The Rathbone pedigree flock of Michael Davis and his daughter Becky, based at Ravenshaw Farm, Eldroth, Austwick, saw their first prize ewe lamb and her mother, the first prize ewe, progress to take the top honours.

The March-born supreme champion ewe lamb, Rathbone Tulisa, by Drumchapel Scooby, himself a son of the legendary Kingledores Rascal, was joined on the victor’s podium by her dam, Rathbone Rotura, a March, 2011-born daughter of Dooley Nissan, who has proved a driving force on the flock since being acquired by the Davis family four years ago from his Derbyshire breeder David Thornley in Hartshorne.

He has sired tups to 2,000gns and shearling gimmers to 1,800gns.

Herself scanned in lamb for twins to Drumchapel Scooby, fifth in class at this year’s Great Yorkshire show and champion at Kilnsey Show, the reserve champion ewe went on to land top price of 620gns (£651) when returning to North Craven to join 15-year-old Settle College pupil Jack Edmondson.

The up-and-coming young farmer keeps a number of sheep at his grandparents, Frank and Joan Joel’s farm in Westhouse, Ingleton. Jack is a member of Burton-in-Lonsdale Young Farmers Club and hopes to become a land agent and auctioneer.

The reserve champion’s title-winning daughter obviously caught the eye of show judge Ian Lancaster, of Wiswell, Clitheroe, as he snapped up his chosen champion for 480gns (£504).

Michael and Becky Davis also stepped forward with the second prize ewe, an April, 2007, daughter of Westerdale Jeff, which sold for 400gns to David Newhouse in Malham, along with the fourth prize shearling ewe, again by Dooley Nissan out of Rathbone Rotura and in-lamb to Drumchapel Scooby, which achieved the day’s second top price of 500gns on joining F Bristow & Son in Murton, York.

Husband and wife Bernard and Frances Staveley, who run the Tewett Hall pedigree flock on Newby Moor, Clapham, also figured prominently among the prizes, the pick of which was their first prize shearling ewe, the February-born Tewett Hall Sunbeam.

Scotsman M Haigh, of Newton Stewart in Dumfries and Galloway, took a real shine to the red rosette winner, paying 420gns for the embryo transplant daughter of the imported sire, Wonderboy, out of Tewett Hall Newla, and scanned due a single lamb by Tewitt Hall Tornado.

The Staveleys also stepped forward with the second prize shearling ewe, a home-bred daughter of Tewett Hall Rebel, sold for 300gns to the Silton flock of James Dennis, based at Over Silton, near Thirsk, along with the third and fifth prize in-lamb ewes, which sold for 320gns and 250gns respectively to Anthony Thompson, of Foulridge, and Edward Fort, of Silsden.

Cumbrian breeder HC Jewitt, who runs the pedigree flock of the same name in Romaldkirk, Barnard Castle, picked up three prize wins. The leading performer on price at 450gns was his third prize ewe, the April, 2009, Jewitt Nicky, by Corra Llewellyn, out of Aviemore Jelly Bean, and scanned in-lamb to the 2011 Chelford sale champion, Glantre Stanley. She became another acquisition by David Newhouse.

Mr Jewitt also presented the third and fifth prize shearling ewes, again both in-lamb to Glantre Stanley, knocked down for 300gns and 350gns respectively to Chris Alty, of Carnforth, and Mark Crabtree, of Kettlesing.

The second prize ewe lamb from the Clarefield flock of John Critchley in Hutton Preston, a January-born daughter of Airyolland Pete, achieved 400gns when joining Anne Story, of the Borderesk flock in Hobbiesburn, Longtown, Carlisle.

The 35 head of pedigree Beltex saw shearling gimmers average £390 per head, some way below last year’s average of £602, though both aged ewe and gimmer lamb averages showed an improvement on 2012 at, respectively, £383 (£342) and £277 (£197). Sponsors were JG Animal Health and Windle Beech Winthrop.

Also incorporated in the sale was a dispersal of the aged portion of commercial Beltex-Texel ewes from Frank Joel, of Westhouse, many of which had bred fatstock champions at local shows and created keen interest at the ringside.

Prices peaked at 380gns each for a pair of 1-crop ewes purchased by Ellis Bros, of Addingham, with an overall selling average of £253 per head recorded.