The annual showcase has now raised over £40,000 for Manorlands and bidding at the ringside for the 27 charity lambs on offer, predominantly Mule wethers and all donated by generous sheep farmers from across the region, was nothing short of flamboyant, notably for the champion, which was presented for the second year running by the Walker family, from Brennand Farm, Dunsop Bridge.

The title-winning Mule wether lamb, fully home-bred by a Walker Blue Faced Leicester ram lamb, out of a Swaledale ewe, first sold to annual show sponsor, Chris Pearson, of PFS-Carrs, based at the auction mart for £300, who re-donated it for sale.

It was then purchased in turn by co-judge Chris Heseltine, of Bolton Abbey, Skipton Auction Mart foreman Andrew Wright and the second co-judge, Embsay’s Claire Mason, who all handed it back for re-sale.

The final bid for the champion, making its total selling price a whopping £750, came from CCM Auctions via charity sale auctioneer Sam Bradley and, 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, with proceeds again going to Manorlands.

The second prize charity lamb was shown by Ken and Lynne Throup, of Silsden Moor, with the Walker family from Appletreewick finishing third and Kevin Wilson, of Blubberhouses fourth.
 
Other lambs were donated by JR Carr, N Houseman, J&T Smith, BW Appleton, G Fairburn, A&SL Throup, R Mawson, JC&N Throup, J Berry, FG Throup, Ellis Bros, JW Stockdale, RD Metcalfe & Son, G&MA Lawn, P Addyman & Son, Ashfield Farms, JA Throup, M Ryder and C Nelson.

This year’s kitty was also boosted by others who had donated auction prizes – R Baxter, E Addyman, J Harsley, J Lofthouse, J Bradley, K Jackson, S Spensley, FW&J Edington, Ken Horner, M Watkinson, WA Booth and M Lawn.

Both Addingham Sheepbreeders and CCM Auctions paid huge thanks to all who both donated and purchased lambs or items at the annual highlight. “Baa none, there wasn’t a sheepskate among them!” noted one punster.

Molly Ralphson, local hospice fundraiser for Sue Ryder Manorlands, said: "We are extremely grateful to everyone involved in the charity auction. The generosity of the farmers who donated their lambs and other goods, the bidders, the sponsor and the auction mart really do make a huge difference to the work we do at Manorlands.

“We need to raise £2.3 million per year to keep our services going so people can get the specialist care they need when they need it the most and without the generosity of our local community hosting events such as these it just wouldn't be possible."

Manorlands, along with national farming charity, the Addington Fund, and Brooklands Community Special School in Skipton, will also share in a further windfall of £4,385 raised at charity auctions staged alongside the annual high profile Christmas primestock shows at Skipton Auction Mart late last month.

Pork pies, other produce and entries in other standalone competitions were again generously donated by willing participants, along with other individual donations, including support from local companies. All were auctioned off to a whole host of enthusiastic bidders, who again dug deep into their pockets. The festive charity fund-raiser was also boosted by a substantial donation from farmers and wholesale butchers John Penny and Sons in Rawdon.

The Addingham Sheepbreeders charity fixture formed part of the mart’s fortnightly Wednesday sale of 2,504 store lambs and breeding sheep, which sold to an overall average of £53.80 per head for a turnout of mixed quality. However, there were some decent top end prices, with P Johnson, of Trawden, selling a pen of 27 Texels at £75.50 each.

The largest lot on the day was a pen of 99 Texels from Ralph Crabtree, of Low Snowden, Otley, which sold for £72 each, while Ronnie Bailey, from Reeth, sold 19 Blue Texels at £80 and Silsden’s David Gray 25 Beltex at £76.

Fortnightly sheep sales return in the New Year, on Wednesday January 10, with an anticipated entry of 2,500 head. Entries close on January 2.