A NEW Skipton Auction Mart record price for a single sheep was set at the Beltex Sheep Society’s 14th annual show and sale of pedigree rams and females.

The £9,975 (9,500gns) figure was achieved by the supreme and male champion, from the Signature pedigree flock – formerly Hudhey – of Accrington farmer and butcher, George Cropper.

It was also the highest price paid this year for a Beltex shearling tup.

March 2013-born Hudhey Tenacious is by Hudhey Rockafella, out of Hudhey Razzle Dazzle, which was first-prize aged ewe recently.

The title winner sold in a two-way split to Henry Jewitt, of Romaldkirk, and Brian Hall, of Ainstable, Carlisle.

At 19, Henry Jewitt is one of the youngest breeders in the society’s flock book. He started with Beltex in 2006 and now has 55 ewes.

This year alone, he was reserve female champion at the Three Counties Show, first-prize aged ram at the Great Yorkshire, reserve overall at the Royal Welsh and champion at both Northumberland and Skelton Shows.

Brian Hall founded his current pedigree flock in 2001 with nine ewes from Belgium. He now runs 120 ewes and has had multiple show and sale successes.

George Cropper’s Hudhey Rockafella, sire of the supreme champion, was reserve supreme and reserve male champion, and made 2,600gns.

The first and secondprize ram lambs were from Neil and Jane Noble’s Hillview flock, Guisborough. Both are by Matt’s Superman out of Bridge dams. The couple bought the Beltex Bridge flock, Middlesbrough, last year.

A Matt’s Playboy shearling ram from Messrs Jones and Roberts, South Wales, sold for 1,750gns to S&RE Williamson, Hamsterley.

This year’s Beltex showcase attracted a record number of 348 sheep, 301 of which found new homes. Shearling ram averages rose by £140.78 to level at £726.49.

Averages: Gimmer lambs £407.17 (2013, £420), shearling gimmers £395.03 (£445.73), aged ewes £537.06 (£417.90), ram lambs £406.79 (£475.65), shearling rams £726.49 (£585.71) and aged rams £1,325.63 (£609).