breeders completing the rounds after a successful autumn breeding sheep sale season and buyers looking for Lleyn sheep to take forward for the forthcoming breeding season. (Thursday, Sept 30)

Show classes and selling prices were dominated by two breed stalwarts and fixture regulars from opposite ends of Craven - the Fort family at Brighton House Farm, Steeton, and John and James Dugdale, who run the Borrins flock at Stackhouse, Settle.

The Forts ¬¬- Graham and Mandy, and their two, children Terry and Beverley – won both the shearling ewe and ewe lamb show classes with pens of five, the latter, recipients of The Green Farm Health Cup, tapped out as overall champions by judge Charles Geldard, of Levens, Kendal, and later claimed for £135/head by AJ Rooke, of York.

The Forts’ red rosette winning shearlings became one of three pens to sell at joint top price in section of £200 each to Braes Farms in Hellifield, the other two from the Dugdales going to the same home. Two more Fort and Dugdale pens hit £190/head, both joining Anthony Bradley in Long, Preston

Draughton’s Simon Kavanagh had his usual strong consignment of shearling ewes, selling three pens at £180 per head all to Grove Park in Tetbury. Away from the top prices, some smart pens were changing hands from £150-£175/head.

Back with the ewe lambs, which saw a more buoyant trade, with buyers seemingly more confident in the section, the second prize pen from Farmstock Genetics in Selkirk sold for £130 each to Sean Wisher, of Driffield, who also picked up the third prize pen from Welsh vendor, William Williams, of Pwllheli, at £125. Colin Price, from Brecon, saw his pen away at £120/head to David Hall, of Denshaw, Saddleworrth. Most lambs changed hands at over £100/head, with £105-115 seeing many pens move.

The shearling rams were topped by the first prize offering and reserve champion from the Stackhouse Dugdales – John Dugdale remains chairman of the society - with their Borrins Go Go son, Borrins Judo – his grandsire won at the Royal Highland Show in 2016 - which headed the sale at 900gns when again falling to Mr Wisher. A second shearling ram from the same home made 580gns.

Welsh vendors Emrys and Dylan Jones, of the Lluest flock in Machynlleth, Powys, had the second and third top shearling ram prices, the former by Southam Gunner making 800gns, the latter by Wraycastle Edwaldo 750gns. Both these rams were taken home by Chris Leckonby, of York. The section averaged £512 per head, up £105 on the year. Shearling ewes averaged £167 and ewe lambs £106 (2020 £104).