Huntly

Most averages improved on the year at United Auctions' sale of 3894 breeding sheep where the first prize pen of Mule gimmers from the Smith family, Towiemore, topped the trade at £225.

Judge Ryan Shand, Woodside, Aberchirder saw his choice of first prize Cheviot Mules lead the ewe lambs at £210. They were consigned by Messrs Bradley, Tillyminate.

Scotch Mule gimmers produced the lead average with 1140 sold at £185.86 (-£1.63 on the year); 359 Cheviot Mules levelled at £181.72 (+£1.84) and 527 Texel cross gimmers cashed in at £173.12 (+£1.63).

Ewe lamb averages were led by 809 Cheviot Mules at £139.28 (+£8.56) while the 807 Scotch Mules levelled at £138.87 (+£3.40 on year)

Leading Awards

Gimmers – Scotch Mule – 1, Messrs Smith, Towiemore, £225; 2, Messrs Ferguson, Backlands, £200; 3, Messrs Leslie, Red Hill, £215. Chev Mule – Messrs Wisely, South Law, £190; 2, Messrs Wink, Dykeneuk; 3, Towiemore, £200.

Ewe lambs – Scotch Mule – 1, Messrs Stewart, Bomakelloch, £172; 2, Messrs Hunter, Wedderburn, £158; 3, Messrs Kellas, Raws, £168. Chev Mule – 1, Tillyminate, £210; 2, Messrs Forbes, Dalrachie, £194; 3, Messrs Barclay, Harestone, £158.

Leading Prices

Gimmers – Scotch Mule – £225, £202 Towiemore; £215 Redhill, Mosstown; £202 Logie, Gamrie; £200 Easter Backlands, Elgin. Chev/Mule – £200 Easter Backlands, Elgin; £200 Towiemore; £190 Dykeneuk, Clatt; £190 Sheiling, Daviot; £185 Rivestone, Kinnoir. Tex X – £210 URAS, Dunnottar; £205 Ballindalloch HF, Ballindalloch; £205 14 Balloch Road, Keith; £202 Rivestone, Kinnoir; £200 Woodside Croft, Inverness. Suff X –£214 – Sordale Suffolks.

Ewe lambs – Scotch Mule – £172, £156 Bomakelloch; £168, £158 Raws, Dufftown; £156 Hillhead of Mornish, Glenlivet; £156 Wedderburn; £150 Ruthven, Tomintoul; £148 Honeysuckle, Grange. Chev/Mule – £210, £180, Tillyminate; £194, £152, Dalrachie; £162 Boghead, Dufftown; £158 Harestone; £158 Wester Bleaton, Blairgowrie. Tex – £185 14 Balloch Road.

Cockermouth

Texel rams attracted the top prices at a two-day show and sale of breeding sheep at Mitchell's Auction Marts' Cockermouth centre, selling to £1000 twice for a ram lamb from Arkleby House and a shearling from Terrace.

On the first day of breeding rams, a 76% clearance was achieved an an average of £492.16.

The second day's sale of breeding females saw the 150th year anniversary championship awarded to the first prize pen of North of England Mule gimmers from the Mattinson Family of Cragg farm, Eaglesfield, which later sold for £220 to Messrs Etches.

The reserve, a pen of two-shear Mules from Michael Mawson, Hole Beck, made £190.

Leading Prices

Shearling rams – Tex – £1000, £750 Terrace; £950, £880 Summer Hill; £900, £800, £700 Parkhouse; £750, £700 Crosshow; £700 Arkleby House. Tex X Belt – £900, £700, £650, £600, £550, £550, £550 Wood Farm. Dut Texel – £850, £700 Aspatria Hall. Three-quarter Tex X Belt – £800 (3), £750 Tercrosset. Belt X Tex – £750, £600, £550, £550 (3) Corney Hall; £750, £650 Thackwood. Suff – £750, £550 Swallow Heights. Belt – £650 Townend. Char – £550 Thackwood.

