THE first multi-breed sale for hill sheep to take place at Bentham Auction Mart went off successfully last Friday (March 2).

The highlight of the day was the third annual sale for the Dalesbred Sheepbreeders Association with entries of outstanding quality.

The Carr family of Horton-in-Ribblesdale sold their two crop champion ewe for £1,000 to Nathan Brown of Littledale, Lancaster.

Swaledale sheep were also in strong demand and the market record for a Swaledale female was broken with champion ewe and a gimmer shearling being sold for £750.

Herdwick Breeders were also in good form with the highest being the Champion Gimmer shearling, shown by the Grisedale family of Crooklands, which sold for a mart record of £220 to Raymond Heigh, of Bentham.