Next best on price at 750gns was the reserve champion shearling ram, Lochar Deposit, part of the Orchard Lleyn flock consignment from Scottish breeders, the Goldie family, of Townfoot, Mouswald, Dumfries. Sired by Lochar Clansman, out of a home-bred ewe, he was purchased by Mike Kinnes, of Driffield, a regular buyer at the fixture.

Another shearling ram from the same home and by the same sire was Lochar Digit, who sold for 700gns to G Hopkinson, of Preston. 

Local breeders, the Fort family, of Brighton House Farm, Steeton, were bidding to land the Skipton title for the fourth year in succession. While it was not to be, brother and sister, Terry and Beverley Fort, were again to the fore when selling their third prize ram, Brightonhouse Destiny, for 700gns. He returned to South Craven when joining Silsden’s H Metcalfe.

The first prize shearling ram and supreme champion was presented by Welshman Will Williams, of WJ&DJ Williams, based at Nefyn, Pwhlleli. Tacho Drygionus, sired by a ram bred in the Lake District by the Geldard family, sold for 500gns to Miss H Dean, of Appleton Roebuck, York.

The Williams family also stepped up with the first prize pen of five ewe lambs, which went on to head the section’s selling prices at £125 each when finding a new home north of the border with John Kingan, of Dumfries. 

Ewe lambs also saw a ‘plucky’ trade, helped by sellers of the shearling ewes returning to the ringside to purchase replacements to run round for next year. With the majority of lambs presented being running lambs, they were selling for £75 to £95 per head.

Back with the frontrunners, Farmstock Genetics, of Over Whitlaw, Selkirk, sold their third prize pen at £120 each, while Peter Knowles, of New Hutton, Kendal, sold a pen at £112 per head, both again falling to John Kingan.

The shearling ewe section was also won by the Goldie family, with their pen topping the selling prices when becoming a further H Metcalfe acquisition at £205 per head. The Goldies also achieved second top price in class when selling an Orchard Lleyn pen for £180 each, again to Mike Kinnes.

Three further shearling ewe pens sold at £155 head. David Alexander, of Galston in Ayrshire, sold a pen of 11 to Stainfield Farm in Market Rasen, D&SK Crane, of Thirsk, sold a pen of five to R Wood & Co, of Lathom, and Wynne Davies, of Pwllheli, sold a pen of six to Norfolk breeder Ben Tubby.

There were several commercial buyers looking to buy 20 to 30 ewes, as well as new breeders looking to build their flocks.  Shearling ewes were easily bought for £120 to £150 per head.

Overall selling averages were: Shearling rams £504.14, Shearling Ewes £130.27, Ewe Lambs £80.73. Show judge was Welsh Lleyn breeder Colin Price.