Frank Johnstone of the Ashes flock tops traditionals

Both ram lambs are sons of Parton M31, a tup bought here two years ago as an aged ram for £3000.

Sale leader is bred from a home-bred dam that goes back to Burndale K4 and now travels up to Keith with Messrs Anderson of the Hardaugh flock, Sonnenalm, Dufftown.

Messrs Henderson of the North Burndale flock, Allendale, Hexham, went to £9000 – this one is out of a gimmer that goes back to Whinnyhall N4.

Another ram lamb bred the same way as the sale leader then realised £3800 when selling to Messrs Proctor and Sons, Forgue, Huntly.

The Ashes pen was also awarded the new trophy, the John Dykes memorial award, for the best pen of traditional ram lambs.

The Ingrams of Logie Durno, Pitcaple, Inverurie, gave £7500 for a ram lamb from Derek Henderson, of the Burndale flock, Westwood, Wylam. This April-born lamb is backed by home-bred genetics being sired by Burndale S21 and out of a home-bred ewe by the £5200 Carlisle purchase, Steet J4.

The same home sold another for £3200 to Messrs Purvis, Halterburn, Kelso. This one is the first crop from last year’s Kelso Ram Sales purchase, Leadburnlea R8, and out of a Grassknop ewe. Next in the trade stakes at £5000 was a Woodcroft ram lamb from Edward Peart, Bishop Auckland. Sired by Towdypotts P1, which was bought here for £4500, he is out of a home-bred ewe that goes back to Towdypotts M4. Scott and Claire Thomason of the Piel View flock, Walney Island, were the final bidders.

Alan McClymont and sons Sam and Oli, Kirkstead, Yarrow, sold their second prize ram lamb for £4000 to Rodney Blackhall, Raemoir, Banchory. This is the first crop of sons from last year’s £2200 Carlisle purchase, Blythbank S1, which sired the 20,000gns lamb at Builth this year. He is out of a home-bred ewe that goes back to Middle Dukesfield K1.

The judge Hazel Brown, Leadburnlea, Toxside, Gorebridge, purchased her choice of champion at £3000 in the form of a ram lamb from Aled Jones, Craig Yr Orsedd flock, Hethersgill, Carlisle. Sired by Elian R3, a tup bought two years ago at Builth Wells for £3600, he is out of a home-bred dam that goes back to Roseden G33.

At the same price tag was a ram lamb from Scott and Claire Thomason of the Piel View flock. A son of Hope R1, he is bred from a Cernyw N1 daughter and was knocked down to Messrs Harries, Llandeilo, Dyfed.

Kate Smith of the Low Arkland flock, Castle Douglas, sold the lead priced shearling ram at £2400 to Messrs Jenkinson, Clifton, Penrith. A son of Lowes Fell P5, he is out of a Lowes Fell L10 daughter.

The reserve overall went on to top the female trade at £2500 for Billy Common, Crossdykes, Lockerbie. This was a one-crop ewe by Parton P51 and out of a home-bred ewe by Street J7. The pre-sale judge Lisa Fleming, Teviot Head, Hawick, took this girl home.

Another from the Ashes pen made £9000

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.

Flock averages

Flock (No.) Top (£) Avg (£)

Ram lambs

Ashes (10) 12,0003115.00

Woodcroft (5) 5000 2310.00

Kirkstead (4) 4000 2000.00

Wallholme (4) 2000 1587.50

Auchry (6) 2400 1483.33

Piel View (7) 3000 1325.71

Grassknop (4) 3200 1212.50

Blainslie (3) 2200 1200.00

Whinnyhall (7) 2200 1178.57

North Burndale (7) 1400 1100.00

Parton (6) 2200 933.33

Low Arkland (3) 950 750.00

Middle Dukesfield (6) 1100 725.00

Myfyrian Isaf (5) 1800 1080.00

Low Espley (5) 1300 940.00

West End (5) 1600 930.00

Waterskye (7) 1000 907.14

West Bolton (6) 1200 886.67

North Burndale (14) 1800 846.43

Mosser Mains (12) 1200 739.17

Parton (20) 2200 730.00

Middle Dukesfield (6) 1100 725.00

Street (7) 1300 720.00

Nant-y-Glyd (5) 900 644.00

Medwyn (10) 1100 638.00

Bollihope (6) 1100 621.67

Drinkstone (8) 1000 582.50

Kingennie (7) 1100 581.43

Ormathwaite (13) 900 564.62

Inglefell (3) 800 550.00

Church Farm (4) 650 550.00

Kildalloig (4) 600 530.00

Hardhaugh (3) 550 516.67

Laverockbank (9) 600 502.22

Hayberries (3) 550 500.00

Towdypotts (8) 1000 478.75

Belgrave (4) 520 430.00

Hillside (4) 450 400.00

Moneyhill (3) 400 373.33

The Close (3) 380 333.33

Mayland (6) 300 296.67

Shearlings

Low Arkland (6) 2400 1333.33

Braegarrie (5) 2200 1250

Myfyrian (5) 1800 1080.00

Low Espley (5) 1300 940.00

West End (5) 1600 930.00

Waterskye (7) 1000 907.14

West Bolton (6) 1200 886.67

Mosser Mains (12) 1200 739.17

Mossyard (7) 900 721.43

Fferm Tudno (6) 850 720.00

Hexhamshire (5) 720 674.00

Old Parks (5) 900 646.00

Kingennie (3) 780 566.67

Cocklaw (3) 650 510.00

averages:

nine aged rams, £1244.44 (+452.84 for three more sold); 93 shearling rams, £854.20 (+£141.04 for two fewer); 197 ram lambs, £964.42 (+£249.10 for 21 less); 59 females, £487.12 (-£319.48 for 36 less).