Top prices followed the top prizes as the Supreme Champion and Reserve headed up the Beltex Sheep Society’s in-lamb sale at Harrison and Hetherington’s Borderway Centre on Friday, 7 December, both of which sold to the judge.

What was particularly promising was the large number of new breeders investing in the breed to establish new flocks, as well as the strong clearance rate and increased averages on the year for all sections.

Leading the way at 6000gns was Alan Miller’s January-born ewe lamb named Lurg Juicy Lucy ET which has already secured a number of tickets in the show ring including second at the Royal Highland and first at the Scottish National held at Biggar. Sired by the 16,000gns Woodies Explosive that also bred Alan’s 50,000gns and 45,000gns shearling rams last year, Juicy Lucy’s dam is the Woodhow Dakota daughter, Kingledores Felicity, from the flock near Midmar, Inverurie. She was tapped out as Champion and then bought by the judge, Victoria Bowring, who runs the Windmill Flock near Nether Langwith, Mansfield.

Her full sister named Lurg Jail ET sold to Clarke James for 1200gns.

The second highest price of 3000gns was paid by Victoria for Matthew Burleigh’s Reserve Champion, Matt’s Hickory ET, from near Shanra, Enniskillen. Carrying a single to Buckles Horrace, this daughter of the privately purchased Buckles Fizzy Pop is out of the Hackney Corker-sired Matt’s Deeteebee.

Matt, who sold a total of 22 to average £866, saw his Matt’s Hot Chocolate ET sell to Andrew Wainwright for his Todhall Flock near Cupar, Fife, for 1600gns. She is of similar breeding to Hickory, being by Buckles Fizzy Pop and out of a different Hackney Corker daughter in the shape of Matt’s Desert Rose. She changed hands scanned with a pair to Todhall Hurricane.

At 1100gns was Matt’s Hydro, again by Fizzy Pop and scanned with a pair to Todhall Hurricane. Selling to Alun Evans, Bodorgan, Gwynedd, she is out of Matt’s Atomic, this time by Hackney Warrior.

Sion Jones welcomed a good trade with the part reduction of his Fronarth Flock from Pennant, Llanon, Ceredigion, which peaked at 2200gns for Fronarth Head over Heels ET. This Osprey Geronimo daughter is out of the Pantgwyn Wil-sired Fronarth Beauty and sold to new breeder, Stuart Robson, Galashiels, carrying a pair to Glantre Geronimo.

At 1600gns when sold to another new breeder, Anne MacPherson, Croy, Inverness, was Fronarth High As A Kite ET which was again by Osprey Gernoimo and this time out of Wannop’s Flick, a Matt’s Edward daughter. She is due triplets to Clary Dumfries.

Sion’s ewes peaked at 900gns for an unnamed Lakeview ewe due with her second crop to Glantre Geronimo and scanned with twins. Selling to A and TA Blades, Hawes, her pedigree features Ainstable Factotum on to Matt’s Betty Boo, a Hackney Wonderboy daughter.

Matching that 1600gns price tag was the first gimmer on offer, Buckles Hopes and Dreams ET from Kevin Buckle and sons, Jack and Tom, from Kirkby Stephen. This Logie Durno Godfather daughter is out of the Ardstewart Dare Devil-sired Buckles Felicity, and scanned twins to Todhall Harris. Forking out the cash was Hannah Pedley for her High Ploughlands Flock also near Kirkby Stephen.

Hitting 1200gns when sold to Robert Hamilton, Shandon, Helensburgh, was Brickrow Honey ET from John Cowan, Auchincruive, Ayr. Carrying twins to Glanton Gone Gator, she is by Ainstable Ferocious and out of Brickrow Epic, a Beckbred Crusader daughter.

To celebrate 30 years of breeding, Wade and Alison McCrabbe held their first production sale from their Ardstewart Flock from Raphoe, Lifford, which peaked at 2200gns for Ardstewart Hailey ET. Selling to new breeders, Craig Douglas and Kiri Bass, Penrith, this Riverview Fury daughter is out of Ardstewart Dory, herself a daughter of Iglo V/D Drie Musschen. She changed hands scanned with a pair to Ardstewart Jack The Ripper.

Close behind on 2100gns when also snapped up by Anne MacPherson was Ardstewart Hokey Cokey, another by Riverview Fury but this time by the Woodies Dapper-bred Ardstewart Fifi. She scanned a single to the newly imported Aramis De Noblehaye.

Hitting 1800gns when knocked down to Gordon and Lynsey Carroll of the Edendiack Flock near Huntly was another Riverview Fury daughter, Ardstewart Humming Bird, which sold carrying twins to the Aramis ram. Her dam is Ardstewart Exotic, a Kingledores Crusader daughter.

At 1650gns was Ardstewart Hayden Hadley ET which offered some different breeding being by Swffryd Express and out of Ardstewart Fly-by-me, a Woodies Dapper daughter. Forking out the cash was Lin Calcraft for her Lapley Flock near Honiton, Devon, and this lass was scanned with a pair to Aramis De Noblehaye.

Owen Wells paid 1600gns for Ardstewart Hanky Panky ET which he takes home to his Barleyclose Flock near Bakewell. Scanned with triplets, she is also by Swffryd Express and out of Ardstewart Fly-by-me.

The dispersal of Alan Munro’s Loandhu Flock from Fearn peaked at 1400gns for Loandhu Fiona, an Airyolland Wurzel daughter bred from the Skiddaw View Trapper-sired Broughton Chilli Lass. She sold to Simon Stephen for his Glencoe Flock, Nairn, scanned with twins to Culsh Exclusive.

Averages: Six aged ewes, £639 (3 x £294 in 2022); 73 shearling ewes, £726 (79 x £695); four ewe lambs, £2100 (10 x £404). Ardstewart production – 24 shearling ewes, £930. Loandhu dispersal – 35 aged ewes, £429.