A trio of home-bred Pyle Old English Game bantams from regular Co. Durham exhibitor Andrew Addison was the standout entry and reached one of the mart's highest poultry prices ever when they dazzled at CCM Skipton’s Craven Feather Auctions Christmas show and sale. The highlight itself boasted a bumper entry of 485 poultry and waterfowl; the largest number by a country mile since sales re-started post-bird flu. (Sat, Dec 14).
The smart trio caught the eye of Garstang-based judge Tony Coates, a renowned national judge as well as an Old English Game breeder with several best-in-show and champion titles under his belt this year. Tony is no stranger to the Skipton mart though this occasion was his first in an official capacity. So impressed was he with the small fowl class winner and champion trio which had travelled from Romaldkirk, near Barnard Castle, that Tony went on to bid the day’s very handsome top price of £230 for the 2024-bred pullets and unrelated cockerel.
Tony said of his choice: “I had no hesitation at all in giving them the win. They were a stand-out, lovely, even-coloured trio and I was keen to bid for them. All the birds here today were good quality. It was hard choosing the prize winners.”
Reserve champion and red rosette winner in the large fowl class went to previous title-winner Mark Rangeley, Slaithwaite, near Huddersfield, for two 2024 blue/black Orpington pullets which sold for £50.
Other prize winners were second prize small fowl rosette awarded to Glossop's David Pownall, a regular exhibitor and previous champion on more than one occasion, for a pair of 2024 show line white Wyandottes which sold for £75. Third prize small fowl was awarded to a pair of 2024 Langshans from M Hutchinson, Barnard Castle, making £185, while David Pownall chipped in again with a third prize in the large fowl class for two nice 2024 Buff Orpington pullets which added a further £120 to his pocket.
Waterfowl entries saw the first prize go to D&L Clapham, Kirkby Stephen, for a pair of small white call ducks that later went for £70. Second place was awarded to Henry Bailey, Long Lee, Keighley, for two large Yellow Belly runner ducks which sold for £90. Third place and a hammer price of £50 went to Co. Dorham’s John Brougham, Crook, for a 2024-bred pair of large runner trout ducks.
Several other prices realised on the day were far from paltry, with two silver laced Wyandottes at £160; a further trio of OEG bantams at £150; Buff Orpingtons, a pair of call ducks and a further trio of OEG bantams reaching £120 with £90 being the knock-down price for a Silver Laced Wyandotte.
Show Results
Class 1 – Small Fowl 1st and Champions: A Addison Lot 98 £230 2nd: D Pownall Lot 120 £75 3rd: M Hutchinson Lot 185 £185
Class 2 – Large Fowl 1st and Reserve Champions: M Rangeley Lot 47 £50 2nd: S Ellerby Lot 50 unsold 3rd: D Pownall Lot 30 £120
Class 3 – Waterfowl 1st: D&L Clapham Lot 91 £70 2nd: H Bailey Lot 85 £90 3rd: J Brougham Lot 82 £50