Local shepherd Ben Reive stood champion at Dingwall and Highland Marts’ annual hill day sale of in-lamb Blackface and North Country Cheviot females.
A strong trade throughout for the 29 sold resulted in increased averages on the year and a new centre record of £1,800 for a Blackface female.
The judge, Bobby Mackenzie from Glebe of Deisher, Boat of Garten, awarded the champion ticket to Ben’s home-bred gimmer from his Glenbow flock near Fortrose.
This was a daughter of the £3,000 Midlock, scanned carrying a single to a £1,500 Dyke, which made £500 to Mr Mackenzie.
In reserve, was a one-crop ewe from first time consignor Thomas Muirhead of the Orchilmore flock, Blair Atholl.
She is by the £85,000 Emscleugh, carrying a single to a home-bred son of Blaze and sold to David Morrison of the Dalwyne flock from Ayrshire.
The Orchilmore flock topped at £1,200 and levelled at £1,000 for the four sold.
Mr Morrison also took home the top priced female at £1,800 from Billy McFarlane, Drumgrange, Ayrshire.
Setting a new centre record was a two-crop ewe by an £18,000 Dalchirla, scanned carrying twins to a £52,000 Dalblair.
An in-lamb Badger Face Cheviot from Welbeck Farms’ Ousdale flock from Caithness, scanned carrying a single to an Inkstack ram, made £1,300 to Murdo Macdonald, Achentoul Farm Cottage.
The firm also sold 3,310 sheep of all classes, with 2,089 lambs averaging £53.81 and topping at £113 for a Dorset from The Crossings, Caithness.
Store ewes and gimmers (844) averaged £48.73 and sold to £270 for a pair of Blackfaces from Balgowan, Laggan, while the 56 breeding ewes levelled at £164.25 to £380 for a pen of Cheviots from 185 Migdale, Bonar Bridge.
In-lamb ewes (154) sold to £150 for a pen of Cheviots from Nottingham Mains, Latheron and a pen of Herdwicks from Lower Farley Farm, Kilmorack.
The 116 rams and feeding sheep averaged £52.98 and peaked at £140 for a Texel ram from 69 North Shawbost, Isle of Lewis.
Lambs – Tex – The Crossings, £110 & £94; TexX – Kinnahaird, Contin, £96, Glentruim Farm, Inverness, £94, Drynie Farm, Dingwall, £94, Fearn Farm, Tain, £92 & £78, East Croft Roy, Inverness, £89, Skinnet, Halkirk, £87, £85 (Thrice), £80 & £77, Achnagairn, Kirkhill, £80, The Crossings, £79, Culligran, £77, East Kirk, Wick, £76, Lochbuie, Newtonmore, £76; Chev – Strathvaich Farms, £96, Ivy Cottage, Achentoul, £92, 177 Trantlemore, Halladale, £90, £82 & £78, Badanloch Estate, Sutherland, £86, 30 Big Sand, Gairloch, £77; SuffX – Culligran, £96 & £73 (Twice), The Crossings, £90 & £79, East Kirk, £90, Broombank, Tain, £71, Foxhole, Kiltarlity, £70, Bogburn Farm, Duncanston, £70; ZwbX – Inverhavon Croft, Newtonmore, £94, Drumancroy, Portmahomack, £78 & £65; BeltX – Drummond Farm, Evanton, £83 & £68; CharX – Skinnet, £80; Suff – 12 Loanickiem, Kiltarlity, £75; Mule – Gaich Farm, Dulnain Bridge, £74 & £70, Cawdor Estate, £72, The Crossings, £70; BF – Gaich Farms, £70, Bogburn Farm, £69, 8 Drynie Park, Muir of Ord, £66, Drynie Farm, £64. Ewes – Tex – Kinnahaird, £132; Suff – Clachan Farm, £125; Zwb – Invernahavon, Newtonmore, £110 & £85; TexX – Kinnahaird, £110, 5C Balnabeen, Conon Bridge, £105 & £88, Dell Farm, Farr £102 & £86; Dst – The Crossings, £104; Chev – 5C Balnabeen, £93, 177 Trantlemore, £86, 13 Cross Skigersta Road, Isle of Lewis, £84, Wester Fearn, Ardgay, £84, Inverbroom, £80; Mule – Tulloch Farm, Dingwall, £90, Dell Farm, £81;BF – Greenwood, Laggan, £90; Lly-– Cadbollmount, Fearn, £89. Breeding ewes – Chev – 185 Midgale, £360 & £300, 84 Tomich, £170 & £150, The Square, Inverinate, £125. In-lamb ewes – Chev – 1 Eyre, Isle of Skye, £140, Nottingham Mains, £120; Hdw – Lower Farley Farm, £150, £140, £120 (Thrice), £115 (x2), £110 & £100. Rams & feeding sheep – Chev ram – Badanloch Estate, £115 & £94, 4 Park, Barvas, £96, 177 Trantlemore, £88 & £81, 12 Bualnaluib, £86, 30 Big Sand, £80; SuffX ram – Drynie Farm, £110, Caberfeidh House, Leverburgh, £110; Char ram – Dunlichity Farm, Farr, £106; ABF ram – Fearn Farm, £95; KH Ram – The Crossings, £90; Zwb ram – 7 Ferrindonald, Sleat, £90; BF ram – 30 Big Sand, £84, Drynie Farm, £82; BeltX Wdr – 177 Trantlemore, £92; TexX Wdr – East Croft Roy, £80; Chev rig – 177 Trantlemore, £98
