Next top call was a 6000gns bid for a lamb from another leading Aberdeenshire breeder, Jimmy Douglas, Cairness.

His pen topper was the reserve champion from the show, a Glenhead Grandmaster son out of a dam by Stockton Sky’s The Limit and with an index of 2.8 and sold to D Cranstone. His mother was top priced ewe lamb at Geoff Biddulph’s Pexhill production sale in 2005.

Next among the high prices was the highest indexed Suffolk lamb in the UK this year, a Drinkstone sheep with a bumper index of 6.16 from Arnold and John Park. Sired by Ortum Supersire, this entry was bought by Lilburn Estate Farming Partnership, for 5200gns who last year bought the Walton family’s Roseden flock.

Another Strathisla lamb followed closely on this one’s heel’s, selling for 5000gns to G and J Soulsby, Cumbria. Their choice was sired by Strathisla Schumacher, sire of Mr Wilson’s Edinburgh topper and bred from a ewe by Glenhead McCoy.

In at 4500gns for a full brother to the champion were the Gould’s, Buxton, Derbyshire. This lamb had taken third prize in the sale’s newly established gigot class for Mr Wilson.

Also changing hands at this money was the top priced Perrinpit lamb from Roger and Michael Weaver. Buyer this time was Judith Barbour, Ewebank who took home this one by Solwaybank Ranger, bred in her brother Ian’s flock.

Carrying an index of 4.42, the next highest bid of 4000gns came for Tom Cox’s leading entry from his Tomcroft flock. This lamb is by homebred sire Tomcroft Persuader and out of a homebred dam by Muiresk Adrenaline. He sold to Tom and Charles Harding’s Bentley flock and John Key of Sheffield.

Having been a dominant force at last week’s Edinburgh sale, Irish property developer Tom Bailey made a four figure sale at 3500gns for his leading tup. Buyers on this occaission were Lilburn Estates again, taking home a Rhaeadr Rossi son out of a ewe by Bawnogue Hercules with a below breed average index of 1.04.

Average 149 ram lambs £1037.95 Auctioneers John Swan, Straker Chadwick and Halls.