Dalesbred rams sold to £7000 on two occasions at the annual show and sale at Bentham Auction Mart, on Monday.

First at this price was the pre-sale champion from Richard Coates, Selber, Westhouse. His best, which was also breed champion at the Great Yorkshire Show, was knocked down to J Bradley, Litton.

Matching that price was a ram from Gary and Neil Capstick of Fell End, Ingleton, purchased by K Lister and Sons, Kettlewell.

Just behind, on £6500, was a shearling from Messrs Tiplady of West Burton, which sold to Messrs Taylor of Brayshaw, Rathmell.

Three shearlings sold for £5000 with the first from Paul Bowdin, Danehill, followed by another from Messrs Coates, Rainscar and an entry from Messrs Haygarth, Aigden.

Shearling rams levelled at £1038 up £322 on the year, while aged rams peaked at £2000 from Stuart Guy of Bishopdale, £1800 from Messrs Verity of Middlesmoor and £1600 from John Atkinson of Bleasdale. Aged tups averaged £446 up £132 on the year.

Female averages were also up on the year with one and two-crop ewes rising some £82 and £85 respectively and three-crops ewes up £8.

Champion pen of ewes from Bernard and Tom Gill, Yarlsber, Ingleton, made £190 to Stuart Fairfax, Derbyshire. The Gills were also awarded the best run of females which saw 105 average £144.

Gary, Kate and Neil Capstick, Fell End, Ingleton, sold pens at £305 and £300 x2 to average £275 for 50 three-crop ewes. The award for the best pair of ewes, from Stuart Guy, Bishopdale, saw his entries make £410 to Caroline Brown, Kirkby Malham.

Second prize went to a pairing from John Bradley, Giggleswick which made £460, with a pair of gimmers from the same home, topping the trade at £560.

Top end gimmers sold from £200-£330, with others £130-£155.

Ewe lambs peaked at £175 from Stuart Guy.