Averages improved among all sections at Harrison and Hetherington’s in-lamb Suffolk sale, where a top price of 2000gns was achieved.

The pre-sale reserve champion took that top price coming in the form of a March-born ewe lamb from Glynis and Jane Soulsby, Williamsgill, Temple Sowerby, Penrith. She is the result of the sire, Strathbogie Invictus, onto a home-bred ewe by Harpercroft Hamish. The final bidders were Messrs Robinson and Son Ltd, Limber, Grimsby, South Humberside.

The same home sold the third prized gimmer for 1400gns to Messrs Cockburn, Melrosegait, Galashiels. A daughter of Alloaks Jaguar, she is out of a ewe by Strathisla Stifler and sold in-lamb to Sharps Hawkeye.

The second prized ewe lamb made 1800gns for Pamela Lupton, Greenholme, Galphay, Ripon, North Yorkshire, when selling to Dumfriesshire breeder, Elaine Wilkie, Berryscaur, Boreland, Lockerbie. This January-born triplet is a daughter of Rhaeadr Rock ‘n’ Roll and bred from a Ballynacanon Crusade daughter.

Top priced gimmer at 1500gns came from James Cannon, Redbrae, Wigtown, Newton Stewart. Helen Goldie, Harpercroft, Dundonald, Kilmarnock, got for their money a Forkins Samson daughter out of a Limestone Legacy sired-ewe, and she is in-lamb to Pyeston King.

The same transaction was completed at 1400gns for the second prized gimmer, which is bred the same way.

The pre-sale champion came in the form of a 2021-born ewe from GI Richmond, Lodge Cottage, Langley Lane, Goosnargh, Preston, Lancashire. Sired by Pyeston Pumba, she is out of a home-bred ewe by Ballynacanon Back To The Future and sold in-lamb to Pyeston Real Deal. She was knocked down to Messrs Tully, Barnard Castle, Co Durham.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.

Averages: 13 aged ewes, £763.27 (+£122.77 for eight more); 40 gimmers, £770.44 (+£2.03 for 29 less); 21 empty ewe lambs, £667.50 (+£101.45 for 10 more).