All four titles were reclaimed by last year’s victors, with their pens also heading the selling prices in their respective classes. While selling averages were down on the year across all sections, this could be put down to the fact that inclement weather over recent weeks had adversely affected the growth of many lambs on offer.

In the Swaledale show arena, father and daughter, John and Rose Tennant, of Low Bucker House Farm, Bordley, retained the Craven Cattle Marts Trophy for the champion pen of ten gimmer lambs, the majority sired by a Murton Hall tup.

The winners, picked out by judge John Nutter Jnr, of Hurst Green, also headed the day’s selling prices at £150 per head when claimed locally by Angus Dean in Threshfield. The Tennants were among several consignees of 100-plus Swaledale lambs and their run averaged £67.33 per head, with Mr Tennant’s brother Rob, who farms in Conistone-with-Kilnsey, achieving the leading average of £73.15 per head with his three-figure consignment, which sold to a top of £140.

Of those presenting less than 100 lambs, Ian Wilson, of Winterburn, averaged £96.72 per head, with a high of £125, this price also equalled by another offering from Embsay’s John and Claire Mason.

CCM’s general manager and auctioneer Jeremy Eaton noted: “Trade for the 1,472 Swaledales was easier than last year’s heady average of £79.13 to record a 2017 average of £57.40 per head. While the best runs of lambs were slightly down on the year, the weather through the spring and summer caused lambs to be smaller and, without the usual condition, saw older lambs harder to move.” 

The third seasonal turnout of North of England Mule Sheep Association lambs following the two main shows and sales last month attracted another strong entry of 2,822 head from association members.

Malhamdale’s Robert Crisp, of Nelson House, Calton, secured a memorable hat-trick when lifting the title for the third year in succession with another strong pen of ten Mule gimmers, like his previous victors all home-bred by tups from Nidderdale’s Dick Burley and Ellis Bros, of Addingham Moorside.

Judge Nick Brown, of Broadway, Gloucester, saw the champion pen go on to rubber stamp his choice in the sale ring when knocked down for top price in class of £116 per head to regular Devon buyer Robert Partridge, of Teignmouth. Mr Crisp sold further pens at £112 and £106, with the former price, one of a good number hitting three figures, matched by Threshfield’s Charles and Richard Kitching.

Also penned for sale among the total entry of 4,748 Mules were 1,384 lambs from non-NEMSA members, these selling to a top of £96 per head for a pen from RG&H Preece, of Roeburndale, Lancaster. NEMSA lambs averaged £77.08 per head (-£4.69 on 2016), those from non-members £74.44 44 (-£4.90).

Skipton Auction Mart’s livestock sales manager Ted Ogden, who sold the Mules,  commented: “A steady trade for all goods ensured lambs got away at some healthy prices, with plenty of darker faced running lambs highly sought after when achieving £84-£95 throughout, with lambs for tupping selling at £95- £100.”

There was another hat-trick of show successes in the Dales Mules class when it was also won for the third year running by Yorkshire Dales father and son Richard and Matt Close, of Calfhalls Farm, Starbotton, their victorious pen of ten again similarly bred by a mix of Tan House Blue Faced Leicester and home-bred rams. They sold for a section-leading £98 per head to Nick Brown, who also judged this class.

The Close family retained the Josephine Bartlett Memorial Trophy, donated by her family in memory of the late local magistrate from Kettlewell. “I was proud to be able to call her a friend,” said Richard Close. Dales Mules – 385 were penned for sale - averaged £73.15 each (-£11.98).

The Masham gimmers show class was won for the second year in succession by lambs from Allan and Susan Throup and family, of Higher House Farm, Silsden, again all by their own pedigree Teeswater tups. Allan’s father, the late Kenneth Throup, first began showing and selling Masham ewes at Skipton in 1939 and the family has maintained that tradition ever since.

The show class was again sponsored by Masham Sheep Breeders’ Association and judged by Chris Gibson, of Endmoor Kendal. The victors retained the Kemp Spokes Trophy and sold for a class-leading £102 per head to WD Douthwaite & Partners in Kirkby Overblow, Harrogate, with the Throups also presenting the second prize pen, which did almost as well at £101 each when also joining Mr Partridge. They also sold further pens at £85, £84, £80 and £78.

The overall Masham gimmer lamb selling average for the 316-strong entry was £70.63 per head (-£16.27). “While there were customers for the best types and tupping lambs were a fair trade, second quality running lambs were harder to place,” said section auctioneer Mr Eaton.

Also among the mix were 157 Texel gimmer lambs, which sold to an overall average of £76.09 per head.

The show was sponsored by McClarrons and Massey Feeds. Full results, prices and averages are at www.ccmauctions.com