THE Waltons of Wanwood Hill reigned supreme at Hexham Mart on Friday, when they took both the championship in the Blackface ewe lambs competition and then top dollar in the sales ring afterwards.

Having brought their stock in from Alston, father and son team Philip and Daniel then packed them off north of the border after they were knocked down for £138 a head, the best price on the day.

Charlie Halbert, of Prospect House, fetched the same figure for his third-prize winning pen, which went to a local buyer. The Murrays of Sewingshields took second place in the competition, judged by Harry Morshead, of Harsondale.

Auctioneer Chris Armstrong said: “With a cold spring and a dry summer behind them, lambs came forward in remarkable form and were a great credit to all breeders.

“A full ringside of onlookers witnessed a trade which was very similar to that seen 12 months earlier for the better end of each consignment, although lesser lambs showing the signs of the summer drought were harder to cash.”

Meanwhile, Martyn Archer, of Carry House, Wark, took the honours in the Mule ewe lambs competition, judged by Joe Vickers, of South Rennington.

Martyn also took the Robson & Cowan Trophy for his outstanding pen of 25, which were subsequently knocked down for £125 to J. Leiper & Sons, of Black Heddon.

The reserve champion pen went to Robert and John English, of Brownsleazes, who also went home with the Stuart Ridley Memorial Trophy for the best run of 100 or more.

Third prize went to John and Andrew Hunter, of The Steel, Hexhamshire.