TWIN brothers Richard and David Findlay went head to head for championship honours at the Beltex Sheep Society's eighth annual production show and sale of pedigree rams and females at Skipton Auction Mart.

This time, it was Richard, of Quarry Farm,Westerdale, Whitby, who took both the female and supreme championship with a shearling ewe.

David, who trades with his wife Diane at Birdridding Farm, Coverham, Leyburn, had to settle for reserve supreme honours with a shearling ram, the male champion.

The result represented a change in fortunes following last month's annual National Progeny Show for pedigree and commercial Beltex sheep, also held at Skipton, when David clinched the supreme championship.

The supreme champion shearling ewe is a daughter of the Irish import Burnside Jethro, the Findlay twins' stock tup, bought for 4,800gns as a shearling at Carlisle and now proving a sire of growing repute.

Out of Clary Heart Breaker, a former shearling class winner at the Royal Highland Show, the victor sold for 1,250gns to I Wilson, of Kendal.

The reserve supreme champion from David Findlay, Northern Beltex Lionel Ritchie, a son of Cookstone Jim IV, out of the home-bred Northern Beltex Joella, made 800gns when bought by Harry Raw, of Eastburn.

Top price in the show at 1,500gns fell to a shearling ram, Skelton Whin Live Wire by Brickrow Johnny Boy, from Thomas Hunter, of New Town Farm, Hunmanby, Filey. It was bought by RN Mees, of Stafford.

The judge: David Cruikshank, of Castle Douglas.

Averages: Aged rams to £336 (£287), shearling rams to £1,575 (£420.08), ram lambs to £1,050 (£320.46), ewes to £325.50 (£241.50), gimmer shearlings to £1312.50 (£291.29), ewe lambs to £399 (£204.75).