THE Lleyn Sheep Society’s annual seasonal finale, the registered show and sale at Skipton Auction Mart, finished on an upbeat note, with strong clearance rates seen across all sections.

An encouraging shearling ram trade produced bids for most entries, with Wharfedale breeder Mark Shields, of Plum Tree Farm, Timble, Otley, topping the section and the day’s selling prices at 1,000gns. The buyer was North and East Lleyn Breeders Club secretary Linda Barnard, of Hall Farm, Welham.

Next best on price at 750gns was the reserve champion shearling ram from Scottish breeders, the Goldie family, of Townfoot. He was purchased by Mike Kinnes, of Driffield.

Another shearling ram from the same home sold for 700gns to G Hopkinson, of Preston.

Brother and sister Terry and Beverley Fort, of Steeton, were again to the fore when selling their third prize ram for 700gns to Silsden’s H Metcalfe.

The first prize shearling ram and supreme champion was presented by Will Williams, based at Nefyn, Pwhlleli. It sold for 500gns to Miss H Dean, of Appleton Roebuck.

The Williams family also stepped up with the first prize pen of five ewe lambs, which went on to head the section’s selling prices at £125 each when finding a new home with John Kingan, of Dumfries.

Farmstock Genetics, of Over Whitlaw, Selkirk, sold their third prize pen at £120 each, while Peter Knowles, of New Hutton, Kendal, sold a pen at £112 per head, both again falling to John Kingan.

The shearling ewe section was also won by the Goldie family, with their pen topping the selling prices when becoming a further H Metcalfe acquisition at £205 per head. The Goldies also achieved second top price in class when selling a pen for £180 each, again to Mike Kinnes.

Overall selling averages were: shearling rams £504.14, shearling ewes £130.27, ewe lambs £80.73.