The North Craven Gunnerfleet pedigree Limousin herd of father and son, Jim and Ian Handley, based at Gunnerfleet Farm in Chapel-le-Dale, Ingleton, consigned a brace of 2016 bulls, one standing champion in the hands of head stockman Brent Shuttleworth and both selling for joint top price of 2,800gns.

Both were by the family’s 17,000gns stock bull, Masaiscote Graffiti, and the duo joined the same buyer, Lincolnshire breeder and successful showman Clive Goulsbra, from Brickyard Farm in Authorpe, Louth.

First up was Gunnerfleet Mustard, with a back pedigree to the formidable Wilodge Vantastic, followed by the show champion, Gunnerfleet Merling,, a half brother to Mustard bred from a good female line in Gunnerfleet Ginny.

Reserve champion was a March, 2016, Aberdeen-Angus bull, Airedale Wallander, from the Airedale pedigree herd of South Craven father and son farmers and butchers, David and Joshua Isherwood.

The bull is by Weeton Lord Horatio, acquired in 2014 from John Loftus’s Weeton pedigree herd and brother to Lord Heath, sire of the UK 14,000gns record price calf, Diamond Mine. Out of Crook Rise Willful, the overall runner-up, the first bull into the sale ring, sold for 2,000gns to RC Turnbull, of Coxwold, York.

Mr Isherwood established his herd at Lane Bridge Farm, Kildwick, in 2013 to add prestige to the combined farming and butchery operation, and it has since expanded quickly. Prime quality meat from the herd is also sold at the family-run Isherwoods Butchers in Kirkgate, Silsden.

The first prize female was a 2014 Beef Shorthorn from another North Craven breeder, Graham Coates, of Rainscar Farm, Stainforth. His Ballard Tansy Havana, bred in North Yorkshire by FJ Hugill, sold for 1,000gns to JC Bellerby, of Weeton.

The show, judged by Dunsop Bridge’s Rob Walker, produced an average of £2,590 for 2016-born Limousin bulls.

It formed part of Skipton’s fortnightly Wednesday store cattle sale, which attracted 884 head, among them another high quality turnout of 301 young feeding bulls, which got away well at similar values to the previous sale, with a higher percentage of strong cattle in the under 12-month section.

Smart, shapely bulls under 12 months made £1,100-£1,270, with an impressive pen of 14 nine-to-11-month-olds from WH&MA Keighley, of Leathley, Otley, averaging £1,159. The overall Continental-cross selling average was £1,002 per head.

Trade for the 504 store cattle was generally strong and all classes sold away well. Continental-cross bullocks averaged £1,021 per head, their heifer counterparts £972.

An increased entry of 50 feeding cows topped at £1,480 for a Limousin from Chris Akrigg, of Cray, and levelled at £951 per head. There were12 active buyers at the ringside and the mart says more beef-sired feeding cows are required for Wednesday sales.