Growing demand and confidence in the Texel as a pedigree and commercial sheep defied stagnant commercial trading conditions and saw prices soar to a near record breaking 200,000gns at the society's breed show and sale at Lanark.

Selling at 20,000gns shy of the 220,000gns record breaker, was the much anticipated Midlock Capaldi, from Karen and Allan Wight, son Ben and twins Katie and Andrew, Midlock, Crawford. A mid-March born son of Knock Bantastic, bred from a ewe by Mullan Amigo, this cracker was knocked down to Hugh and Alan Blackwood, Auldhouseburn , Muirkirk, and Charlie Boden, buying for the Sportsmans flock, at Stockport.

Out with this monumental bid – which came in the final 10 minutes of the sale – the event saw a further 21 five-figure sales which produced an overall average of £3385.46 for 342 ram lambs, which is down more than £100 on the year on last year's record average of £3417.04 for 325.

Second top was 65,000gns which was paid for the pre-sale champion from the Clark boys' Garngour flock from Lesmahagow. Garngour Craftsman, a Silvermere Baltic son bred from a Mossvale Winston daughter, was knocked down to the judge, Charlie Boden.

While those two tups were sold in the final half hour of the sale, an early calling within the first 30 minutes of the bidding saw Northern Ireland breeders, Brian and George Hawthorn, sell the third best at 48,000gns. This was Mullan Camikaze, a Deveronvale Aftershock-sired lamb bred from a Teiglum Younggun daughter. He sold in a four-way split to Gordon and David Gray, Ettrick; William Knox and sons, Graeme and Andrew, Mid Haddo; Robin and Caroline Orr, Halbeath; and Andrew Neilson, Brackenridge.

Other top sellers saw Will Davis, Usk Vale, sell Usk Vale Cheeky Charlie for 36,000gns to the Castlecairn, Procters and Knocked flocks; Danny Hair, Drumbreddan received 32,000gns for Drumbreddan Centre of Attention from Foxhill and Robert Evans sold Hope Valley C The Stars for 24,000gns to Usk Vale.

Two sold at 20,000gns, including Robert Bennett's Plasucha Cheeky Charlie which sold to Strathbogie, Milnbank and Hilltop; and Neil and Stuart Barclay, Harestone received the same money from Hartside and Strawfrank, for Harestone Central Bank.

For a full report and pictures see next week's edition of The Scottish Farmer.