BUYERS who had travelled from all parts of the country gathered at the ringside in Malton last week for the early sale of breeding sheep.

There were many new buyers among the high turnout of people, and there was a firm demand particularly for the high quality, breeding sheep across all departments.

Ewes and shearlings averaged in the region of £18/head better than on last year's sale.

The judge on the day was Geoff Marson, of Nafferton, who had the difficult task of placing the show classes. This year's sale was sponsored by Pearsons & Ward Solicitors of Malton.

The results were:

Best Pen of Suffolk x Gimmer Shearlings

1st GA Stephens, Melton Mowbray

2nd J & AB Byas, East Knapton sold for £162 to MA & JM Bell, Lutton G.A

3rd E Simms, Driffield sold for £159 to C F Beal, Yedingham

Best Pen of Suffolk x Mule Gimmer Shearlings

1st FA Burton & Son, Cottam, sold for £164 to RM Kirby & Son, Enderby Steeple

2nd FA Burton & Son, Cottam, sold for £150 to R Sanderson, Topcliffe

3rd PA &SJ Teasdale, Hawnby, sold for £132 to P Tindale, Durham

Best Pen of Continental Gimmer Shearlings

1st RA & B Robinson & Sons, Hutton Buscel, sold for £166 to W K Stubbs, Northallerton

2nd PA &SJ Teasdale, Hawnby, sold for £130 to J R & J Crowe, Spennymoor

3rd GA Stephens, Melton Mowbray, sold for £185 to J D & V Towers, Lancaster

Best Pen of Ewe Lambs

1st DT Sowersby, Etton, sold for £80 to P Tindale, Durham

2nd DT Sowersby, Etton, sold for £77 to P Tindale, Durham

3rd CD Timm, Appleton Roebuck, sold for £77 to C Bowser, Lincoln

Best Pen of Store Lambs

1st TAV Farming, Wintringham, sold for £62.50 to J Cook, Crambe

2nd TAV Farming, Wintringham,sold for £58.00 to F R Arsenius, Harwood Dale

3rd GI Marwood, Harome, sold for £63.50 to J Cook, Crambe

Champion Ram

P B Fox & Sons, Elvington, sold for 600 guineas to PA &SJ Teasdale, Hawnby

Reserve Champion Ram

C D Timm, Appleton Roebuck, sold for 450 guineas to W & L Caley, Tibthorpe

Best M.V. Accredited Suffolk Shearling Ram

1st R & P Kitson, Asenby

2nd C D Timm, Appleton Roebuck

3rd J Chapman-Jewitt, Folkton

Best M.V. Accredited Texel Shearling Ram

1st P B Fox & Sons, Elvington

2nd H Burkhill, Harpham

3rd G Bulmer, Salton

Best M.V. Accredited Charollais Ram Lamb

1st C Dougherty, Kirby Misperton

2nd C Dougherty, Kirby Misperton

3rd C Dougherty, Kirby Misperton

Best M.V. Accredited Charollais Shearling Ram

1st C D Timm, Appleton Roebuck

2nd DR Whitcher, Whenby

3rd C Dougherty, Kirby Misperton