Sheep salver returns

A SPECIAL salver is back in the possession of The Cheviot Sheep Society. The Upper Hindhope Salver was originally presented to Harrison Auction Mart at Lockerbie, by Mrs Kirk of Ettrick Hall, Selkirk in 1919, to be awarded to the breeder of the best pen of five home-bred rams at the Lockerbie Ram Sale. This salver was won outright by the Douglas family of Upper Hindhope, Jedburgh and was represented by Gavin Douglas to the Society for annual competition at the Lockerbie Show and Sale to the vendor who has the highest average. It was presented the society’s recent AGM by Fraser Douglas, Gavin’s son, to I H G Warden, Skelfhill, Teviothead, Hawick. Congratulations were expressed to all the team at Skelfhill who had a cracking pen of nine two-shear rams, which broke the breed record for the highest average of £5033.33. Included in the pen was their show champion, a son of Kale Dynamite, which sold for £18,000 to R H Paton, Castle Crawford, Biggar. Later. a Townfoot Showman son sold for £8000 to new breeder Ian McKnight, Dalhabboch, New Luce.

A spokesperson said: “On behalf of the society, a huge thank you to Gavin and family for donating the salver. We look forward to presenting it annually for years to come.”