With an estimated of around 20% tups going into Scotland from the Hexham sale it was always going to be a difficult sale with the current Bluetongue restrictions. Many of the normal Scottish buyers bought their tups at the Kelso sales earlier in the month, leaving many tups at Hexham unsold and heading back home rather than pastures new.

There were a few bright spots however, if you looked carefully. Once again it was the good, strong correct sheep which were getting the bids, underlining the real demand for quality stock, which is more apparent as sheep numbers continue to fall, and flockmastesr insist on buying the best they can.

The champion sheep at the sale, which saw an entry of over 450 forward, came from the well established Middle Dukesfield flock from Alec Bisset. Sid Ivinson put this cocky lamb to the top of the line and saw his selection vindicated as it raced away with the bids in the ring, with Trevor Simpson dropping the hammer at 3200gns. It was the second highest price ever for the Middledukesfield flock, run by Alec and daughter Clare. This gimmers lamb by the X6 Clennel bought at Kelso had been shown successfully at Slaley show earlier in the year taking 1 st in its class and picking up the res champion as well. Taking the lamb home was Neill Sinclair from the Sheilsknowe flock, Jedburgh.

Again the judge must have got it right as it was his reserve champion which took the second top price, as Glenn Shapiro dispersed her renowned Hazelwood Flock. The flock, established in 1985, has been the winner of many prizes including championships at the Yorkshire and Royal shows, as well as one memorable year when she collected first prize in each of the six classes at the Great Yorkshire. There was a strong demand for her ewes, with 6 making four figures, including the champion which sold for 2300gns, selling to Paul Howell, from the Longmynd flock, Shropshire as an addition to his 35 head strong flock. She sold another to Alec Bisset in an 1800gns deal and sold a previous Yorkshire show champion for 1700gns, and also the res female sold to Allan MacKellar, Oban for 1550gns.

Glenn was also topping the shearling ram trade when her Z12 Hazelwood elite ram by the Rossibank Elite+ sold over the border for 1800gns to Moffat breeder Andy Ryder, who also purchased a handful of females from Glenn's dispersal. Glenn had got vets certificates to allow travel out of the Protection Zone, something that wasn't available to breeders in Northumberland due to shortage of time.

Local breeder Martin Archer, Carry House sold his 3 rd prize lamb by X4 Heddon Valley , sire to last year's champion, for 1500gns and also he sold his Z13 Carryhouse shearling for 1250gns.

One person who came away smiling was Margaret Suddes, Towdypotts, who sold her first lamb ever for a tidy sum of 1300gns to Alec Bisset. This lamb was much admired throughout the day for its clean lines and great skin. Margaret is a neighbour of Frank Johnson from the Ashes Flock, Bishop Auckland, and got four gimmer pet lambs off him a couple of years ago, and Frank got them tupped by his X1 Westow tup, sire to the champion here 2 years ago, and this was one of the progeny, out of a ewe by L1 Pennine.

Hopefully next year things will run a bit smoother and the Scottish buyers are back. I know that they will be welcomed back with open arms, and pretty sure that the vendors will be more than happy to buy them a drink.maybe more than one, after this year's trade. And if that offer doesn't bring them back, not a lot else will I doubt!!!

Res Female champion from Glen Shapiro sold for 1550gns

1300gns from Margaret Suddes with her first ever tup lamb