Lively trade in North Country Hill Cheviots

North Country Hill Cheviot rams met a flying trade at Dingwall Mart.

Dingwall and Highland Marts put a record entry of 703 rams under the hammer to average £504.69, which is up £92.55 on last year’s sale when 613 tups exchanged hands.

Buyers from all corners of Scotland and farther afield flocked to the mart with strong bidding evident throughout the day.

Leading the charge at £5,500 was a home-bred three-shear from Leslie and Tina Robertson of Inkstack Farm, Barrock, Thurso.

Inkstack Splitter, by Inkstack Bingo 2, sold to the pre-sale show judge Martin Cook who contract-farms around 2,500 ewes at Eriboll and Rhigholter, Sutherland.

He also bought the reserve overall champion, also consigned by the Robertsons, for £1,000.

The three-shear tup is a son of the sale-topping Inkstack Splitter.

Next best at yesterday’s sale at £3,100 was a two-shear tup from George Cormack and Sons, of Wester Dunnet, Thurso, Caithness.

By a Seaforth sire and out of an Auchentoul ewe, it sold to Badanloch Estate.

Thereafter two lots sold to achieve £2,800.

First at this price was a home-bred two-shear from the Auchentoul Shepherds Pack at Kinbrace selling to Suisgill Estates at Helmsdale.

The other from Mr J Blackhall at East Brachmont, Durris, sold to Kelsocleugh Farming in the Borders.

Torrish Estates sold a North House-bred three-shear for £2,600 to Keppoch Estates, while a two-shear from Clasinglash Achue sold for £2,500 to Blingery Farms.

Mr GF Irving, of Whitchesters, Hawick, sold to a top of £2,200.

Other leading prices included £2,200 for an entry from Mr GF Irving; £2,100 for an entry from Brackside; and £2,000 for a lot from Bill and Fanny Elliot’s Hethpool flock.

The pre-sale show champion from Billy and Kate Allen and their children Dallas and Ruth sold to the judge for £1,500.

The home-bred two-shear is out of a Stouphill sire by Inkstack Topshot, which was bought at Dingwall for £6,000 six years ago.