THE champion and reserve champion were also the top price achievers at the 23nd annual Northern Area Texel Sheep Breeders Association’s winter show and sale of pedigree in-lamb females.

Victory went to the first prize shearling ewe from former Northern Area chairman Spiros Spyrou’s Gib Farm pedigree flock in Hebden Bridge.

His February, 2014-born ewe went on to reach the sale high of 1,300gns when joining RN Kirby and Son in Northallerton.

The runner-up in the same class from Procters Farm in Slaidburn also progressed to secure reserve championship honours.

In-lamb with twins, she sold for second top price of 750gns to R and D Waggett, of Richmond.

It was a result that confirmed the choice of show judge Thomas Harrison, whose father Richard runs Harrison Agricultural Supplies in Skipton and again sponsored the winter highlight.

Mr Spyrou also sold further shearling ewes at 950gns and 800gns, while Procters Farm sold aged ewes at 500gns and 400gns.

John and Linda Mellin, of the Hull House flock in Hellifield, were responsible for two of the three show class winners. Their first prize three-year-old ewe came to market in-lamb to Langside Thunderbird, breed supreme champion and reserve interbreed at this year’s Great Yorkshire Show, and sold for 400gns to AJ Chapman, of Driffield

The family’s red rosette-winning ewe lamb sold for 260gns to Richard Wilson in Beckwithshaw, bettered at 340gns by their second prize ewe lamb knocked down at 340gns to J Bell, of Scarborough.

The Mellins were also responsible for another prize-winning shearling ewe, sold in-lamb toAnne Blythman in Bishopton, Co Durham, at 650gns. The same vendors also sold gimmer lambs at 340gns, 300gns twice and 260gns.

Mark Keighley and family’s Manderlea flock in Leathley, Otley, presented the third prize shearling ewe, which also fell to AJ Chapman at 550gns.

Jennifer Lodge and her sons, Matt and Luke, who run the Heyworth Lodge flock in Moss, near Doncaster, were third and fourth prize winners in the ewe lamb show class with two 2012-born entries. They made 450gns and 400gns when falling to, respectively, T&A Walton, of Crook, and D and W Harrison, of Driffield.

A strong ringside of buyers produced a good trade for the vast majority of entries, with commercial sheep also well bid for. Gimmer lambs averaged £208, shearling gimmers £387 and aged ewes £311.