After an absence of eight years or so it was pleasing to see the Blue's back at Ruthin Mart. Perhaps the numbers were a bit thin on the ground, and the number of buyers could have been better, but it was a decent enough re-start, with most of the vendors happy enough with the outcome, and looking forwards to building on the day next year.

Robin Waite had the pleasure of doing the judging on a glorious autumnal day, and was vindicated with his selection as his champion and reserve took the days top prices too.

The champion came from Jackie McCleod of the Wanstead flock with a tup shearling by her W2 Rosehill tup and out of a ewe by X17 Lower Down. It was her best sale to date, selling for only her 3 rd time at a Association sale, making 520gns, selling to Mrs C Evans from Corwen.

After missing out on The Big One at Builth last week, Aled Jones was again out looking for a ram, and it was the reserve champion from Elfyn Owen that stood out for him. This smart, strong lamb by the homebred L20 Cernyw Elite + which has worked well in Elfyns 60 strong flock, and out of a ewe by T1 Cernyw E+ sold for 360gns.

Hopefully next year there will be a few more rams and a few more buyers around, but you can sense that with the vendors enthusiasm along with the auctioneers too that this sale could well be ready to take off once again.