gimmers, £665 (+£185 for 68 fewer); 13 ewe lambs, £404 (+£84 for the same number).