THE Bluefaced Leicester Sheep Breeders Association held its association sale of registered Bluefaced Leicesters at Hexham.

The show and sale was kindly sponsored by Hexham and Northern Marts.

This year’s sale saw an increased entry of 47 registered Bluefaced Leicesters with a catalogued entry of 44 Shearling Rams and three females.

With a healthy ring of buyers keen to bid for the lots on offer, this resulted in an average of £474.24 — a small increase on last year’s sale.

The pre sale show was ably judged by County Durham member, Helen Donald, of the Leadmill flock, who was taking on the role of judge at an association sale for the first time.

After careful consideration, she found her overall champion in the Shearling Ram pen of Mrs Suzie Claydon, Clarilaw, based in Melrose in the Scottish Borders. He was a home bred ram Clarilaw 4407/N007, sired by Auchry 4447/K018 out of a homebred ewe Clairlaw 4407/J009. He was later sold for £700.

Reserve overall champion was awarded to the second prize Shearling Ram, this one was from J E G Shand & A R Carter, Street. It was homebred ram 2814/N011 sired by Rossiebank 840/K009 out of a homebred ewe Street 2814/K020 which was cashed for the second highest price of the day — £1,200.

Top price on the day was £1,600 for a homebred Shearling Ram from T L Forster & Son, Lowes Fell. He was 50/N002 sired by Whinnyhall 4369/K001 and out of a homebred ewe 50/H021. Lowes Fell sold another of their homebred rams 50/N017 sired by Lowes Fell 50/K005 out of homebred ewe 50/L021for £1,000.

The female champion was a homebred gimmer brought out by Ian S Fenwick, Fenwick Flock, sired by West Biggins 409/M007 and out of a home bred ewe, Fenwick 4593/H003.