Ram lambs – Tex – £1000, £600 Arkleby House. Suff – £700, £500 Burgh Head; £500 The Croft. Char – £600 Swallow Heights.

Ewes – Suff – £185, £150, Swallow Heights; £148, Rook Farm; £145, Woodhall Brow. Belt – £175, Flimby Hall; £170, Kirkland House. Tex – £210, £208, Cragg Farm; £180, Nr Branthwaite Edge; £178, £170, £163, £160, £158, £152, £150, Woodhall Brow; £170, Sherriff. Mule – £195, £175 (2), £170 (4), £160, £150 (2), Shatton Lodge; £190, Hole Beck; £185, Cragg Farm; £172, £170, £165, Peter House; £165, £160, Clappers; £165, Hole Beck; £160, Rook Farm; £150 (2), Cathow.

Gimmers – Belt – £230 Beech House. Tex – £230, £225, £200, £188 Ghyll House; £205 (2), £200, £190 Shatton Lodge; £185, £180 (3) Moss Kennels. Suff – £230, £225, £220 (2) Westray; £210 Swallow Heights; £200 Horrace Farm; £188, £185, £180 Horrace Farm. Mule – £220, £210, £205, £200, £195, £190 Cragg Farm; £210 (2), £200, £190, £185 Westray; £195 (4), £188 Milton Mains; £195 Hundith House; £191, £188, £185 Broom Hill; £185 Uldale Hall; £185 Holebeck. Char – £195 Swallow Heights. Scotch Hb – £192 Westray; £165 Woodhall Brow.

Thainstone

Top end continental gimmers met an buoyant demand at Aberdeen and Northern Marts' sale of 3202 breeding sheep on Tuesday, while best Mule gimmers were back on last year's record levels.

Overall, 2192 Scotch Mule gimmers averaged £183.06 (-£14.57 on the year) having sold to £202 from Stonieley, Alvah while 193 Cheviot Mules sold to £215 for a pen from Mains of Leask, Slains, to average £187.22 (+£7.90).

Pure Texel gimmers from Inchbruich, Cornhill, topped the section of 22 head at £360 to level at £234.09 (+£2.84), with Texel crosses (302) cashing in at £188.14 (+£8.63) having sold to £260 from Auchtygall, Peterhead.

Suffolk cross gimmers and Half-breds sold to £170 from Finnlarg, Bograxie and £215 from Tillyboy, Echt, to average £160 and £192.27, respectively.

Amongst the ewe lambs, 254 Scotch Mules sold to £155 from Scollays Cross, Strachan, to level at £135.82 (+£6.78), with 10 Cheviot Mules selling to £115 from 23 Bogbeth Rise, Kemnay and 11 Suffolk crosses to £120 from Kinaldie, Logie Coldstone.

The sale of Lleyns saw 94 gimmers average £168.11 (-£3.47) selling to £192 from Blackpots, Auchnagatt, with eight rams peaking at 580gns from Arwick, Evie, to level at £379.99.

Leading Prices

Gimmers – Scotch Mule – Towiemore, Keith £200; Bogiebrae, Rhynie £200, £198; Grange Farm, Kinneff £198; Whitelums, Gartly £195. Chev Mul – Sunnybrae Lodge, Blackhills £198; 23 Bogbeth Rise £195; Mains of Leask, Slains £190; Towiemore £190. Tex X – Auchtygall, Peterhead £260 (X2); Bogside, King Edward £200; Little Tack, Auchnagatt £190. Tex – Inchbruich Farm £330, £320; 2 Ballochview, Grange £235. Hb- Wardhead, Strichen £190. Suff X – Finnlarg Farm £150.

Ewe lambs – Mule – Newton of Hassiewells, Rothienorman £150.

Lleyns – Gimmers – Teuchitfauld, Maud £185; Blackpots £175, £170.

Rams – Blackpots 450gns, 400gns; Arwick 400gns; Teuchitfauld 400gns.