Top price at the annual show and sale of North Country Cheviot rams at Caithness Livestock Centre, Quoybrae, was £8000 paid for the pre-sale champion from Orkney-based breeder, Alan Smith.

Judges Roderick Runciman, Allanshaws, Galashiels, and Andrew Morris, Logie Farm Newburgh, Fife, found their supreme in the shearling ram, Upper Cornquoy Exclusive. He is sired by Knockcocher Catapult, a tup bought from Gemma McCornick for £1100 in partnership with Bardnaclavan at Lockerbie two years ago. The dam, a home-bred ewe, is sired by Durran Ace. Catapult, headed home with James Bruce, Hagg Farm, Hagg House, Scarborough.

Mr Smith, who runs 140 North Country Cheviot ewes at Upper Cornquoy, Holm, also sold the second top priced ram at £3800 to Messrs Mackay, South Balkeith, Tain. This was a shearling son of Durran Casino, out of a ewe by Westerton Tamnavoulin.

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Female champion from JS Baillie, Sebay sold for £1300Female champion from JS Baillie, Sebay sold for £1300 The reserve champion Bardnaclavan Eurostar, a shearling from DN Campbell and Sons, Bardnaclavan, Bridge of Westfield, brought out by Jonny Campbell, made £1500, selling to JI Forbes, Boultach, Latheron. His pedigree features Soutra Cannonball, a £2200 purchase at Lockerbie in 2022, and a home-bred ewe.

The champion female, a gimmer from JS Baillie, Sebay Farm, Tankerness, made £1300, again selling to James Bruce, Hagg Farm.

The show and sale of pens of 10 North Country Cheviot gimmers, judged by Stephen Sutherland, Sibmister, Castletown, was also topped by entries from Upper Cornquoy, which went on to sell for £255 to Fiona Anderson, Overton, Clyth.

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Jonny Campbell, Bardnaclavan, brought out the reserve champion which made £1500Jonny Campbell, Bardnaclavan, brought out the reserve champion which made £1500 Reserve was the first prize pen of Texels from W and SJ McCarthy, Myrelandhorn, Bower, which made £250 to J and JMB Sutherland and Son, Latheronwheel Mains, Latheron.

The sale of 1150 gimmers saw 314 park-type Cheviots average £291.40 reaching a high of £1000 from Newbigging, Harray; 449 hill-type Cheviots at £168.60 having sold to £260 from Brackside, Reay; Cheviot Mules (70) averaged £165.46 (+£47.97), selling to £250 from Strichen Mains; Mules (186) levelled at £184.22 (-£0.06) peaking at £230 from Strichen Mains; and 142 continental-type gimmers averaged £205.95, reaching a top of £250 from Myrelandhorn.

Auctioneers: Aberdeen and Northern Marts.