North West Auctions held the annual show and sale of Beltex sheep on Friday evening, which attracted customers from across the region. A catalogue entry of 38 forward for the sale met a buoyant trade throughout for the females forward, with a selective trade for the males. The pre-sale show was expertly judged by Bradley Thompson of Selside, who awarded the champion rosette to Ann Moss, Barnard Castle with her gimmer shearling, ‘Holmebeck Barbie’, sired by ‘Bardnaheigh Torque’ that went on to sell for the top price of the evening of 1,000gns. The run of gimmer shearlings forward from Messrs Moss went on to average 757gns. Rams sold to a top price of 1000gns also from Messrs Moss for ‘Holmebeck Bonzer’.

‘Boys are back in Town’, the second sale of terminal sire breeding rams saw a catalogued entry of 168 rams and females for sale. There was plenty of interest in the sale which grows in size each year. Good quality tups were in demand and good to sell with buyers looking to purchase big carcass tups with good conformation, second-rate and plainer types were tougher to place.