Framing: £65,000 not to be sniffed at but Lanark Blackface buyers on choosy form

THERE was a packed ringside but it was obvious at this week's Lanark Blackface tup sale that buyers were being selective in their bidding.

Breed promotions manager Aileen McFadzean described the trade as a "very strong commercial sale". The Lanark sale thus echoed the other recent Blackface sales where the right sheep were very much in demand.

The two-day sale was topped with a 65,000 bid for a ram lamb from Hugh Blackwood, Auldhouseburn, who kept a half share of his sale topper with three purchasers taking the other 50 per cent of the tup's services. The trio were Woodburn of Netherwood, Campbell of Glenrath and Renwick of Blackhouse.

The top-priced shearling came from Alastair McArthur, Nunnerie, Elvanfoot, with a bid of 25,000 coming from three buyers; Campbell, Glenrath, Wight, Midlock and Hunter, Dalchirla.

The Connachan flock from Mary McCall Smith had a good sale, first of all taking the second top shearling price with a 24,000 joint bid coming from the McClymonts, Cuil and S McClymont, Tinnis. Two deals were done in the shearling ring at the 16,000 level. The first came from another of the Connachan entry with this one heading for both North Amulree after being bought by Tay and Torridon Estates and Smith of Whileysyke.

Then a second bid at the same level saw the top entry from the Wights of Midlock, Lanark going to Renwick of WilliamHope.

Back in the ram lamb ring there was strong bidding for the top lamb from J McGregor of Dyke farm and it rose to 28,000 before going to a trio of buyers; Wight, of Midlock, McArthur of Nunnerie and Balckwood of Auldhouseburn.

J & J Murray, Cross-slack, sold their top entry for 26,000 retaining a one-fifth share with the four other buyers being Black, Auldhouseburn, Burns, Craignell, Renwick, Bond, Glen, Gatehouse on Fleet and Milnmark

Next up in the ram lambs was the top entry from Connachan and he attracted a 22,000 bid before being knocked down to Wight of Midlock.

Two deals were then done at the 20,000 level in the ram lambs. First, Archie McGregor, Allanfauld, sold to Blackwood, Auldhouseburn and Dunlop of Elmscleugh.

Then Blackwood, Auldhouseburn recouped the same level of cash selling to Murray, Crossflat and McArthur, Arnicle, at the same level.

l Sale averages:

Shearlings ring 1: 343 sold at an average of 1,694. Last year, 356 sold at an average of 1879.

Shearlings ring 2: 282 sold at an average of 360. last year, 288 sold at an average of 363.

Ram lambs: 232 sold at an average of 2,776. Last year, 209 sold at an average of 3,102.