Breeders from the north-east enjoyed success at the Dark Diamonds sale of pedigree Suffolk sheep in Carlisle.
A Northern Ireland-bred gimmer topped the sale at 13,000gn. However, Scots breeders were close behind.
The sale leader, selling to Messrs Taylor, Coleraine, was a gimmer by Rhaeadr Rio, in-lamb with twins by Blackstown Rascal, from Jack and Alfie Moses’ Blackstown flock in Country Antrim.
The Stuart family’s Birness flock at Milltown of Birness, Ellon, achieved the second-best price of the day, 9,000gn, twice.
First at this price, selling to Northern Ireland breeder Mark Priestley for his Limestone flock, was a gimmer, by Crewelands Megastar, in-lamb with a single by the 16,000gn Castleisle Capaldi.
The other was another gimmer by Crewlands Megastar, in-lamb to the same sire but with twins. She sold jointly to Messrs Smyth, Kingscourt, Co Cavan, and Mark Priestley.
Other leading Birness prices included 3,800gn for a gimmer by the 9,500gn Limestone Legacy, in-lamb with twins to Castleisle Capaldi, selling to Messrs Paterson, Huntly. Another Birness gimmer, this time by Limestone Legend, and also in-lamb with twins to Castleisle Capaldi, sold for 2,700gn to Messrs Delday, Deerness, Orkney.
In all, Birness sold 10 gimmers to average £3,612.
Meanwhile, Fraserburgh breeder Jimmy Douglas’ Cairness flock topped at 4,600gn for a gimmer by Cairness Agent, in-lamb with twins by Cairness A Star. She sold to Messrs Lucas, Co Donegal.
Mr Douglas also made 3,400gn selling a gimmer by Cavangrove Catalyst, in-lamb with a single by Cairness A Star, to Messrs Morgan, Llangeview, Usk.
The flock sold three gimmers to average £3,612.
Inverurie breeder Graeme Christie, who runs the Balquhain flock at Newton of Balquhain, topped at 3,000gn for a full sister for the male champion from last year’s Royal Highland Show.
His sale leader, selling to Messrs Johnson, Baltasounds, Hunts, Shetland, was a gimmer by the 6,000gn Lakeview Under The Radar, in-lamb with a single by Strathbogie Strongbow.
Next best for Balquhain at 950gn was another gimmer by Lakeview Under The Radar, also in-lamb to Strongbow but this time with twins. She sold to Messrs Hunter, Culsalmond, Insch.
In all, Balquhain’s eight gimmers averaged £1,095.94.
John Gibb, who runs the Cairnton flock at Cairnton, Techmuiry, Fraserburgh, topped at 900gn for a ewe lamb by Millhouse Remarkable. She sold to Messrs McDonald, Bowmore, Islay.
Mr Gibb averaged £728 for three gimmers and £892.50 for two ewe lambs.
Fife breeder Stewart Craft topped at 850gn for a gimmer from his Lakeview flock. By Castleisle Attitude, and in-lamb with twins by Limestone Limited Edition, she sold to Messrs Bowdler Ltd, Ellesmere, Shropshire.
The six Lakeview gimmers averaged £677.25.
