In fact, the fixture, one of the main sales in the country for the breed, proved one of the best on record and while there were no show classes a catalogued entry of 349 head from more than 30 vendors was deemed a great turnout, with sheep with carcass, stature and type proving in high demand.

The 9,000gns top price and a new centre record price for a shearling ram sold at Skipton was achieved by Richard Wood, of the renowned Scottish-based Kingledores flock in Tweedsmuir, Biggar, South Lanarkshire. 

It fell Kingledores Elvis, a February, 2019, son of the 3,000gns Arkle DJ, who has sired sons at 7,000gns and 11,000gns, out of a Kingledores Wendoline-sired dam, the Broxty Boxer daughter, Withy Trees Champagne, from the well-known Lancashire flock. 

And the price leader returned there when claimed by the flock’s owners, Andrew and Claire Wood in Whittingham, Preston, who will share the ram with young Rafe Cartman, who has around 15 ewes in his newly established Atherton flock north of Skipton.

Mr Wood was eclipsing by some considerable margin the 3,200gns joint top price he achieved at the 2019 Skipton highlight with a ram lamb out of the same Withy Trees dam, which he purchased as a ewe lamb for 2,100gns, as she was out of a 4,200gns gimmer lamb previously sold by Mr Wood to Withy Trees.

For good measure, he also claimed second top price of 4,400gns with his pen-leading and section-topping ram lamb, Kingledores Frederick. A product of the Rathbone Beckham son, Ryder DIY, again out of the same Withy Trees Champagne ewe as Elvis, the February-born now makes it way up to the Orkney Isles in a two-way split between Scott Sinclair and Jo Higgs.

As is usual at the fixture, cross-border raiders were out in force, with Aberdeenshire’s Stuart Wood – he runs the Woodies flock in Skene - following his namesake’s lead when sparking keen interest and hitting 2,800gns with his March, 2019, shearling ram Woodies Electric Boy, by the home-bred Woodies Adonis, whose full brother made 11,000gns. The buyer was P Broughton, of Bransdale in the North York Moors National Park. The Woodies flock also sold a gimmer shearling at 1,400gns.

Again travelling over from Northern Ireland with a cracking run of sheep were Elizabeth McAllister, who runs the Artnagullion pedigree flock with her brother William at Kells. The duo saw two shearling rams well sold, the pen leader at 2,600gns being the March, 2019, Ardstewart Worzel Gummidge son, Artnagullion Elmo, out of a Woodies Snoop Dog-sired ewe. It fell locally to Stuart and Gail Currie’s Beautry flock in Rathmell.

The siblings also made 2,200gns with another March-born shearling, Artnagullion Extraordinary, by Belvoir View Cadillac Jack, out of another home-bred dam by The Bare Boy. This, too, found a local buyer in Bordley’s Kevin Huck.

Another familiar face from Northern Ireland, Matt Burleigh, who runs the Matt’s flock in Shanra, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh – he was also the other joint top price 3,200gns achiever last year – had a good day with a run of four-figure prices,

Doing best at 2,400gns was a February-born ram lamb, Matt’s Focalist, by Kingledores Edmund, another well-bred son of Arkle DJ, out of a home-bred ewe by Hackney Corker. It found a new home in the Derbyshire Peak District with MJ Wells & Son, of Monyash. Mr Burleigh also sold a brace of shearling rams at 2,000gns, plus another 1,100gns ram lamb.

Local North Craven vendor Mike Davis, of the Rathbone flock in Eldroth, also topped at 2,400gns with a March, 2019, shearling ram, Rathbone Ernie, by Belvoir View Derminator, out of a home-bred dam by Y Bedol A-Team. This remained in the area when bought locally by Anthony and Emma Thompson, of Fouldridge.

Top price among the females was the 2,000gns paid for a shearling ewe from Brian Hall’s Ainstable flock based in the village of the same name in Cumbria. The March-born Black Jack Casanova daughter, Ainstable Ecclesiastic, out of a Clary Archie-sired dam, found a new home in Lancashire with G Hall, of Prescott.

Also catching the eye with a nice run of females was Jeff Aiken, who runs the Procters Farm flock at Wray, near Lancaster. Three shearlings gimmers made four-figure prices, selling to a top of 1,800gns for Procters Eternal Flame, a January, 2029, daughter of Tiree Carter. It fell to a purchaser north of the border, Annan’s A Jackson. Procters Farm also sold two ewe lambs, January born to Clary Desperado, for a section-topping 500gns, plus another at 450gns.

Aged rams peaked at 600gns for one from M Crowe’s Bullamoor flock near Northallerton. His March, 2018, Bullamoor Duke, by Balbrydie Tipper, joined JC Capell, of Eccup, Leeds.

Ram lambs averaged £988, a major increase on last year’s £648, with shearling rams also taking a solid rise at £874, up from £635, as did shearling gimmers at £664 (2019 £480) and gimmer lambs £403 (£312). Only the aged ram average was down on the year at £577 (£656), though only six were entered.