Young breeders made their presence felt at the National Suffolk show and sale at Shrewsbury, selling several of the top priced lots including the day's best at 16,000gns.

Sale leader was January-born ET lamb from young Aberdeenshire-based, Finn Christie's Maidenstone flock from Inverurie, purchased by Chris Holmes, Worcester and Holly Bowdler, Shropshire, buying for their Rookery and Tombridge flocks respectively.

Their purchase, which is the result of a flush from a Birness ewe by Limestone Legacy, is by Crewelands Kingpin. Mr Christie's second lamb sold for 1900gns.

Second top price at the sale which saw an 82% clearance amongst the ram lambs and increased averages in all sections, was 12,000gns paid for another from Aberdeenshire in the shape of a Strathbogie entry from Jim Innes, Dunscroft, Huntly.

Jim Innes Strathbogie lamb sold for 12,000gns

Jim Innes' Strathbogie lamb sold for 12,000gns

His lamb, brought out by shepherd Michael Leggat, is by the 26,000gns Forkins McCoy, while the dam, which is a full sister to the 24,000gns Strathbogie Carot, is by Strathbogie A Kind of Magic. Northern Ireland breeders, Dennis Taylor and Leslie Liggett of the Ballynacannon and Carony flocks, were the final bidders on this entry.

Strathbogie enjoyed the best of the day's trading, selling seven lambs to average £3914.

Lilia Hutchison received 7000gns for her Howgillfoot lamb

Lilia Hutchison received 7000gns for her Howgillfoot lamb

Young Lilia Hutchinson's Howgillfoot flock from Kirkby Stephen, was another in the money, selling her pen leader for 7000gns to James Alexander, buying for his Jalex flock from Co Antrim, Northern Ireland. Her lamb, is the result of a flush from a Lakeview ewe bought privately from Gary Beacom by Lakeview Lyphardby. The sire is Howgillfoot Sniper, a 5000gns lamb sold last year at Lanark, by Limestone Limited Edition.

Best from Birness was this lamb at 6000gns

Best from Birness was this lamb at 6000gns

The Stuart family's Birness flock from Ellon, also had a cracking day, selling six lambs to average £3220, backed up by a lead price of 6000gns for their pen leader by Forkins Firecracker. Bred from a ewe by Limestone Legacy, he sold down to Devon with Mrs MJ Cornish of the Mardle flock.

On the other side of the coin, Birness and Stewart Lathangie, Pyeston, Glenrothes, teamed up to buy the reserve champion from Tom and Aimee Mogford, Tiverton, Devon. He is by Mullaghboy Goliath and bred from a ewe by Stockton Last Chance.

Another four lambs sold for 5000gns to include the pre-sale champion from young Dafydd Jones' Frongoy flock from Pennant Llanon, Aberystwyth. This Strathbogie Rock On Tommy-sired lamb out of a ewe by Ballynacannon Black Diamond was purchased by William Medforth buying for his Caernafon-based Penrhyn flock.

First time consignor, Jed Sharp of the Worcs-based Hawshill flock sold two lambs late in the day at 5000gns, with his pen of three lambs all by the Birness Murray son, Frongoy Firenze, averaging £4410.

First to make 5000gns was the pen leader, bred from a ewe by Forkins Tan, which was purchased by Pamela Lupton, buying for her Kexbeck flock in Yorkshire.

The second, which was an ET brother to the first, was knocked down to Stewart Craft, buying for the Lakeview flock from Fife.

The Williamsgill flock of G and FJ Soulsby, Temple Sowerby, Penrith, also went to 5000gns for the first lamb from Northamptonshire-based MJR and JA Pinny’s Alloaks flock. This was a son of Redbrae Lynx, out of a ewe by Burnview Sniper.

Top priced female at 6000gns was Paul Delves Bridgeview gimmer

Top priced female at 6000gns was Paul Delves' Bridgeview gimmer

Top priced female at 6000gns was Paul Delves Bridgeview gimmer from Churchstoke, Powys, which stood reserve female at the pre-sale show. She is by Frongoy Firenze, bred from a Forkins ewe by Forkins Black Gold and sold to Jed Sharp.

The female champion, a ewe lamb by Harpercroft Bullion, from JA Pinny’s Alloaks flock realised 2400gns to the Hiddleston family, buying for their Irongray flock from Dumfriesshire.

Averages: 133 ram lambs, £1620 (+£528 for 29 more sold in 2020 and +£390 for five more in 2019); three shearling rams, £945; 13 gimmers, £1138 (+£623 for two more sold in 2019); seven ewe lambs, £1050 (+£526 for six fewer sold).

Auctioneers: Shrewsbury Livestock Market