WELSH breeders landed the principal honours at the Northern Area Jacob Sheep Breeders’ 40th annual show and sale at Skipton Auction Mart.

The supreme championship fell to the first prize ewe lamb and female champion from first-time exhibitor, 19-year-old Rhys Francis, who runs the Pistyll flock at Pistyll Uchaf, Abergorlech.

His February-born four-horn lamb went on to make top price in show when selling for 720gns to Jacob Society member Linda McKendrick, of Cupar, Fife.

Robert Price, who runs the Pentre flock at Pentrenant Farm in Churchstoke, Powys, repeated his 2014 reserve championship success with his first prize shearling ram and male champion. The four-horn sold for 120gns to LG Machin, of Leek.

Mr Price was also responsible for the first prize shearling ewe, which sold for top price in class of 400gns to another Scottish breeder, G Christie, of Huntly.

Mr Price's wife, Jean, achieved top price in the aged ewes class when selling one of her two entries for 200gns to M Kinver, of Hexham. She was also responsible by the second prize shearling ewe, which made 280gns on joining SD&C Cornelius in Launceston, Cornwall.

Cumbria’s Geoff Wood and Sheila Dickinson, who run the Moorhouse Jacob flock at Scales, near Ulverston, were responsible for the top price in show 500gns shearling ram. It fell to a local buyer, Graham Hall, of Conistone-with-Kilnsey.

The same vendors also stepped up with the first prize ram lamb, which was also top price in class at 350gns when joining Claire Thwaite in Long Preston.

The first prize aged ewe came from the Warren Wood flock of Ruth Guy, from Marrick, near Richmond.

Principal selling averages were: ewe lambs £114, shearling ewes £136, ram lambs £172 and shearling rams £201.