Just find the chivs are a bit sticky in the belly wool and a bit wrinkly to shear when they're not trying to boot you in the head ha. But then again iv been spoilt with bare bellied swales and mules probably. Is the Gritstone a non starter then, thought they look a good carcass Hill ewe? Any experience with them?I would respectfully say that you have been working with the wrong type of Cheviot. We scan 180% which is plenty for me running at 900 to 1200 ft up in the Cairngorms. As for shearing they are the very best of shearing always my favourites this also makes me wonder what type of Cheviot you have worked with. The gritstone will have about as much in common with the lairg Cheviot as an apple has with an orange.