The first of the breeding sheep sales at Hawes Auction Mart met a buoyant trade with gimmers selling to £325.

The sale of 518 gimmers and 32 ewes was topped by the first prize pen of continental-bred gimmers from JR and LA Capstick, Killington, who not only sold the second prize pen at £275, but also the majority of the other top sellers.

The same home also topped the Mule gimmers with the first and second prize pens making £300 and £275 respectively.

By the end of the day, Mule gimmers averaged £234 and continental gimmers cashed in at £221.

Breeding ewes peaked at £245 for one-crop Cheviot Mules, £240 for Texel ewes and £210 for Mule ewes all from JR and LA Capstick.

Leading Prices

Gimmers – Continental – JR and LA Capstick, £325, £275, £230, £205; T Sharp, £260; TJ Jackson, £225 x2; Mount Pleasant Farm, £208, £205, £200, £198, £190, £178; G and G Schofield, £195. Mules – JR and LA Capstick, £300, £275, £270, £265 x3, £260, £255, £250 x2, £235, £225; WA Towler, £240, £235; S Yates, £238, £235 x2, £232, £230; Beckhill, £235 x2, £230 x2, £225, £220, £215, £210 x3, £210 x2; T Sharp, £215, £210; G and G Schofield, £210 x3; BK Williamson, £195, £185.

Ewes – Cont – JR and LA Capstick, £240, £180. Chev X – JR and LA Capstick, £245. Mules – JR and LA Capstick, £210.