Trade for the 2,878 lambs on parade was also in line with expectations when producing an overall selling average of £80.25 per head, or 196.04p/kg, with the best lambs dearer on the week and selling to a by-weight high of 277.8p/kg, or £100 per head, for the champion pen of five 36kg Beltex-cross from father and son Richard and Mark Ireland, of Heys Farm, Whalley.

All their lambs were by the Kingledores Rascal son, Drumchapel Tiny Tempa, bred by Scotland’s A&J Alston in Chapelton of Menmuir, Brechin. The Irelands acquired the Beltex ram from Aberdeenshire breeder Stuart Wood. The title winners sold to Hellifield’s Paul Watson. The same vendors also made 262p/kg, or £105 per head, with a further pen.

The second prize pen of 36kg Texel-cross from east coast vendor Mike Allen, of Staithes, made £103 per head, or 250p/kg, when falling to Andrew Atkinson, of Felliscliffe, buying on behalf of one of his regular customers, wholesaler Hartshead Meats in Mossley, Ashton-under-Lyne.

Mr Atkinson also paid £92 per head, or 204p/kg, for the first prize pen of Suffolk-cross lambs from James Earnshaw, of Flasby. These were for West Scottish Lamb.

The third prize 41kg Continental pen from Tim Robinson, of Longridge, made £90 each, or 219.5p/kg, when joining regular buyers Vivers Scotlamb in Annan. Show classes were judged for the first time by Liam Broster, of Broster’s Farm Shop in Haigh House Hill, Huddersfield.

Fox Farms in Clitheroe achieved 261p/kg with a Beltex pen, while John Turner, of Draughton, led the Texel prices at £107 per head, with Andrew Taylor, of Broughton, next best at £105. Mr Turner also had the top price £96 per head Charollais pen.

Tony Kiernan, of Longridge, achieved £104, £103 and £101 per head with both Beltex and Texel pens, while Geoff and Margaret Booth, of Lothersdale, also sold Texel lambs to £101 each.

The cast sheep turnout of 769 head featured a large entry of cull ewes, with leaner types much better to sell and the overall average showing a rise of £10 per head on the week when hitting £61.48. Top price of £107.50 per head fell to a Texel pen from Leyburn’s Hannah Brown.

Cast rams averaged £64.54 per head, topping at £99.50 for a Texel entry from Brian and Lillian Hawksworth, of Sheffield.