Judge David Moir, Home Farm, Fraserburgh, had his work cut out for him at Hexham and Northern Marts opening sale of Mule ewe lambs bred from Blackface ewes, which was thought to be the strongest offering in recent history.

He found his champion winners in a pen of 25 from Martyn Archer, Carry House, with second prize presented to a pen from J Hunter and Sons, The Steel who also took the award for the best run of 100 lambs. Third prize went to a pen from WM and CM Ridley, Shitlington Hall.

Mr Moir also bought his choice of champion winners at £235 and two pens from the Hunters, The Steel at £220, who sold 109 lambs to average £208.34.

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The third prize pen from Shitlington Hall also sold for £220 to last year's buyer, Jamie Piree, Alexandria.

With an increased number of buyers present and new and returning customers, ewe lamb averages improved by £29 per head on the year.

A mixed show of gimmers was topped at £255 by a pen of Texel cross Mules from TR Heslop and Son, Demesne.

Pure Texel gimmers from Messrs Sym, East Town, reached £250 and Scotch Mules from first time consignor, P Bell, West Morrison, Earlston, made £235.

Leading Flock Averages

Farm (No) Average (£)

The Steel (109) 208.34

Brownsleazes (75) 206.66

Shitlington Hall (109) 204.58

Quarry House (165) 193.63

Carry House (100) 191.25

Leading Prices

Ewe lambs – Mules –£235 Carry House; £220 Shitlington Hall and The Steel (x2); £215 Brownsleazes; £212 Quarry House; £210 Brownsleazes; £205 Quarry House; £200 Shitlington Hall (x3), The Steel, Quarry House, Pitland Hills and Penpeugh; £198 Penpeugh; £195 The Steel, Quarry House and Brownsleazes; £192 Pitland Hills; £190 Carry House, Yatesfield and Quarry House; £185 Yatesfield, Whiteside and Edges Green.

Tex and cont X – £170 (x2), £163 Cornhills; £160 (x2), £155 Low Ardley; £152, £144 Cornhills. Tex birth notified – £310, £260, £180 (x3) Cornhills

Suff X – £186, £170, £166 Quarry House; £155 Haggate (x2). Suff X Chev Mule – £178, £164 West Mill Hills. DS – £180, £167, £162 Hackford.

Bf – £180 Greenleighton; £168 Cowden Burn; £165 Greenleighton; £162 Greenleighton and Edges Green; £148, £140 Embley; £136 Edges Green; £130 Sewingshields; £128 Edges Green; £125 Sewingshields (x2).

Gimmers – Tex – £250, £248 East Town. Tex X – £255, £230 Demesne. SMule – £235, £225 West Morrison. ChevMule – £230 Claywalls.