Lanarkshire flockmaster, Jimmy Bell, made his presence felt at North West Auctions’ multi-breed Diamond Delights of female sheep selling the top priced lot at 4200gns.

Sale leader was a ewe hogg from the Cottage Bluefaced Leicester flock from Auchengray, that stood champion at the pre-sale show judged by Lewis and Ridley Browell, Quarry House.

Bred from a home-bred ewe by the Smearsett G1 and sired by Midlock P8, she found a new home with James Taylor of the Lunesdale flock, Bradleyfield, Kendal.

On the debit side, Mr Bell gave 2500gns for West Biggin R025, a ewe hogg from WM Reed and Sons, Bishop Auckland. A daughter of Spurrigg P2, she is bred from a Highberries H2 sired-dam.

Ewe hoggs proved popular throughout with West Calder breeder, Finlay Robertson, The Beeches, forking out 3000gns for such an entry from W and A Booth’s Smearsett flock from Feizor, Lancs. She is out of a Barnshangan dam bred by Andrew McQuistin, and sired by the Smearsett D15.

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The reserve champion, another ewe hogg this time from Martyn Archer’s Carry House flock, Hexham, matched that price when selling to WC Porter and Son, Riddings, Reeth, Richmond. Bred from a show gimmer, she is by Carry House Ronaldo.

Just behind, on 2700gns, Micklemoss R012, a ewe hogg by K020 Nunscleugh from Messrs Hodgson, High Borrans, Windermere sold to TA and J Dixon, Yoad Pot, Selside. She goes back to the Smearsett G11 on the dam side

Centre records were achieved amongst the Rough Fells when an in-lamb gimmer made 3000gns. Selling at this price was the pre-sale champion selected by judge, Stephen Dickinson, High Woodend, Tebay, who went on to buy the gimmer from TLB and J Knowles, High Borrowbridge. She is a daughter of Brownber Dambuster and sold due to Birkhaw Emerald.

Another gimmer from MP and A Capstick, Newbiggin on Lune, by Catholes Action, and in lamb to Longgills Fashion, made 1000gns when knocked down to E Clark, 15 Glebe Close, Appleby-in-Westmorland.

Top price amongst the Swaledales was 1200gns paid for the reserve champion, a ewe from Patrick and Kirsty Sowerby, Kirkby Stephen. She is by a Bull and Cave ram and sold due with twins to an Acton ram, to J Capstick, Fellside, Bootle.

Tebay breeders, A and M Skidmore, took 1100gns for a gimmer by High Birkwith Endeavour, carrying a single lamb. The buyer was J Nattrass, Shield Hill, Top Garrigill, Alston.

The champion Swale, a gimmer from Robbie Hallam, High Birkwith, by a Ghyll House ram, in lamb with a single to a Hundith tup, made 1000gns to Lee Metcalfe, Rig end Cottage, Buttersett, Hawes.

Other individual sheep sold to £1600 for a Dutch Spotted gimmer carrying twins from D Dixon, Grayrigg, who sold others with singles for £1200. Both were purchased by J Hall, Ashbourne.

A smaller show of Cheviots saw gimmers sell to 550gns from Keith Stones and family, Richmond.

Averages: Bluefaced Leicesters – Ewe hoggs, £1228; in-lamb gimmers, £828; in-lamb ewes, £937