Well, it's that time of year again.doesn't time seem to fly round! Once again the crowds gathered at Kelso and luckily the rain stayed away for most of the day, allowing for many to get some crop in, indeed there were plenty of combines at work on the way back. Good to see some sunshine for a change!

The damp weather of the summer didn't seem to dampen trade for the best tups forward, with a strong demand for top quality sheep. Trevor Simpson from Hexham mart noted that anything coming into the ring with plenty of carcase and good skins was far easier to sell. Its what the modern Mule needs and what breeders should keep in mind when selecting rams seemed to be the consensus of the day.

It was a combination of power and quality which saw the top bid of the day as the noted Clennell flock from M/s Snaith. Their second tup into the ring, Clennell Z16, provided a sale of 6600 gns in a joint sale to R Bell, Teviot and W A Penny, Brothwell flock. He is a cracking tup with real power and carcase. He is by an Old Parks who is proving to be a good breeder, previously selling up to 3200 gns. Clennell also took the reserve overall ticket with their Z24 ram which sold in a 2600 gns deal to M/s McArthur of the Arnicle Flock, which had the same bloodlines behind him.

The Champion, placed by David Cruickshank who was freshly back from the USA where he had been judging Leicester's, was part of the very last consignment into the ring, keeping the crowd around till the end. It was the first time the Kirkstead flock have shown at Kelso, despite having sold there for many years, and what a debut it proved, not only taking the red ticket, but also scooping 3 rd in the class too. The 20 strong Leicester flock is run alongside 2000 Blackie ewes in the Borders by the McClymont's. The champion saw some strong bidding, with a welsh underbidder going home disappointed as the tup Z007 went back to Yearvering for 3100 gns. The 3rd prize shearling sold for 2000 gns, whilst its twin sold for 1100 gns. All 3 were sired by the Teviot V1 used with great success at Kirkstead.

It was a good day for the Warnocks at Dreva, when they sold 7 tups to average out at around 1860 gns, selling to a top of 3600 gns for a Parkgatestone sired shearling which sired 4 lambs in the Dreva top pen of mules at St. Boswells. They had another by the same sire selling to 2800 gns.

Midlock had a good day out again, selling to a top of 3100 gns for a Riddings sired tup, and a couple more at 2800 gns by the prolific Controversy, which again was a bloodline proving difficult to get past, with some big powerful, correct rams. Controversy was also behind the top priced lamb of the day as C & D Hall, Firth sold their number one lamb for 2000 gns in a two way sale between M/s Ridley, Shitlington Hall and R M English, Brownsleazes.

Another breeder making a personal best was J & J Cunningham from the Parkgatestone flock, when they sold to a top of 3000 gns, and averaged 1155 for 12 sold. Buying this shearling was H Macaskill from the Woodhall flock.

435 SHEARLINGS £629 18 LAMBS £573