A shearling ram from the Bland family, Mirkholme, attracted the top price of 12,500gns at the annual show and sale of Herdwick sheep at Cockermouth, when selling to P Naylor, Bowderdale.

Pre-sale show judges, Hannah Dickinson, Brockstones and Isacc Benson, Meadow Bank Farm, awarded the championship to a shearling from Anthony Hartley, Turner Hall and the reserve honours to a two-shear tup from S Hardisty and Son, How Hall.

The entry of 8673 females peaked at £360 for the champion pen of ewes from P and J Bland, Knott Houses and a pen of gimmers from A Hartley, Turner Hall.

Champion pen of ewes from P and J Bland, Knott Houses, made £360 per headChampion pen of ewes from P and J Bland, Knott Houses, made £360 per head

Ewes averages £90.00 per head (+£10 on the year) with gimmers and ewe lambs cashing in at £122.00 and £61.21 respectively

The evening sale of continental rams saw 120 rams sell to a top of £820 for a Texel shearling ram from KG Holliday, Strudda Bank.

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Leading Prices

Herdwick draft ewes – £360, £310, £300, £260, £148, £120, £116, £110, £106, £102, £102, £100 Knott Houses; £280, £130, £110, £110, £108, £104, £100 East House; £250 Glencoyne; £220 Racy Ghyll; £190, £110, £102, £100 Yew Tree; £180, £165, £115, £100 Gatesgarth; £110 Kirkhouse; £108, £108, £108 Clea Hall; £105, £102 High Grounds; £100 Seatoller; £100 Dale End; £100 Little Cross; £100 Fold Head.

Herdwick twinters – £360, £360, £270, £200, £170, £170, £160 Turner Hall; £145, £100 The Oaks; £142, £110 Dale End; £128, £112, £112 High Ground; £126 Howside; £116, £116, £112 High Biggar Bank; £115 Spanham; £112 High Intack; £112, £106 Hollins; £112 Far End, £100 How Side; £110 Penny Hill; £108, £105 Skelsceugh; £105 Racy Ghyll; £102 Seatoller; £102, £100 The Mount.

Herdwick ewe lambs – £110, £70 Spanham; £100; £82, £80, £80 West Head; £98, £70 Ponsonby Old Hall; £94, £92, £91, £91, £89 Birk Howe; £87 Penny Hill; £85 Gatesgarth; £82 Moorly Lea; £80, £79 Howside; £79 Thirlspot; £78 Birk Howe; £76 High Ladore; £74, £74, £71, £70 Anns Cottage; £72 Yew Tree.

Other fell breed ewes – Chev – £160, £130, £122 Lanefoot; £158 Nook; £145, £110 Croft House; £125 Swallow Heights; £103, £82 High Ladore; £102 Stybeck; £100, £85 Wasdale Head. Tex X Herd – £135, £124 Stybeck; £130, £100 Burnthwaite. Tex X – £132 Skelsceugh; £130 Muncaster Head. Mule – £130 Skelsceugh. BF – £100 Thornholme. Swale X – £88, £88 Thornholme. Badger – £98, £85, £80 Stockdale; £82 Gill Brow.

Herdwick rams – 12,500gns Mirkholme; 11,500gns, 4200gns, 2400gns Elva Plain; 11,200gns, 4500gns, 4400gns, 4000gns, 4000gns, 4000gns, 2400gns Turner Hall; 7800gns, 3000gns The Gallion; 5200gns, 2500gns, Gatesgarth; 5200gns, 2100gns How Hall; 4700gns, 3500gns Knott Houses; 3100gns Grove; 3000gns Hall Dunnerdale; 2800gns, 2600gns, 2400gns, 2000gns Racy Ghyll; 2200gns The Gables; 2100gns Longrow; 2100gns Cockley Beck; 2000gns Scalderskew.

Continental rams – Shearlings – Tex – £820, £650, £580, £580, £520, £500, £500 Strudda Bank; £800, £720, £700, £680, £650, £620, £600, £580, £550 Askrigg Hall; £780, £620, £500, £500 Erintalla; £700, £600 Rowan Garth; £600, £580, £580, £580, £550, £550 Summerhill; £580 High Low Hall. Belt X Char – £600, £480 Swallow Heights; £380, £350 High Bewaldeth. Suff – £550, £400 Swallow Heights. Char – £520 Waters Farm. Chev – £520 Brow Top; £500 Stonecroft. Blue Tex – £520 High Bewaldeth. Belt – £350 Rietfontein.