AT the annual Kirkby Stephen Auction Mart show and sale of Continental cross breeding rams, 253 sheep were on offer.
Topping the sale at £1,400 was the overall reserve champion, a Beltex cross shearling ram from Messrs Sowerby, Terrys Farm, Ormside, which was bought by Messrs Lee, Carkin Moor Farm, Richmond.
Renowned stockman William Lawson, Stubsgill Farm, Distington, ably carried out the judging and awarded the overall championship to a Beltex cross shearling from annual consigners Messrs Wearmouth, Parkside, Middleton-in-Teesdale, which went on to sell for £1,000 to Mr P Chester, Soulby.
The pre-sale show was sponsored by Peter Horn Mobile Sheep Dipping and the following awards were made:-
Pure Texel (aged or shearling ram): 1, Page Farm Partnership, Rookwith House; 2, GE Slack, Heather Bank; 3, Page Farm Partnership, Rookwith House.
Pure Beltex (aged or shearling ram): 1, G Sowerby, Terrys Farm; 2, P McCune, Farewell Grange; 3, D&D Aitken, Uppercleuch.
Continental cross (aged or shearling ram): 1, LC & D Wearmouth, Parkside; 2, LC & D Wearmouth, Parkside; 3, K Sowerby, Terrys Farm.
Champion: LC & D Wearmouth, Parkside Farm; reserve: G Sowerby, Terrys Farm.
As at most breeding sales this season, buyers were quality conscious with the better to top rams being in good demand and realising prices which reflected this. The overall sale average of £390.11 was up £19.70 on the year.
