A new record average was achieved at the Suffolk Sheep Society's premier show and sale, with a Worcestershire consignor being a major contributor.

The two top prices of the day, Muiresk and Cairness ram lambs selling for 60,000gns and 35,000gns respectively were both out of dams by Worcester-bred Stockton Storm.

John Sinnett's Stockton consignment of 12 ram lambs at the Society's premier Edinburgh sale reflected optimism in commercial sheep and strengthening demand for the Suffolks' ability to finish early lambs.

A packed sale ring (July 25) saw bidding on 209 ram lambs sell to an average of £2,909 - up £642 on last year, with 40 price tags in excess of 3,000gns and outstripping the 1995 average of £2,772.

The top Stockton lamb, judged reserve breed champion, sold for 28,000gns the third highest price. Keith Evans, of North Wales, bought the Stockton lamb, by Crosemanor Jubilee King, out of a dam by Cairness Double Top and a great dam by Muiresk Aston Martin.

Stockton's team of 12 lambs averaged £4,357.50, grossing £52,290, with the second highest price endorsing the export sale status, being purchased for the Bawnogue flock in Southern Ireland for 10,000gns. And while the top price lamb came from John's group of three another Stockton lamb, by Stockton Sindar, took first prize in the ram lamb class.

Other local highlights included V E & B M Samuel, Upper Monkton, Hereford, and C J Holmes, Worcester, paying 10,000gns for a Muiresk ram lamb by Bawnogue Hercules. John Sinnett put up 8,400gns for a lamb by Strathisla Kingsway, out of a dam by Glenisla Godfather, bred by National Flock champion, Robbie Wilson, of Aberdeen. John also purchased a ram lamb from J S Hulme of Shropshire for 3,000gns.

It was the Muiresk consignment of 12 ram lambs presented by Kenny and Barclay Mair from Kinnermit, near Turriff, that set the pace taking the top price of 60,000gns with the supreme champion. The ace in the pack, purchased by Jimmy Douglas, Woodhead of Cairness, Fraserburgh, is by the now Belgium owned Muiresk Manat, out of a dam by Stockton Storm, and whose record price granddam is by Pankymoor Prelude.

Jimmy Douglas, who last year took the top price of 32,000gns, this year peaked at 35,000gns. The ram by Cairness Capello out of another Stockton Storm dam was purchased for export to Southern Ireland by Tom Bailey of the Glenho flock, Co Meath.

Coming in from Southern Ireland, Tom Bailey, sold for 25,000gns, a lamb by Glenisla Sydney, out of a dam by Stockton Simply the Best to Robbie Wilson, Strathisla, Aberdeenshire.

Warwickshire based Charles Harding judged the Muiresk trio including the breed champion, as the champion pen of three. The previous days' judging, in a capacity show-ring, was backed when bidding took the trio to 71,500gns. "They are an outstanding pen of good matched lambs, well fleshed, exceptional gigots with plenty of breed character," Mr Harding acknowledged, adding that they were shown in a more natural state reflecting changes in the pedigree world.

The twelve Muiresk lambs grossed £112,035, averaging £9,336.25. Other ram lambs selling in excess of 7,000gns: Alan R. Lawson, Hallington, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 16,000gns to Angus Wilson, Harehead, Selkirk, Jonathan Hayward, East Learmonth, Cornhill-on-Tweed, and Charles Proctor, Mains of Tollo, Turiff. Robbie Wilson, Strathisla, 10,000gns to Iain Barbour, Beechgrove, Annan; Also: 8,000gns to John Sinnett, Stockton, Worcester; Charles Proctor, Conveth, Aberdeenshire, 10,000gns to Myfyr A Evans, Rhaeadr, Denbigh. George Stuart, Birness, 10,000gns to David McCaughan, Ballyrock, Co Antrim, N. Ireland. Tom Bailey, 13,000gns to David Barron, Blackhall, Angus and George Stuart, Birness, Aberdeenshire. W.H. Sinnett, Stockton, 10,000gns to Herbert Stanley, Bawnogue, Co Laois, S. Ireland.

Top averages: Kenny & Barclay Mair, Muriesk, Aberdeenshire £9,336 (12) Terry and Robin Irwin, Kings, Devon £6,982 (4) Jimmy Douglas, Cairness, Aberdeenshire £5,321 (12); Robbie Wilson, Strathisla £4,900 (9); Tom Bailey, Glenho, S. Ireland £4,840 (10); Harry Stewart, Castlewellan £4,494 (5) W. H. Sinnett, Stockton, Worcester £4,357 (12); K.W. Hourston, Didcot, Orkney £3,622 (5); C. A. Proctor and Co. Conveth, Aberdeenshire £3,517 (6); G. L. Stuart, Birness, Aberdeenshire £3228 (8).

Show results

Single gimmer, Raymond Smith, Slains, Aberdeenshire

Single ewe lamb, Eric Bell, Glenhill, Aberdeenshire

Ram Lamb signet recorded, S. and W. Tait, Burnview, Co. Tyrone, NI; 2,S.G. Mair & Sons, Muriesk; 3 J.& A. Howie, Hillend, Lanarkshire; 4, A.J. & W.M. Norrie, Slackadale, Aberdeenshire.

Ram lamb, W. H. Sinnett & Sons, Stockton, Worcester; 2 George L Stuart, Birness, Aberdeenshire; 3 Tom Bailey, Glenho, Co Meath, S. Ireland; 4 J.G. Douglas, Cairness, Aberdeenshire; S.G. Mair & Sons, Muiresk, Aberdeenshire; C.A. Proctor & Co, Conveth, Aberdeenshire.

Pen of three ram lambs, S.G. Mair & Sons, Muiresk; 2 Jeff Bailey, Baileys, Co Meath, S. Ireland; 3 R.D. Fleming, Boreland, Lockerbie; 4 K.W. Hourston, Didcot, Orkney; 5 J.G. Douglas, Cairness; 6 J. H. Stewart, Castlewellan, Co Down, NI.

Ram lamb open, S.G. Mair, Muiresk, res W.H. Sinnett, Stockton.

Best ram lamb Northern area, S.G. Mair, Muiresk, res J.G. Douglas, Cairness

Best female, Raymond Smith, Slains

Breed champion, S.G. Mair & Sons, res W. H. Sinnett, Stockton.

ends