Baa-gains galore at CCM Addingham Sheepbreeders charity lambs sale
There were baa-gains galore at Addingham & District Sheep Breeders’ Association’s 12th annual charity show and sale at Skipton Auction Mart. (Wed, Dec 12)
Big-hearted farmers donated 27 lambs in total, the majority North of England Mules, and bidders at the ringside were equally as generous when the lambs went under the hammer, this year raising £3,800 in aid of annual beneficiary, Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice in Oxenhope. The annual showcase has now raised around £44,000 for Manorlands.
Husband and wife judges, Nick and Heather Bowker, who both work for the NFU in Skipton, chose a Mule wether lamb from the Walker family – Patrick and Janet, and their son Thomas -from Fold Farm, Appletreewick, as their overall champion. They also lifted the charity lamb title in 2015 and finished third last year.
Shown by Thomas Walker, the victor, by the family’s K7 Otterburn Lodge Blue Faced Leicester tup, acquired as a ram lamb last year from local breeders Ashley and Rachael Caton, sold no less than four times for a staggering total of £1,030.
The first purchaser at £340 was John Turner, of Draughton, who, like other successful bidders, donated the lamb for resale. Skipton NFU then stepped in with a £330 bid, followed by £210 from annual sponsor Carrs Billington. The final bid of £150 came from CCM chairman Anthony Hewetson, of Bank Newton.
As in past years, the lamb will now be over-wintered until the New Year, when it will once more go under the hammer at a Monday primestock sale at Skipton, with proceeds again going to Manorlands.
Back in the show, Chris Ryder, of Blubberhouses, stood runner-up, with Richard Mawson, of Addingham, third. In fourth place were the Walker family, from Dunsop Bridge, charity lamb champions the previous two years. Further notable prices for leading show lambs included successful bids of £330, £210 and £150.
Other lambs were donated by– JR Carr, WA Booth, S Spensley, A&R Caton, C Nelson & Son, JA Throup, K&GJ Huck, BW Appleton, KM&L Throup, M Ryder & Son, T&J Smith, RD Metcalfe & Son, JK Wilson, Ellis Bros, N Houseman, A&SL Throup, JC&N Throup, J Berry, FG Throup, P Addyman & Son, Ashfield Farms and JW Stockdale & Son.
This year’s kitty was again boosted by individuals who had kindly donated various auction lots - R Baxter, E Addyman, J Harsley, J Lofthouse, FW&J Edington, Ken Horner, M Watkinson, M Spensley, M Lawn, AJ Mason, PL Metcalfe, JA Stoney & Son and M Gray.
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Both Addingham & District Sheepbreeders and CCM Auctions again paid thanks to all who both donated and purchased lambs or other items at the annual charity highlight. “Yet again they ‘raised the baa’ beyond all expectations,” said Addingham Sheepbreeders’ Joe Throup, one of the main organisers.
Molly Ralphson, local hospice fundraiser for Sue Ryder Manorlands, said: "We are delighted with how much the charity auction raised and would like to thank everyone involved, the organisers, the farmers and the sponsors. We need to find £2.1 million each year to continue the specialist care we offer at the hospice and it is thanks to events such as these in our local community that means we can."
Manorlands, along with national farming charity, the Addington Fund, and Brooklands Community Special School in Skipton, will also share in a further windfall of £3,500 raised at charity auctions staged alongside Skipton Auction Mart’s annual Christmas primestock shows last month.