Dutch Texel cross ewe lambs bred from Suffolk cross dams, from Edward Dean, Kirkhouse, led the way at Hexham and Northern Marts’ sale of breeding sheep at Hexham, selling for the top price of £198 per head.

Mule ewe lambs peaked at £170 for the champion pen from the Browell family, Quarry House, with the reserve from the Ridleys at Shitlington Hall, selling at £165.

North of England-type Blackface ewe lambs sold to £157 and £156, from Wanwood Hill, Alston, to average £131 for 99 sold.

LEADING prices

Ewe lambs – Mule – £170 Quarry House and Carry House; £165 Shitlington Hall and The Steel; £150 Edlingham Newtown; £148 The Steel and Great Chesters; £145 The Steel; £142 Carry House and Penpeugh; £140 Quarry House; £138 Shitlington Hall; £135 Quarry House, Brownsleazes and Carry House; £132 Quarry House, Whiteside Haltwhistle, Shitlington Hall and The Steel; £130 Quarry House, Whiteside Haltwhistle, Shitlington Hall, Carry House and Hole Farm; £128 Whiteside Haltwhistle, Shitlington Hall and Edges Green; £126 Whiteside Haltwhistle; £125 Shitlington Hall, Stell Green and Great Chesters; £124 Whiteside Haltwhistle; £122 Pitland Hills, Brownsleazes, Edges Green, Townshields, Penpeugh and Stell Green; £120 Quarry House, Hotbank, Townshields, Penpeugh, Yatesfield and Great Chesters; £118 Whiteside Haltwhistle, Broomhope and Edges Green; £115 Penpeugh and Stell Green; £112 Pitland Hills and Broomhope; £110 Burnbank and Hole Farm; £105 Stell Green; £102 Burnbank; £100 Broomhope, Hotbank and Great Chesters. Tex – £152 Nilston Rigg. Tex X – £150 Middle Dukesfield; £140 (x2), £138, £137 (x2) Quarry House; £132 Nilston Rigg; £131 Low Ardley; £125 Nilston Rigg; £124 Middle Dukesfield; £120 Stone Hall. Dutch Tex X – £198, £144, £132 Kirkhouse. Belt X – £152, £130, £128 Newton. BF – £157, £156 Wanwood Hill; £152 Prospect House; £145 Sewingshields; £135, £132 Close A Burn; £130 Greenleighton and Close A Burn; £122 Sewingshields; £120 Close A Burn; £110 The Lampert; £106 Prospect House; £105 Sewingshields; £100 Stell Green; £98 Wanwood Hill; £96 Prospect House and Wanwood Hill; £92 Sewingshields; £90 Greenleighton; £86 The Lampert and Wanwood Hill; £82 The Lampert.