The North Country Cheviot Sheep Society sale of rams was held at Longtown last Wednesday in conjunction with the annual Border Ewe Sale.

A strong show of Shearlings were put forward and met a good commercial trade.

Overall, 141 Cheviot rams, of all ages, averaged £348 - a little up on last year's figure.

Robbie McCormack, of Croftheads, Lockerbie, took the top price of £1,100 for Croftheads Alba, a Shearling by Gospelhall Renegade out of a Kinaldy bred ewe, purchased by Messrs Rowlands, Bala, North Wales.

Meanwhile, A Matthewson & Sons, Soutra, Midlothian, had Shearlings at £1,050 and £1,020, the former by W.J. Where`s Uncle Tony, went to D. & D. Robinson, Glenarm, Ballymena, Northern Ireland, and the latter, by Jethart Trigger, was bought by J.G. Singer & Partners, Linbriggs, Harbottle.

£1,000 twice was paid to J. Runciman & Sons, Allanshaws, Stow; these were purchased by David Slone, Piel View, Barrow in Furness, and C. Anderson, Dunterley Farm, Bellingham. While other Park Shearlings sold to £820, Carruthers; £800, Swinside Townfoot; £800, Kelsocleugh Farming; £780, Broomhillbank; £750, North Synton; £720, Gothigill.

Mrs C. M. Reid, Portmore, led the Hill section with a two shear ram at £750 and the unregistered Cheviot rams sold to £500 for a two shear from Whitstonehill.

The annual sale of Traditional Bluefaced Leicester rams, held to coincide with the Border Cheviot Ewe Sale, also had a good quality entry, which met strong demand and a level trade with all bar one sold.

Shearlings averaged £426 - up £94 on the year - and 79 Leicesters, of all ages, averaged £393.

However, at £1,000, the sale leader from R. McLymont & Son, Kirksteads, Yarrow, went to J.W. Hall, Darnbrook Farm, Malham Moor, Yorkshire.

The Kirkstead pen averaged £650.

J. I. McNeil, Glenjaan, Moniave, sold at £620 with the consignment from G.G.F. Milne, Kinaldy, Fife, topping at £600 with another at £520.

Others sold to £580 and £520, Burgh Head; £580 and £550 (twice) Round Meadows; £550 (twice), Kirksteads; £550, High Lead; £520, Mosser Mains and £500 each to Tappitlane, Kirksteads, Raggetsyke, Glenjaan, Mosser Mains (twice), Warkshaugh and Roundmeadows.