THE UK Valais Blacknose Sheep Society attracted its biggest gathering ever for its third show and sale and first annual meeting.

Tim Dunne, of Cumbria’s Westmorland Valais, had a tremendous outing, scooping supreme reserve champion, champion female, reserve male and achieved 3,500gns for his ewe lamb Westmorland Follies Bergere.

Jenni McAllister and Raymond Irvine, with their Highland Valais Blacknose, saw their ram Highland Eric crowned supreme champion and their ram Highland Egbert top the sale, selling to the New Zealand Valais Blacknose Sheep Society for 10,000gns.

The Valais Blacknose is the UK’s fastest-growing sheep breed, and attracted breeders from across the UK, judges from Switzerland and buyers from around the world to Harrison & Hetherington’s Borderway Auction Mart, Carlisle. There were 195 entries in the show.

The overall reserve supreme champion was Tim Dunne's Westmorland Dilly. His Highland Ebony and Westmorland Frankie were awarded reserve female and reserve male respectively.

The Young Handler’s classes saw 16 entries, split into two age categories. Angus Jacobsen won the biggest class, the 11 years and younger, while Emma Campbell won the older class.

The society was established in 2015, by Jenni McAllister, Raymond Irvine and Jamie Wood, and has gone from strength to strength.

The sale following the show saw 74 Blacknose Valais go under the hammer, with Highland Valais Blacknose selling 2016 born ewes Highland Diamond and Highland Deedee for 5,000gns and 4,000gns, respectively, and gimmer Highland Faye selling at 2,400gns.

Cumbria’s Tim Dunne sold Westmorland Follie Bergere for 3,500gns and Westmorland Fred for 3,200gns. Other notable sales were Henry and Emily Duncan's ewe lamb Whitehall Esther for 2,600gns and Northumberland breeder Jamie Wood selling Prendwick Esther a ewe lamb for 2,400gns.

Leading prices: – Highland Egbert, born April 2017, sold for 10,000gns to Christin Reed, New Zealand; Highland Diamond, 2016 born ewe, sold for 5,000gns to Christin Reed, New Zealand; Highland Deedee, 2016 born ewe, sold for 4000gns to Christin Reed, New Zealand. Westmorland Follies Bergere, ewe lamb sold for 3500gns to Charlotte Wemyss, Fife; Westmorland Fred, tup lamb sold for 3,200gns to V Carter, Lockerbie; Whitehall Esther, ewe lamb, sold for 2,600gns to Paul McMillan, Newton Stewart. Highland Faye, ewe lamb, sold for 2,400gns to SD & D Roberts, Powys; Prendwick Esther, ewe lamb, sold for 2,400gns to Adam Kirkbride, Whitehaven; Jura Fergie, ewe lamb, sold for 2,050gns to undisclosed purchaser; and Prendwick Ebonee, ewe lamb, sold for 2,000gns to Adam Kirkbride, Whitehaven.