THE annual Rare & Native Stock Breeders Auctions of rare, minority and traditional sheep breeds at CCM Skipton Auction Mart attracted another large and varied entry of 122 head.

Judging a large show of individual classes and a final interbreed championship was Cumbria’s Paul Murray, who tapped out as his overall victor a 3-shear Herdwick ram from multiple past champions, Ian and Angela Grisedale, Swinside flock, Crooklands, Kendal. Purposely bought out of Scotland as a shearling two years ago to introduce fresh bloodlines, the victor also claimed top price of £250 and returned north of the border with W Barry, Stranraer.

Mr Grisedale judged last year, awarding the championship to a Teeswater female from Ribblehead’s Amy Edwards, who made a welcome return this year when standing overall reserve with the first prize Longwool male, a home-bred Teeswater ram lamb, out of a champion and reserve champion-winning ewe and making 180gns when going to Great Yarmouth with Marion Starkings.

The same exhibitor also stood first and second in the Longwool female show class with two further home-breds, the winner also joining Marion Starkings at 160gns, the runner-up knocked down at 140gns when heading to Wales with JE Harding, Caernarfon.

Amy, who established her small flock two years ago, is a registered veterinary nurse, also acting as a shepherd for her partner, Rowan Pickles, who with father Jeff is a familiar face at Skipton. Teeswaters witnessed a full clearance.

Herdwick females met reasonable demand, gimmers shearlings again from the Grisedales averaging £175 for a smart run, a good run of the same goods from J Bownass, Giggleswick, and Dr H Bird, Hutton Buscel, west of Scarborough, making £190 and £185, respectively.

Trade for Greyfaced Dartmoors was solid for females, with A Valentine, Kendal, witnessing a strong trade for gimmer lambs, peaking at 210gns for the March, 2023, Butterbent Mariah, to JP Robinson, Leyburn, followed by others at 200gns and 160gns Border Leicesters sold to 200gns for a March, 23, male from N Mechie, Middleham, falling to Jack Shepherd, Glasshouses, Pateley Bridge.