Stags of South Molton report a slightly bigger entry again with week and a very similar trade for the light and medium lambs, but the heavy lambs were back slightly on last week’s very strong trade.

It is very difficult to believe how two years can be so different with the corresponding market last year seeing the lambs average 172ppk nearly 40ppk below today’s sale.

All lambs were keenly sought after with all buyers present and needing to procure lambs.

Best trade again for the heavy lambs and the fresher continental bred lambs.

Again this week there were a number of plainer, under finished lambs forward which are harder to sell especially if going stale.

Topping the day at £116 to 55.5kg Texel crosses from Mr T Webber of Barnstaple with £115 to 53.2kg Suffolk crosses from Mr LW Reed of Nomansland.

£113.50 to 51.4kg Charollais crosses from Messrs DJ & RA Woollacott of Yarnscombe with £112.20 to 50kg Texel crosses again from Mr Webber, closely followed at £112 to 50.2kg Charollais crosses again from the Woollacott Family.

£111.50 twice; the first to 52kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs Bulworthy Partnership and the second to 53kg Hampshire crosses from Mr W Moore & Sons both of Rackenford.

£110.50 to Blue Faced Leicester from Messrs Lucas & Ridge of Chulmleigh with £110 four times; the first to 76kg Suffolk crosses from Mr G Mill & Partners Ltd of Witheridge; the second to 62kg Charollais crosses from Messrs Causier Tinley Enterprise of Uffculme; the third to 51kg Suffolk crosses from Mr R Irwin of Kings Nympton and the fourth to 50kg Texel crosses from Messrs AD & SM Bray of Knowstone.

£109.50 to 49.8kg Charollais crosses from Mr MI Britton of Torrington with £108.80 to 49kg Charollais crosses from Messrs A & S Hoskin of Bishops Nympton.

£108 to 57kg Suffolk crosses again from Bulworthy Partnership and £107 to 50.5kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs PJ & BJ Millman of Chulmleigh.

Best pens to 224ppk to 50kg Texel crosses from Mr T Webber of Barnstaple with 223ppk to 50.2kg Charollais crosses from Messrs DJ & RA Woollacott of Yarnscombe.

Three pens at 222ppk; the first to 46.8kg Texel crosses from Messrs PA & CJ Huxtable of Challacombe; the second to 49kg Charollais crosses from Messrs A & S Hoskin of Bishops Nympton and the third to 43kg Texel crosses from Mr R Irwin of Kings Nympton.

221ppk twice; both to Charollais cross pens again from Mr Irwin and the Woollacott Family.

220ppk three times; the first to 48.4kg Lleyn crosses from Messrs NSL & JR Williams of George Nympton; the second to 50kg Texel crosses from Messrs AD & SM Bray of Knowstone and the third to 49.8kg Charollais crosses from Mr MI Britton of Little Torrington.

219ppk twice; the first to 48pk Texel crosses from Mr M Jerrett of South Molton and the second to 42.3kg Charollais crosses from Mrs M Tapp of Molland.

218ppk to 45.4kg Charollais crosses from Messrs C & S Maddick of East Anstey with 217ppk to 43.8kg Charollais crosses from Messrs Irwin & Sons of Mariansleigh.

Six pens at 216ppk; the first to 53.2kg Suffolk crosses from Mr LW Reed of Nomansland; the second to 51kg Suffolk crosses from Mr R Irwin again; the third 42.4kg Charollais crosses from Mr GD Fuller & Son of Chulmleigh; the fourth to 44.9kg Texel crosses again from Messrs Bray; the fifth to 44kg Texel crosses from Messrs Huxtable again and the sixth to 43kg Texel crosses from Mr G Dart & Sons of Molland.

A smaller show of cull sheep this week but overall quality was better this week than last with a number of strong ewes forward.

An unexpected new buyer (on holiday) arrived and bought nearly half the ewes on offer helping the trade.

Trade definitely dearer than last week with the best ewes similar to the trade of the main Qurbani week and the Mules probably dearer than that some week.

The smaller ewes looked the dearest sold on the day with lots of small, meaty sorts between £55-£70.

Best Suffolk Mules all £90 plus with Mules £78 plus.

Topping the day at £113 to a grand Charollais ram from Mrs M Tapp of Molland who also topped the ewes with similar sheep to £104.

Texel crosses from Mr FR Chave & Son of Cruwys Morchard to £98 with £97 twice; both to Suffolk Mule pens from Messrs IP & L Stagg of Barnstaple and Messrs DJ & LM Stephens of Oldways End.

£96 to Texel crosses from Mr W Moore & Sons of Rackenford with £95 to Suffolk Mules from Mr RW Tapp & Son of South Molton.

£94.50 to Texel crosses from Messrs GR & MA Cox of Witheridge with £92 three times; the first to Texel crosses from Mr AM Dennis of Swimbridge; the second to Texel crosses from Messrs J & H Searle of Ash Mill and the third to Suffolk Mules from Messrs DJ & LM Stephens of Oldways End.

£90 to further Texel crosses from the Chave Family with £89.50 three times; all to Suffolk Mules from Mr DJ Wensley; Mr AM Dennis again and Messrs C & DR Nicholas of Beara Charter.

£89 four times; the first to Suffolk Mules from Messrs DJ & RA Woollacott of Yarnscombe; the second to Texel crosses from Messrs NSL & JR Williams of George Nympton; the third to Suffolk Mules from Mrs Tapp again and the fourth to Messrs Nicholas’ second Suffolk pen.