Scanned carrying twins to a home-bred tup, Stainton AK49, by Knock Yankee, a 30,000gns purchase from the Howie family in Peterhead in 2016 by a seven-flock partnership including Mr Woof, the victor, recipient of the Wilf Wood Trophy, sold for a sale-topping 1,000gns to J Simpson, of Pocklington, York.
 
Mr Woof, who established his flock in 1980, followed up with the second top call of 900gns for his fourth prize February, 2017, shearling gimmer, this one sired by Knock Yankee, out of a Anglezarke Uno ewe that goes back to the renowned Sportsmans Tremendous.
 
Carrying twins to the 15,000gns Auldhouseburn Bolt, it went home with current British Texel Society national chairman Steve Richardson, who runs his Stonebridge flock at  Mount Pleasant Farm, Great Houghton, near Barnsley.
 
Show judge Tom Pateman, of the Violet Hill flock at Brompton by Sawdon, Scarborough, remained in the same show class for his chosen reserve champion, the second prize shearling ewe from John Green’s Greenall flock at Lilliesleaf, near Melrose in the Scottish Borders, who was making his debut at the rescheduled winter showcase.
 
This, too, was a March, 2017-born by the 7,800gns Scottish-bred Strathbogie Wild Boy, himself a son of Aman Vyrnwy, out of a dam by the 6,500gns Teiglum Utah. Scanned carrying triplets to the home-bred Greenall Batistuta Mr Green, who also farms pedigree Charolais cattle and commercial ewes, made the long journey south worthwhile when seeing his reserve champion sell for 800gns to Cumbrian breeder Jimmy Fawcett, of Silloth.

Jeff Aiken brought out a nice consignment of gimmers on behalf of Procters Farm in Wennington, Lancaster, with the pen leader, a product of the 70,000gns purchase, Teiglum Younggun, and scanned carrying twins to Strawfrank Alphonso, selling locally to Jill Perrings in Giggleswick for 750gns. Another shearling ewe from the same home made 650gns.
 
Standing third in the shearling ewe class was Angela Nairey’s Meinspride flock based at Liusey, near Blackburn, with a March, 2017, home-bred by the Strathbogie Terminator son, Meinspride Vanguard, out of a Clantibuies Virtuoso-sired dam. Scanned in-lamb to Limestone Buccaneer, the third prize winner sold for 700gns to the Wharfedale-based Keighley family, who run the Mandelea flock in Leathley.
 
Calderdale’s Spyros Spyrou, of Gib Farm, Hebden Bridge, who has twice been winter champion at Skipton in recent years, stepped up with both the first and second prize ewes.
 
Picking up the red rosette was a March, 2015, home-bred by Bryn Garth Very Good, acquired in a three-way flock split when champion at Ruthin in 2014, out of a Stainton Ricochet-sired dam, while the class runner-up was a February, 2016, daughter of the 32,000gns Hexel Wildcard, shared by a six-strong flock partnership, out of a dam by Deveronvale Superb.
 
Both ewes had been scanned carrying twins to Eden Valley A1, by Clinterty Yogi Bear, with the first prize winner, which received the NATSB Trophy, falling for 420gns and the runner-up, a full sister to Mr Spyrou’s 2013 Skipton supreme champion, making 380gns.Both joined the same North Craven buyer, Giggleswick’s J Frankland,.
 
The first prize ewe lamb and recipient of the NATSB Trophy came from from Mark and Val Collins, who run the Logram pedigree flock at Low Ground Fold, Howsham, near York, with a daughter of Millar’s A One, out of a Glenside Razzle Dazzle ewe acquired from the Cwmcerrig flock for 3,000gns. The February, 2018, lamb also sold for 380gns to John North, again from Giggleswick.
 
The sale saw an 86% clearance rate for the 55 head penned for sale and improved averages on the previous sale staged in December, 2017, as follows: Shearling gimmers £412.43 (+£34.43). aged ewes £420 (+£23), ewe lambs £304.50