HERDWICK sheep were top of the flocks at Skipton Auction Mart with a Silsden breeder taking the prize for reserve champion.

The herd took all the top honours at the mart’s annual Rare and Native Stock Breeders Auctions of rare, minority and traditional breeds.

There was a wide variety of sheep penned for both showing and sale, with more than 500 animals overall.

Standing reserve champion was a four-year-old female Herdwick bred by Sharon Spaven, of Jenkin Farm, Silsden Moor.

Known fondly at home as Bramble, the animal sold for 100 guineas.

This was Sharon’s first foray into the show arena, and she only started breeding Herdwicks four years ago.

The top price of 240 guineas went to the first-prize-winning Longwool male from Cheshire. The sheep’s father, a Cradwell ram, sold for 65 guineas to Isobel Lampkin, of Silsden, who also bought the first-prizewinner in the Longwool females show class.