Sheep from the Haydon House Partnership's Haydon flock from Taunton, Somerset, produced the majority of lead priced lots, including the sale leader at 3500gns, at a Bleu Du Maine Society show and sale at Carlisle.

Living up to his name to attract that top bid was Haydon VIP, a ram lamb by Perdi Singy Boy, out of the Hillview Marshall-sired Haydon Princess. He sold to Sally Shone, buying for her Maximum flock from Shocklach, Malpas, Cheshire.

The same home also sold the second prize ram lamb for 2000gns to Andrew Wylie, Balbrydie, Kinnordy, Kirriemuir. Another by Singy Boy, he is bred from a Langley ewe by Maunby Butch.

The reserve male champion from new breeder, Kenny O'Connor, Carnwath, Lanark, sold next at 3400gns to R Pilkington, buying for his Aintree flock from Shordley Hall, Hope, Wrexham. His best, Skye Terminator, which was reserve champion at the Royal Highland Showcase in June is by Maximum Obama, and bred from his sole female, Calla One Way, by Calla Napoleon.

Mr O'Connor also took 1400gns from Yorkshire-based Messrs Dowson, Driffield, for the shearling ram, Greenside Tyson, bred by Laine Daff. The breeding behind this transaction includes Tighnahinch Massey, onto the Calla Jumping Jack daughter, Greenside Karen.

 

Sally Shones champion, Maximum Vin Diesel sold for 1500gns

Sally Shone's champion, Maximum Vin Diesel sold for 1500gns

 

The male champion and supreme overall also sold up to Scotland at 1500gns with Andrew Wainwright, Todhall, Cupar. This was Sally Shone's tup lamb, Maximum Vin Diesel, a triplet-born son of Maximum Tommy Tucker, bred from the Perdi-sired ewe, Maximum Pancake.

Next at 1100gns, Andrew Wyllie, sold his second prize shearling, Balbrydie Tyson Baw, a Perdi Rockstar son from Balbrydie, to Messrs Smyth and Ostridge, Maybole, Ayrshire

The Haydon flock also produced the top two highest priced females at 2500gns and 2000gns – gimmers by Maunby Butch both of which were purchased by Messrs Lee, Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire.

Dearest was Haydon Truffles, the second prize gimmer, bred from the Rumwell Mace daughter, Rumwell Orla. She is a full sister to last year's lead priced ram, Haydon Tommy.

Selling for 2000gns was Haydon Tilly, the first prize gimmer and reserve female champion, bred from an Artnagullion ewe by Inveresk Masterpiece.

The same buyers also bought the top two highest priced ewe lambs again from Haydon. Selling at 1600gns was Haydon Valley, another by Singy Boy, this time bred from the Maximum Orinoco daughter, Haydon Surprise. And, at 1250gns was Haydon Violet, another by Singy Boy, out of Rumwell Orla.

The lead priced Millennium Bleu female was another to sell to Messrs Lee at 800gns. This was A Wright and Son's Brothertoft Tatiana, a gimmer by a home-bred sire and out of a Langley female, from Fieldview, Brothertoft, Boston. She was first in her class at the pre-sale show.

Rams sold to 1100gns twice – for R Pilkington's shearling ram Aintree Toredor, by Powerhouse Armani and Paul Farmer's ram lamb, from Moorlands, Ashover, Derbyshire, by Cree Action Man. The buyers were Messrs Ewart, Bassenthwaite, Keswick and Sally Shone, respectively.

The Derwent flock disperal staged on behalf of M and R Harper, Dearham, Marport, peaked at 900gns for Derwent Tawny, a gimmer by Haydon Strong Bow, out of Derwent Pippa. The buyers were Emerald Bleu Du Maines, Dyce, Aberdeenshire.

Averages: Bleu Du Maine – 25 gimmers, £711.06 (-£328.44 for 20 more); 17 ewe lambs, £639.26 (+£27.40 for six more); 18 shearling rams, £801.50 (+£194.12 for five more); 22 ram lambs, £696.34 (+£86.81 for two more). Millennium Bleus – 32 gimmers, £440.01 -£72.19 for 17 more); six ewe lambs, £371.00 (+£38.50 for three more); 15 shearling rams, £661.50 (-£29.29 for seven fewer).

Derwent flock dispersal – 14 head, £687.75.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington