The quality of mostly new season's wool was again very good and there was quite a wide gap opening between sound, good-style wools and any faulty ones, Mr Ovens said.
There was definitely more interest in the 14 micron area, the first time for ''quite a while'', and that was positive for growers of finer woolsWhile prices were ''still miles away from where it needs to be sustainable'', there was a $3-$4 lift in some of those types.
European mills were dominant in buying and most of the good-quality wool was destined for Italy.
Chinese buying was very restrictive at the moment, he said.
There were eight or nine buyers chasing some of the lots at times so it was ''very animated'' in the auction room.
A range of prices. -Super fine adults: Twin Peaks (Omarama), 13.9 micron, 70.7% yield, 2071 greasy, 2929 clean; Longacre (Tarras), 14.6 micron, 71.3% yield, 1586 greasy, 2224 clean; Glenfoyle (Cromwell), 15.5 micron, 67.4% yield, 1234 greasy, 1831 clean; Cecil Peak (Queenstown), 15.9 micron, 75.7% yield, 1257 greasy, 1661 clean.
Extra fine, fine and medium adults: HK Joined/Closeburn (Ranfurly), 16.1 micron, 68.5% yield, 114 greasy, 1626 clean; Mt Grand (Wanaka), 16.2 micron, 69.7% yield, 1114 greasy, 1598 clean; Northburn (Cromwell), 16.5 micron, 68.5% yield, 1057 greasy, 1543 clean; Mt Fortune (Otago), 16.6 micron, 76.2% yield, 1176 greasy, 1543 clean; Matarae (Outram), 16.9 micron, 79.8% yield, 1224 greasy, 1534 clean; Bog Roy (Omarama), 17.4 micron, 73.2% yield, 1123 greasy, 1534 clean; Mt Florence (Kurow), 18 micron, 75.8% yield, 1123 greasy, 1482 clean.
Hoggets: Ardgour (Wanaka), 14.1 micron, 63.5% yield, 1267 greasy, 1995 clean; Cecil Peak, 15.5 micron, 74.1% yield, 1322 greasy, 1784 clean, 16.1 micron, 75.2% yield, 1186 greasy, 1577 clean Wainui (Cromwell), 15.8 micron, 73.3% yield, 1173 greasy, 1600 clean, and 16.4 micron, 74.6% yield, 1134 greasy, 1520 clean; Bog Roy, 16.7 micron, 73.9% yield, 1112 greasy, 1505 clean, 17.1 micron, 76.3% yield, 1134 greasy, 1486 clean, 17.6 micron, 74.2% yield, 1100 greasy, 1482 clean.
Necks and backs: Glenfoyle, 16.1 micron, 63% yield, 975 greasy, 1548 clean; Matarae, 16.6 micron, 73.8% yield, 1114 greasy, 1509 clean.
Pieces: Mt Grand, 16.6 micron, 70% yield, 943 greasy, 1347 clean.
Bellies: Cecil Peak, 19.5 micron, 70.8% yield, 804 greasy, 1136 clean.
