Strong demand for pedigree Beltex sheep ensured a buoyant trade throughout at a joint flock sale at Carlisle, where prices peaked at 6500gns for a home-bred stock ram from Richard and Rachel Sharp’s Belvoir View entire flock sale from Top Farm, Grantham.

The sale, which included the dispersal of Andrew and Claire Wood’s Withy Trees flock from Whittingham, Preston, was topped by Belvoir View Diamond Flame, a three-year-old stock ram.

He is bred from Belvoir View Alexis, a Sinclair’s Range Rover-sired ewe that goes back to the original female line the flock was founded on, in 2007. The sire, Airyolland Banzai, by Ardstewart Super Mario, was also the sire of the 2000gns show tup Belvoir View Dusty that stood second at the Great Yorkshire in 2019 and male champion at the Three Counties Virtual Show staged earlier this year. Diamond Flame sold to CJ Roots, Kilnford Croft, Dumfries.

Belvoir View enjoyed a cracking trade throughout, with females selling to 6000gns with another three entries at 5000gns – all the same way bred.

Dearest was Belvoir View Double Delight, a three-year-old ET bred from the Wern Sycharth daughter, Corra Agnes, and sired by the Airyolland Galliano son, Belvoir View Apple Jack. Aberdeenshire breeder, Alan Miller, Miller Farms, Midmar, Inverurie, was the final bidder.

The dam, Corra Agnes ET, a six-year-old ewe that bred the 6800gns Belvoir View Cadillac Jack and several other high priced lambs, then made 5000gns selling to William and Carole Ingram and family Logie Durno, Pitcaple, Aberdeenshire. She is bred from the Beachy Perfection-sired ewe, Corra Rosabella.

Agnes was also the dam of the two 5000gns Belvoir View sales, along with others at 4500gns and 4400gns. The first to sell at 5000gns was the gimmer, Belvoir View Firebird ET, a red ticket holder at the Virtual Three Counties Show this year, selling to Derbyshire breeders, Messrs Belfield, Longnor, Buxton. She is by show tup, Belvoir View Diamond Flame.

Her full ET brother, Belvoir View Flexing Machine, a shearling ram which was reserve male at the Virtual Three Counties, made the same money when knocked down to Bures Farm Partners, Letton, Shipdam, Norfolk.

The exact same genetics were behind Belvoir View Floella ET, a gimmer that made 4500gns selling in a two-way split to Messrs Cormack, Jedburgh, and Mark Phillips, Springholm, Castle Douglas.

Selling at 4400gns was Belvoir View Glow ET, the first prize ewe lamb and reserve champion at the same Virtual Show, purchased by Messrs Pritchard, Rochester, Newcastle Upon Tyne. Her sire is Belvoir View Apple Jack ET.

The Withy Trees flock also sold well and to 6000gns twice and 4500gns twice. First to make 6000gns was Withy Trees Calamity Jane ET, a four-year-old and the result of a flush from the Glantre Norris daughter, Woodies Remember Me and sired by Broxty Boxer. She headed up to Aberdeenshire with Alan Miller.

Matching that top sale was Withy Trees Fie, Fih, Fo, Fum, a gimmer by Buckles Dark Dawn out of the Skiddaw View Boggle daughter, Heatheryhall Dorothy, purchased by Messrs Prince, Stonedge, Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

Brothers, William and David Moir, Cairness, Fraserburgh, went to 4500gns for Buckles Watercress ET, a February 2014-born ewe that was bought at the 2015 Premier sale for 5000gns. This former show ewe from the Cumberland and Great Yorkshire that has also bred several four-figure priced males and females, is bred from the imported ewe, Jaconde Du Chene, and sired by Broxty Supreme.

Her ET daughter, Withy Trees Ghostbuster, by Buckles Espresso, also made 4500gns selling to Messrs Gibbons, Tregoyd, Brecon.

OTHERLEADING prices

Withy Trees – Gimmers – 4200gns – Belvoir View Fertility, by Belvoir View Diamond Flame, to Messrs Ingram, Logie Durno. 3500gns – Withy Trees Flucie Floss, by Buckles Espresso, to Messrs Monk, Blackburn. 3000gns – Withy Trees Full of the Joys of Spring, by Airyolland Deuchars, to Messrs Martindale, Blackrod, Bolton.

Ewe lambs – 3200gns – Withy Trees Gazunda, by Buckles Espresso, to Messrs Harrison, Carnwath, Lanark.

Belvoir View – Gimmers – 4000gns – Belvoir View Flamingo Flame, by Belvoir View Diamond Flame, to Messrs Story, Longtown.

Ram lambs – 3200gns – Belvoir View Ghost, by Belvoir View Apple Jack, to Messrs Beckwith, Gargrave, Skipton.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.

averages: Withy Trees – 33 aged ewes, £1388.22; 46 gimmers, £1363.85; 57 ewe lambs, £755.26; 33 shearling rams, £952.95; 38 ram lambs, £794.96.

Belvoir View – Seven aged ewes, £2707.50; three gimmers, £4725.00; three ewe lambs, £2520.00; four shearling rams, £2625.00; eight ram lambs, £1273.13.