Increased demand for Hampshire Down females at the Pedigree Sheep Fair at Carlisle, peaked at 2800gns for a gimmer from Adrian Rundal’s Treworthal flock, Cornwall.

Reserve female at the pre-sale show, she is a daughter of Treworthal Fire Storm and changed hands served to Whitby Dracula, a ram that has bred sons to 4500gns at Shrewsbury. The buyers were Messrs Middleditch, Sudbury, Suffolk.

The same purchasers also bought the first prize ewe lamb at 2500gns from Treworthal. Female champion at the Royal Highland, this December-born entry is by Firestorm but out of a home-bred ewe by Lecropt Challenger.

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The pre-sale champion made 2700gns selling to the judge, Harry Elsden, Welwyn, Herefordshire. This was a December 2021-born ewe from Jennifer Borsey and Martin Sivill’s Glenrafon flock, Plas Coch Farm, Denbighshire. Female champion at the Royal Welsh in 2023, she is sired by Ballycreelly Shamrock, out of a home-bred and sold due to Eppleby Lucky Dip.

Graham and Judith Galbraith’s Graylen flock, High Lorrimer, sold to 2000gns for a 2021-born ewe by Thornfalcon Odyssey that stood second in her class. She sold served to Whitby Rebel, to Messrs Dixon, Carnforth.

Graylen also received 1600gns for their second prize gimmer, a daughter of Rennisons T Rex, out of a home-bred ewe. She changed hands carrying a single lamb to Graylen Renegade to Messrs Hadwin, Broughton in Furness, Cumbria.

Also making the grade when selling for 2000gns was the third prize ewe lamb from Louis Stainthorpe’s Whitby flock, Mortar Pit, purchased by Messrs Muir and Son, Whitby. She is sired by Treworthal Poldark and out of a Thorbeck ewe.

The male champion topped the section when selling for 2500gns to Messrs Gorman, Tow Law, Co Durham. Westland Imperial, bred by HJW Knight and Son, but consigned by Stephen Short, Highcliffe, Halifax, is an Ashwater Maestro son out of a Westland ewe by Eastfortune Domino Lad.

Averages: 22 in-lamb gimmers, £932.59 (+£131.27 for two more); three ewes, £1995 (+£1470 for two fewer); 24 ewe lambs, £639.18; seven spring-born ewe lambs, £405; four ram lambs, £433.12.