There were however an abundance of five figure prices and no fewer than three which sold for more than £40,000, two of which came from Paul Hallam and his wife Sue who sold 12 shearling rams from their Derbyshire-based Arnfield flock to average a massive £17,525.
The first Arnfield ram, a shearling son of the £52,000 champion Ewbank bought here two years ago and out of a ewe by Aygill Upper Class, was knocked down for £47,000 to Richard Harker, Grayrigg Hall and Richard Hargreaves, Barley.
Just behind, on £46,000, was the second Arnfield shearling, a son of Arnfield Patch – a tup retained for breeding last year out of one of the flock's top show ewes – out of another ewe by Upper Class. The buyer was Geoff Marwood, Long Green.
Outwith the Hallam pen, Richard Harker set up a well earned double when he took the champion ticket on the second day's trading, to add to the same accolade achieved at Kirkby Stephen, the previous week. His pen leader this time, at £42,000, was a son of a £30,000 Bull and Cave tup bought two years ago out of a ewe by a £10,000 Seal Houses. The buyer was Arthur Slack, Stoneriggs.
For full report and pictures of the leading prices see this week's The Scottish Farmer, out November 3.