A show and sale of draft Swaledale ewes, followed by the annual sale of Bluefaced Leicester rams at Lazonby, met a strong demand.

Topping the trade at £1300 was the Bluefaced Leicester champion, a ram lamb from D Alderson, while the reserve, a gimmer from W and WI Watson, Sanders Close, made £800.

The champion rosette among the Swales was awarded to a pen of ewes from GA and DE Thompson, Howburn, which went on to make £210. The blue and white sash presented to a pen of gimmers that sold for £150 from PE Staley, Broadmea.

Ewe lambs reached £100 for WD and B Thompson, East Unthank, whilst rams sold to £250 for an aged ram from Messrs Martin, Heslywells,

LEADING prices

Swaledales – Ewes – £210, £190, £150, £145, £125 How Burn; £170, £140, £130 (x2), £122 Hill; £145, £135 Quarry; £130, £95 The Bog; £102 Farney Shields; £95 Hesleywell; £92 Hedwynds; £85 Softley.

Correct below ewes – £75 Farney Shields; £72 Hesleywell; £65 Aitchison Bank; £62 Softley; £62 Haresceugh Castle; £58 Bow Hall; £52 Townfoot.

Gimmers – £150, £110, £95 Broadmea; £145, £125, £115 (x2), £110 Taylor Burn; £140, £125 Townfoot; £100 Mount Pleasant; £80 Farney Shields.

Ewe lambs – £100, £95, £90, £80 East Unthank; £88, £80, £70, £65, £62 Dyke Nook.

Rams – £350 Hesleywell,

BFL – Rams – £1500, £850 (x2), £800 (x2), £600, £450, £400 (x2) Sanders Close; £1400, £1000, £700, £650 The Old Forge; £1300, £800 Newgate; £800, £450 Hesleywell; £600, £400 Manesty; £550 Green; £450 Haresceugh Castle; £450 Allenshields; £400 Farewall Grange; £380 Morley Hill; £380 Dorryfield.

Females – £300, £200 (x2), £150 Manesty; £160 Highside.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington