Addingham & District Sheep Breeders Association’s 18th Annual Charity Show and Sale
The Addingham & District Sheep Breeders Association’s 18th annual charity show and sale of farmer-donated lambs at CCM Skipton netted nearly £4,000, again in aid of Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice, Oxenhope. This boosts the total raised since the event’s inception to close to a magnificent £70,000.
In total, 25 lambs, predominantly North of England Mule wethers, were donated for sale by ever-generous regional farmers. Co-judges George Beckwith, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, and Peter Fox, Withgill, chose as their overall champion a Mule wether bred in the Yorkshire Dales by Roy Nelson, who trades as C Nelson and Sons at Lainger House, Bordley. It was sired by a tup acquired several years ago from Neil and Linda Allan’s Lakethwaite Bluefaced Leicester flock at Killington, north of Kirkby Lonsdale. Linda is the national secretary of the North of England Mule Sheep Association.
Out of a home-bred Swaledale ewe – Roy is a dyed-in-the-wool breed stalwart – the victor, recipient of the PFS Shield, was, by tradition, sold and returned to the ring several times by ever-supportive bidders. It was first knocked down to Craven Cattle Marts for £400, then subsequently to the mart-based Skipton & Clitheroe NFU, followed by Gargrave’s Simon Spensley, finally going home to Menwith Hill with Kevin Marshall, netting £800 in total.
The runner-up ticket went to Thomas Walker, again representing the Walker family, Appletreewick, their lamb making £110. Last year’s victor, Kevin Wilson, Blubberhouses, came third with a £115 sale, and Richard Stockdale, Burnsall, stood fourth, his charge making £120.
In addition, Manorlands, along with Brooklands Community Special School, Skipton, and Yorkshire Air Ambulance, all share a further windfall of £7,000 – a record amount – realised at charity auctions staged alongside the mart’s 17th annual Christmas primestock shows at the beginning of December.
Outside the prize winners, lambs were also donated by CM Ryder, JA&JC Throup, WP&B Walker, J&A Addyman, G&MA Lawn, N Houseman, R Harker, R Mawson, Ashfield Farms, J Blackwell, JW Sayer, KM&L Throup, R Carr, B Appleton, CT Akrigg, J Berry, FG&D Throup, Ellis Bros, AJ Mason, J Percival, and A&SL Throup. They were supplemented by further donations of individual items from John and Susan Wallbank, Liz Grassam, Simon Spensley, DB Greenwood, Margaret Watkinson, Eileen Addyman, Judy Lofthouse, and Manorlands.
Manorlands’ Senior Community Fundraiser for the Craven area, Adam Brunskill, said:
“On behalf of everyone at Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice, I'd like to say a huge thank you to Addingham Sheep Breeders, Craven Cattle Marts, and everyone who contributed towards this amazing total. Congratulations to all the prize winners in what was a competitive show. We are extremely grateful for the support shown by the local farming community who continue to be so generous, even during these challenging times. This support will enable our care to be provided when it matters most for more people.”