WITH the sun shining for the first time in many a week on the Michaelmas Fair on October 4, many buyers were absent, catching up with work on the land. However, trade was up in all departments.

There was a good entry of just under 14,000 sheep, including 560 pedigree. Suffolk Rams averaged a fraction less than last year at £193.86 with the top price of the day being at the dizzy heights of 500gns for a splendid shearling ram from W H Clubley and Sons from Middleton-on-the-Wolds. Texel Rams averaged £159.43 in contrast to £160.70 in 1999 with the top shearling of the day coming from last year's champion, P Jewitt and Son, which this year made 350gns.

Charollais averages would be a little disappointing at £123.21 with the top-priced shearling ram coming from C W and V Marwood, which made 320gns.

Prize winners were as follows:

Suffolk shearling rams: W H Clubley, Middleton-on-the-Wolds; M Read, Hemingby.

Suffolk ram lambs: A E Glaves, Brompton; C & K Milburn, Scagglethorpe; J T & E A Midgley, Uncleby Wold.

Untrimmed ram lambs: C & K Milburn (and overall champion), Scagglethorpe; C G Harper and Son, Newton-upon-Rawcliffe; W H Clubley, Middleton-on-the-Wolds.

Pair of ram lambs: W H Clubley and Son, Middleton-on-the-Wolds; J T and E A Midgley, Uncleby Wold; A E Glaves, Brompton.

Texel shearling rams: P Jewitt, Hutton Buscel; B & A Myers, Winksley; C L & S B Pratt, Rillington.

Texel ram lambs: C & K Milburn, Scagglethorpe; J & R M Lucas, Fimber; J Cunningham, East Rounton.

Charollais shearling rams: 1 & 3 C W & V Marwood, Whenby; S Hunter, Hunmanby.

Charollais ram lambs: 1 & 2 C W & V Marwood, Whenby; S Hunter, Hunmanby.

Average prices were (last year's prices in brackets):

Ewes: Draft £16.58 (£11.74), top price £44; North and Gimmers £28.60 (£33.24), top £36; Suffolk Gimmer shearlings £56.73 (£48.30), top £72; Suffolk X £34.66 (£29.40), top £49.50; Mule and Masham £23.48 (£24.18), top £33.50; Masham Gimmer shearlings £38.81 (£36), top £61; Mule Gimmer shearlings £40.04 (£34.38), top £45; Texel Gimmer shearlings £43.82 (£41.37), top £46; Texel X £27.96 (£39), top £30; store lambs £27.10 (£22.76), top £32. Gimmer lambs: Suffolk average £27 (£28.35), top £34.50; Texel X average £25.80 (£22.08), top £25.80; Mules average £29 (£22.21), top £29.