Demand for Blackface sheep soared to new heights at Dingwall, where centre records were smashed on several occasions in both the male and female sections.

The event saw it's first five-figure sale when a shearling ram from Richard Thompson, shepherd at Clune and Corrybrough Estate, Tomatin and his partner and Becky Mussett, sold for £10,000 to Kenny and John Matheson, Milton Farm, Aberarder.

The couple, who moved up from Northumberland seven years ago, run 20 ewes from their base at Keepers Cottage, with all tracing back to Becky's late grand-father Herbert Flintoft's North of England flock

Sired by a £1600 Mountbenger son of a £16,000 Wanwoodhill, he is out of ewe by a £1000 Blackhouse bred from a North of England Blackface female.

Adding to the celebrations, Raymond Baynes, secured a record price for an aged ram, selling a home-bred three-shear ram from Blackford, Croy for £3000, also to Milton Farm Reserve champion at the pre-sale show, he is by a Blackford son of an Achdregnie sire. Blackford also sold the top priced two-shear ram at £1200.

The overall champion from Milton, made £1200, to Dava Farms, Wester Auchnagallan.

Females were also in the money, with a trio of gimmers from the Wights at Midlock, Crawford, selling for a centre record of £310 per head to AA MacDonald, 3 Kilvaxter.

The reduction sale from E Fraser and Co's Gorthleck flock also met a sound trade peaking at £165 for ewes and £140 for ewe lambs.

Section averages improved too with 380 ewe lambs levelling at £74.42 (+£17.96); 2387 ewes cashed in at £60.08 (+£1.08) and 470 gimmers at £137.85 (+£15.46).

Glentruim Farms led the store lambs and feeding sheep with Cheviots at £95 and £90, respectively.

averages: 193 rams, £646.07 (+£57.97)

OTHERLEADING prices

BF – Shearling rams – Abersky, £3000, £1,000; Clashnoir, £1600 (x3), £1400 (x2), £1200 (x3), £1000; Achdregnie, £1600, £1400; Harestone, £1200; Glenbow, £1200; Milton Farm, £1200; Livet, £1200; Midlock, £1000, Balchraggan, £1000.

Aged rams – Two shears – Milton Farm, £1000; Newton of Crathie, £500 (x2), £450. Three shears – Achdregnie, £700.

Ram lambs – South Bragar, £400; Harestone, £400.

Ewe lambs – Newton of Crathie, Ballater, £120, £80; Gorthleck Mains, £120, £90; Suisgill Estate, Helmsdale, £98; Croft na Garn, Boat of Garten, £95, £90; Tigh N’Ulaidh, Tomatin, £82, (x2).

Ewes– Gorthleck Mains, £160, £82, (x2), £80, (x3); Dalbuiack, Carrbridge, £125, £120; Glenrinnes Farms, Dufftown, £118, £82; Ardchronie, Ardgay, £98; Achnamoine, Watten, £90, £88; Tulloch, Dingwall, £80; West Bruiach, Kiltarlity, £80; Drynie, Dingwall, £80, (x2).

Gimmers – Midlock, £200; Gorthleck Mains, £195, £185, £180, £170, £162, £135; 20 South Brager, Isle of Brager, £190, £170; Glenbow, Wester Craiglands, £175, £142; Harestone, Insch, £168, £140; Keepers Cottage, Tomatin, £155; Inverinate Estate, £155, £142; 25 Portnalong, Carbost, £152; Mill of Towie Farm, Drummuir, £150, £135; 17B Habost, Ness, £140, £130; Tulloch, £132, £125; Woodlands, Daviot, £130, £122; Woodside of Culloden, Inverness, £128, £126, £125; Achnamoine, £120; Newton of Crathie, £115; Rurach Croft, Inverinate, £112.

Mule gimmers – Glentruim Farms, £150; Clune and Corrybrough Estate, £132; Abhainn Sith, Granton on Spey, £100. Tex X – Glentruim Farms, £140, £135; East Croft Roy, Newtonmore, £130. Suff X – East Croft Roy, £140.

FLOCK averages

Flock (No) Top (£) Average

Invernahyle, Appin (4) 550 512.50

Keepers Cottage,

Tomatin (3) 10,000 3733.33

Tulloch, Dingwall (4) 800 587.50

Harestone (6) 1200 591.66

Newton of Crathie,

Ballater (16) 600 400.00

Midlock (5) 1000 780.00

Wedderburn (4) 450 387.50

Ballindalloch (5) 900 610.00

Glenrinnes (5) 800 450.00

Braes of Ardeonaig (7) 350 285.71

Crackaig (9) 750 366.66

Clashnoir (14) 1600 1078.57

Achregnie (6) 1600 900.00

Livet (7) 1200 907.14

Dalbuiack (6) 800 533.33

Upper Croft Na Garn (6) 800 566.66

Tigh N’Ulaidh (5) 200 130.00

Beldhu (5) 700 580.00

Glenbow (3) 1200 1000.00

Balchraggan (16) 1000 587.50

Ardendrain (3) 200 183.33

Bomakelloch (7) 800 485.71

Aldenham Cottage (3) 400 186.66

Abersky (13) 3000 923.07

Milton Farm (10) 1200 750.00

Glebe of Disher (3) 600 566.66

Nunnerie (3) 400 383.33

Auctioneers: Dingwall and Highland Marts