A TOP bid of 15,000 guineas sent temperatures soaring in a packed sale ring at the Suffolk Sheep Society's National Show and Sale at Worcester on Saturday.

John Sinnett's ram lamb from the Stockton flock, at Stockton-on-Teme, Worcester, was selected as top on the shopping list for Kenny and Barclay Mair, of Aberdeenshire.

The star ram lamb, by Stockton Caslet was from the runner-up group of three.

Says John Sinnett, "He's a lamb with tremendous growth rate, he is all of 100kg with superb fleshing qualities."

It was a ram lamb from Geoff Biddulph's Pexhill flock from Cheshire which took breed championship.

Judge, David Calvert, of North Yorkshire described the lamb by Marwood Millennium Man, out of a dam by Birness Bon Jovi: "He was at 12 O'clock on the day, well fleshed, well balanced with breed character thrown in too."

The ram, which also won its class at the Royal Show was purchased for 3,400gns by Mike Attwell of the Seafield flock, Redditch.

Geoff Biddulph also sold to 5,500gns for a Didcot Orkney ram lamb, by to Nick Layton, of Parkgate, Hereford. Paul Fletcher of Callow, Kidderminster, took another Stockton Caslet ram lamb home for 4,200gns.

Clive Norbury of Market Drayton joined forces with Tom Cox of Church Eaton, Staffordshire to purchase two ram lambs from Mairs of Muiresk for 3,200gns and 3,400gns. Fifteen year old Tom Cox, sold the ram lamb which won the Shropshire and West Mid ram lamb class for 580gns.

Host auctioneers, McCartneys' Clive Roads, said he was delighted with the days trading: "The Suffolks have enjoyed a buoyant trade with good entries and results. The trade shows the commercial industry is confident in the breed and the finished lamb prices."

Sale averages: 105 ram lambs £1,315, up £200 on last year. 6 Shearling rams £864.50, up £50.