After the cracking trade last year it was going to be a big ask to follow on again with a similar trade again, but with the demand for Mules even stronger than last year, it was once again rings 15 and 17 which were seeing the demand at the Kelso sales.

Top of the days trade didn't reach the heights of last year's trade, but with a bid of £7200 it certainly made Derek Hall's day as his Firth B3 shearling became his highest priced tup to date. This grandson of the noted Midlock Controversy, of which we will be hearing more of later, was by Midlock W25 and out of a ewe by Nunscleugh N25, a combination which has done well for the Firth flock over the years. The final bidders for this powerful tup were the Blarnavaid flock of John & Jamie Pirie.

It was another grandson of Controversy which took the next top bid of £5500 from the Dreva flock, following on from their cracking trade at St Boswells, which saw them average £111 for 160 Mules. This tup, out of a ewe by V21 Firth, a son of N25 Nunscleugh, sold to M/s Macaskill. The demand for the Dreva bloodlines saw their second tup, B12 Dreva, sell for £4200. He was by W4 Jubilee and out of a ewe by W9 Riddings. Buyer for this smart shearling was Neil Laing.

With buyers looking for strong well made tups it was no wonder to see that Midlock was getting in on the action, selling two tups at £4200. The first saw Derek Hall lay out some of the cash he had earlier made when he landed Midlock B60, a grandson of the old Bull & Cave on his mother's side, and sired by Z40 Midlock, a tup they retained for their own use, going back to a Duhonw tup. Their next at £4200 went over the border into England to M/s Jerman, hopefully to prove a good a getter as many are proving to be in the North of England Mule circles from the Midlock stable. This was a son of the noted Controversy, and out of a ewe by S6 Hewgill.

One of the most eagerly anticipated tups into the ring was the 5th prize shearling from the Airyolland flock from N & J McQuistin. The tup, B2 Airyolland was by X5 Riddings and out of one of the best ewes on the farm, a daughter of a homebred tup they kept for their own use several years ago. The hammer was knocked down at £3800 in a three way spilt to G MacDonald, A Minto and J Bell.

James Herdman, Eldingham, claimed his first championship at Kelso in the pre-sale show with a son of the £10,000 A11 Midlock, bought from Hawes two years ago and out of a show ewe by Ty-Gwyn W1, which won the championship at Gilsland show earlier this summer. The champion sold for £2200. His twin brother went on a step or two further, selling for £3700.

Making his top price was Sid Ivinson, Addingham, justifying his long trip from Penrith, Cumbria, selling only for the second time at Kelso, when his tup, B1 Addingham sold in a two way split for £3500 to D Henderson and F Johnson. This strong, well made tup is by A3 Cocklaw, which was borrowed from Nicky Robinson and tupped just 10 ewes, and out of a ewe by X41 Clennell. Judging by Sids smile he will be back again next year, and judging by the smiles of the vendors there will be many more heading back to Kelso next year too, after a very successful start to the sale season.

Airyolland B2 - £3800	James Herdman - £3700
Aldingham - £3500	D Henderson - Burndale - £1000