Crossing-type Bluefaced Leicesters met a bumper trade at breed sale at Kirkby Stephen, last weekend, where ram lambs from the West Biggin flock peaked at £7000 on two occasions to average just shy of £1150 for an almost 90% clearance.

The Reed's West Biggin flock from Lands Farm, West Gate, first received this money for West Biggin N1, a son of an H2 Highberries, which sold in a four-way split to D Lawson, Masongill; Messrs Ayrton, Abbeystead; Messrs Ayrton, Over Wyresdale and Messrs Barker, Capernwray.

West Biggin N7, by the same sire, also made £7000 selling jointly to Messrs Smith, Tindale Fell and Messrs Collingwood, Eastgate.

Neil Marston's Highberries flock from Cockermouth, was also in the money, taking £6000 for Highberries N034, a Hundith Z004-sired lamb purchased by Messrs Lodge, West Side House, Settle.

Just behind, on £5000, Scottish breeders, Jimmy and Wendy Bell of the Cottage flock from Highfield, Auchengray, bought an N28 Hewgill lamb from Messrs Lord, West Dowgill, Kirkby Stephen. He is by a Riddings L007.

And, at £4000, Messrs Brown, Asby Hall, Great Asby, sold a ram lamb by the Smearsett K1 to Messrs Bulman, Northallerton.

LEADING prices

Ram lambs – £7000 (x2), £3500, £2000 Lands Farm; £6000, £2200, £2000 (x2), £1800, £1500 Millstone Moor; £5000, £2800, £1800, £1600 West Dowgill; £4000, £2500 (x2) Asby Hall; £3800 Bradley Field Farm; £3800 Glenrath; £3800, £3200 Tarn House; £3200 Greenhow; £2600 Redgate; £2400 Millstone Moor (Nelson); £2200 Otterburn Lodge Farm; £1900, £1500 Duckenshaw Farm; £1800 Low Carry House; £1800 Greenriggs; £1800 Asby Grange; £1800 Buckles Farm; £1600 Marriforth.

Aged rams – £3000 Millstone Moor; £5500 Bradley Field Farm; £450 Greenriggs.

Shearling rams – £4000, £3000 School Cottage; £1600 (x2), £1200 Midlock; £1200, £1000 Bradley Field Farm; £1200, £1100 Greenriggs; £800 Marriforth; £800 East Lowfields; £800 High Crossgill Farm.

LEADING averages

Farm (No) Average (£)

Lands Farm (6) 3750.00

West Dougill (4) 2800.00

Tarn House (3) 2633.33

Asby Hall (5) 2150.00

Glenrath (3) 1900.00

School Cottage (6) 1866.67

Redgate (3) 1633.33

Millstone Moor (23) 1485.71

Duckenshaw (4) 1350.00

Midlock (6) 1260.00

Buckles (4) 1075.00

Bradley Field (7) 1064.29

Asby Grange (7) 1050.00

Averages: 168 ram lambs, £1144.12; six aged rams, £1062.50; 30 shearling rams, £900.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.