Blackface sheep breeders selling at the first of the two-day sale at Lanark, enjoyed a cracking trade with top price of £60,000, coupled with a further 16 at five-figure sales.
Averages soared to what is believed to be a new high too, when the 238 shearling rams sold in Ring 1, levelled at £3156.09, up £110.71 on the year for 11 fewer.
Sale leader was the No 1 from the Campbell family's Glenrath flock from Peebles, brought out by Steven Renwick, which sold sold in a two-way split to Tommy Renwick and son Tom, Williamhope, Clovenfords and Alastair and David McArthur, Nunnerie, Elvanfoot. For their money they get a son of the £160,000 Elmscleugh lamb of which a share was bought here in 2018, out of a ewe by a £15,000 Dyke.
Second top price was £48,000 paid for Billy Renwick and son Andrew's pen leader from Blackhouse, Yarrow, which sold jointly to Glenrath and Malcolm Coubrough, Hartside, Lamington. He is by a £75,000 Glenrath and bred from a ewe by the Hulk, a £24,000 Allanfauld.
Lot No 13 proved anything but unlucky for Williamhope, when their best, bred from a home-bred son of a £40,000 Midlock, made £26,000 selling to Jimmy Wallace, Fingland, and the Ramsays from Milnmark, both Dalry.
Just behind, on £22,000, Willie Dunlop and sons Quintin and William, Elmscleugh, Dunbar, sold a shearling by a home-bred son of a £45,000 Midlock to neighbouring breeders, the Hamiltons from Aitkengall and Hartside, Lammermuir.
Matching that price was the pen leader from Hartside, Lamington, a son of a £20,000 Dyke, purchased by Burncastle Farming Co, Lauder, and John Marshall, Gosland, Broughton, Biggar.
Two shearlings also made £20,000. First was the pen leader from the Wight family's Midlock flock from Crawford, purchased by Williamhope, with the second being the No 1 from Sam, William and Scott McClymont, Tinnis, Yarrow, purchased by Matthew Hamilton, South Cobbinshaw; Cadogan Estates, Lynemore, Amulree and Stephen Duncan, Livet, Glenlivet.
Top price in Ring 2 was £5200 from Dougie Fleming, Nisbet, Coulter, purchased by Hazel Brown, Birthwood.
For full report and pictures see next week's Scottish Farmer
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