Stags of South Molton report a massive entry of lambs at Thursday's sale, totally eclipsing the week before's bumper entry and a jump in trade which amazingly got dearer as the sale went on.

No one a month ago could have predicted a month on in November that lambs would be selling over the 200ppk mark.

The fact that the big entry of lambs did not depress the trade indicates that these prices may hold for a while. Best sellers were again the well covered 43-46kg lambs; as well as the bigger heavier lambs with severa; pens sold over the £100 mark.

The whole market averaged £89 per head with many lambs sold being over £10 per head dearer on the week. Top of the day at £110 to 62kg Charollais crosses from Messrs Irwin & Sons of Mariansleigh with £108.50 three times; the first to 60kg Suffolk crosses from Mr W Smale of North Molton; the second to 65kg Suffolk crosses from Mr MJ Selley of South Molton and the third to 54.9kg Charollais crosses from Mr RJ Evely of Peters Marland.

£106.50 to 60kg Charollais crosses from Mrs M Tapp of South Molton closely followed at £106 to 58kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs S & J Bale of Challacombe. £105.50 to 63kg Charollais crosses from Messrs PA & MEM Chudley of Romansleigh with £104 to 58kg Charollais crosses from Mr MJ King & Sons of Iddesleigh.

£101.50 to 55kg Texel crosses from Miss PMP Wyatt of Lynton closely followed at £101.20 to Mrs Tapp’s second 54kg pen. £99 to 59kg Texel crosses from Mr FJ Sing of Mariansleigh with £98.50 twice; the first to 55kg Charollais crosses again from Mr Evely and the second to Mr Sing’s second 56kg pen.

Best pens to 206ppk to smart 43kg Charollais crosses from Mr GD Fuller & Son of Chulmleigh with 202ppk twice; the first to 44.5kg Charollais crosses from Mr G Palfrey & Son of Stoodleigh and the second to 47kg Texel crosses from Messrs DW & J Jones of Heasley Mill. 201ppk three times; the first to 44.6kg Charollais crosses from Mr RJ Cole of Knowstone; the second to 43.3kg Texel crosses from Messrs S & KA Hamlin of Templeton and the third to 42.5kg Charollais crosses from Mr SA Willis of Prixford. 200ppk five times; the first to 43.7kg Texel crosses from Mr RP Williams of Winsford; the second to 45kg Charollais crosses from Messrs BJ & CJ Rowland of Mariansleigh; the third to 45.5kg Charollais crosses from Messrs Irwin & Sons also of Mariansleigh; the fourth to 44.8kg Texel crosses from Mr AW Fisher & Son of Oakford and the fifth to 46.1kg Charollais crosses from Mr G Mills & Partners Ltd of Witheridge.

199ppk to 43.9kg Charollais crosses from Messrs CP & CA Guscott of Dulverton with 198ppk seven times; the first to 44kg Texel crosses from Messrs Roberts & Phillips of Dulverton; the second to 40.5kg Charollais crosses from Mr SRJ Snell of Ashreigney; the third to Messrs Guscott’s second pen; the fourth to 44.9kg Suffolk crosses from Messrs S & KA Hamlin of Templeton; the fifth to 45.1kg Charollais crosses from Mrs M Tapp of South Molton; the sixth to 46kg Texel crosses from Miss PMP Wyatt of Lynton and the seventh to 46kg Charollais crosses from Messrs C & S Maddick of East Anstey.

128 store lambs met a very fast trade matching the trade for the prime lambs seen earlier in the day. Top of the day was seen for two super pen of Texel lambs from Mr DP Barthram of Rackenford at £78.50 and £78 respectively. Regular vendor Pauline North of Kings Nympton was also rewarded selling Texel cross lambs to £75. Overall average at £67.22 a high not seen for some time with the attendance of both prime and grazing buyers increasing in recent sales.

A smaller entry of cull sheep this week but trade dearer than last week and similar to two weeks ago. A very mixed entry forward with quite a few very plain ewes on offer. Most of the best ewes are £80 plus and the best Mules were over the £70 mark. Again probably the dearest ewes are the medium leaner types at around £58-68. Top of the day at £101.50 for a pen of Charollais crosses from Mr CF Rice of Chulmleigh with £98.50 to Suffolk crosses from Mr J Haydon of Ash Mill. £93 to Suffolk Mules from Mrs M Tapp of South Molton with Texel crosses from Mr RP Gammack of Kings Nympton at £90.50.

£88 to Suffolk Mules again from Mrs Tapp whilst Scotch Half Breds from Mr MJ King & Sons of Iddesleigh rose to £84, the same money as Mr Rice’s second Charollais cross pen. £83 to Mr Haydon second pen of Suffolks whilst two pen of similar bred ewes from Mr TL Dennis of Wembworthy and Mr Haydon again sold away at £80. £79.50 to Suffolk Mules from Mr BR May of Burrington with £79 three times; the first to Texel crosses from Messrs T & L Cole of Heasley Mill; the second to Suffolk Mules from Mr G Mills & Partners Ltd of Witheridge and the third to Texel crosses from Messrs M & V Dallyn Farms of West Buckland. Best rams to £94 for a Texel from Mr RW Kingdon of Challacombe with a Suffolk from Messrs Parsonage Farms of Chulmleigh at £84 closely followed by another Suffolk ram from Mr FC Reed of North Molton at £83.

READ MORE: South Molton market report, Thursday November 7