Increased demand for the 2746 Mule gimmers bred from Northumberland Blackface ewes and Swaledales, ensured a buoyant demand at the first sale of the season at Hexham, where producers were reportedly returning to the 'original and the best' composite breeding ewe compared to other alternatives.

Judge J Foulkes, Marchynys, presented the championship honours to a pen bred from Blackface ewes from RS Walton, Coatyards. They were brought out by daughters Susan Scott and Gillian Robson, and later sold for the top price of £300 to the judge.

The same home won the reserve honours with a pen of maiden gimmers out of Swaledale ewes that went on to make £275.

With more lamb producers noticeably coming back to the Mule breed to use as the nucleus to their flock and an increased purchaser presence, gimmer averages improved by £26.41 for an extra 518 sold compared to the same sale in 2023. Mule gimmers averaged £244.81 with a 100% clearance.

The first prize pen of 10 Texel cross gimmers from Alan and Peter Forster, Lowes Fell bred from Cheviot Mule females, sold for £300.

The second sale of Mule ewe lambs saw an increased entry of 2020 head and an overall average of £156.12 – up £18 on the year for an extra 500 more sold against the 2023 sale

Judge Robert Bradbury, Black Heddon, Lowick, awarded the championship to a pen of 10 out of Blackface ewes from H and L Morshead, Harsondale, which later sold for £210 to M Scott, Houxty.

The first prize pen of Cheviot Mule ewe lambs from D Carr and Son, Highwood, made£182.00 selling to Messrs Scott, Corneyside. Top price was £200 paid for two pens from FT Walton, Flotterton.

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Leading Prices

Gimmers – Mule ex-BF – £300 Coatyards; £295 Low Barton and Croft Cottage; £290 South Rennington, Tenter House and Croft Cottage; £288 Tenter House and Edlingham Newtown; £285 Tenter House (x2) and Edlingham Newtown; £282 Tenter House (x2) and Nilston Rigg; £280 South Rennington, Low Barton and Tenter House. Ex-Swale – £275 Coatyards; £268 Newbiggin (x2); £265 Newbiggin, Light Birks and Ouston. Tex X – £300 Lowes Fell; £290 Stotsfold and Lowes Fell; £280 Elilaw, Thornton Tower and South Road; £275 Stotsfold; £270 Stotsfold (x2) and South Road; £265 Stotsfold; £260 Newbiggin, South Road and Demesne (x2); £255 Lowes Fell (x2) Thornton Tower and South Road (x2); £250 Tenter House, Newbiggin (x2) and Demesne (x2). Pure Tex – £290 Demesne; £265, £260 Townhead, £250 Larch Hill. Suff X – £290 Elilaw; £285, £280 Coatyards; £260 Flotterton; £250 Middle White Hill and Flotterton (x2); £248, £246, £245 Flotterton; £225 Middle White Hill; £224 Low Wood House. CHM – £268, £255 (x2), £240 Flotterton; £232, £230 West Mill Hills.

Ewes – Tex X – 2-crop – £185 Mill View; £140 The Farmhouse; 4-crop – £150, £140 The Farmhouse. Suff X – 1-crop – £165 Brockielaw. Mule – 2-crop – £172, £170 Brockielaw; 3-crop – £170 Brockielaw (x2), East Butsfield; £168 East Butsfield; £159 Brockielaw; 4-crop – £150 East Butsfield (x2); 5-crops – £140 East Butsfield; five-year-old – £188, £160 Brownchesters.

Ewe lambs – Mule – £210 Harsondale, Shitlington Hall; £205 Mouldyhills (x2); £200 Harsondale and Shitlington Hall; £192 Quarry House; £188 Whiteside and Carrick; £180 Chirdon and Pitland Hills; £175 Hole Farm, Harsondale, Quarry House (x2) and Brownsleazes. CHM – £200 Flotterton (x2); £182, £175 Highwood. Tex X – £148 High Eshells; £145 Bolton Village. Belt X – £150 Low Espley (x2). Tex – £142 Brockielaw (x2). Suff X – £150 Brockielaw.

Leading Flock Averages

Gimmers (ex BF)

Farm (No) Average (£)

Croft Cottage (29) 287.00

Coatyards (32) 280.00

Nilston Rigg (24) 278.00

Tenter House (118) 275.00

Edlingham Newtown (132) 274.00

Prendwick Farms (80) 265.00

South Rennington (228) 260.00

Gimmers (ex Swale)

Broomhills (128) 267.00

Light Birks (37) 257.00

Stotsfold (70) 250.85

Newbiggin (193) 246.00

Mule ewe lambs

Harsondale (72) 178.00

Shitlington Hall (53) 175.00

Pitland Hills (50) 175.00

Quarry House (56) 172.00

Mouldyhills (102) 170.00