The home-bred consignment, by bought-in rams from the Pen'y'ghent flock of John and Jean Bradley in Giggleswick, and Procters Farm in Slaidburn, were picked out by judge Peter Fox, of Withgill, Clitheroe.

Despite being the last vendor into the sale ring, Mr Haggas, who currently has around 500 breeding ewes, predominantly Texel-cross, saw his victors sell for the day’s top call of £86 each to Kevin Marshall, of Darley.

The show formed part of the annual Lingfields Summer Sheep Fair, when trade for the high turnout of 5,781 store lambs sold through the ring was described as healthy, producing an overall average of £63.07 per head.

Smart Beltex were keenly sought after, with 606 lambs averaging £70.81, while 3,435 Texel lambs also received a strong reception to average £65.10, topping at £82 per head for a pen of five gimmer lambs from Annabel Sugden, of Laycock. The 242 Suffolk lambs on offer averaged £65.15 and 58 Charollais £62.48

Mules were out in good numbers for the first time this year, with the 1,450 head penned for sale averaging £54.77 and selling to a high of £67.50 each for 50 well-framed Mule wethers from Nidderdale’s John Harker, of Lofthouse.

A good entry of 432 breeding ewes, mainly older correct ewes, also sold well to a packed ringside seeking early sheep to put to rams. Best shearlings sold to £145, these for a 22-strong pen from Welsh vendor EW Davies, of Ceredigion, with the same price also achieved by an 11-strong pen of 2 shear Mules from L Simpson & Son, of Pateley Bridge.

Commercial type shearlings made £125-£130, with the 4 shear-plus stronger end selling at £105-£120 and other commercial types £90-£100.

An entry of up to 9,000 head is anticipated for the next fortnightly Wednesday store lamb sale on August 23, which incorporates prize shows for the best pens of 50 Mule wether and Down-cross lambs, supported by a new sale for pens of 20 Suffolk-cross gimmer lambs, along with an early sale of Suffolk rams.