Hexham and Northern Marts' sale of Bluefaced Leicester shearlings at Hexham, attracted a large ringside of buyers and saw trade peak at £7000 for a shearling ram from John Snaith's Clennell flock ‘herded' by shepherd Stephen MacKay, from Harbottle, Morpeth. The flock, which last year sold several rams at £3000 or more at Kelso, received this money from pedigee breeder S A Harding who owns the Shrewbridge flock from Baddington, Nantwich, Cheshire, with a half-share being retained by Mr Snaith.

The Clennell flock also received £1200 and £1050 for Bluefaced shearling rams from David Kay, Hartside, Oxton, Lauder and J Hunter and Co, Garngown, Ochiltree, Cumnock, Ayrshire, respectively.

The father and son team of Matt and Nicky Robinson, West Cocklaw, Hexham, also had a good day with shearling sales at £1400 and £1200. The dearest was purchased by Robin Waite, Shrewsbury, while the latter also sells south, being bought by Mr Harding again.

Top price for George and Ian Smith's West Bolton flock from Alnwick, was an £1000 call for a shearling ram, knocked down to Lilburn Estates.

Overall, the 49 Bluefaced Leicester shearling rams averaged £648.77.