Mr Hall, who has 250 Beltex breeding ewes at his Scosthrop Farm, won the title with a home-bred Beltex-cross carcase, first prize winner in the 35-40 kg Continental class. It had a live weight of 36kg, 21.7kg deadweight, killing out percentage 60.2% and AHDB grading of E3L.

The overall victor, also awarded a special prize from the Northern Beltex Club, sold for top price of £250 to York butcher Anthony Swales for his Knavesmire Butchers shop in Albermarle Road.

Mr Swales, a multiple buyer of live primestock on the high profile show day, also paid £125 for the second prize 25-40kg Continental carcase (38kg 21.1kg E2) from Tom Walmsley, of Haverah Park Harrogate, and £48 for the first prize Swaledale carcase from the Stockdale family in Burnsall. It had a live weight of 42kg, 16.1 kg deadweight, killing out percentage 48% and O3Lgrading.

Reserve champion for the second year running was Hannah Brown, of Dovecote Barn, Leyburn, with the first prize 41-44kg carcase, a near pure Beltex that had earlier been reserve champion as a live lamb at this year’s Countryside Live in Harrogate.

With a live weight of 41kg, 25.2kg deadweight, killing out percentage 61.4% and E3L grading, the overall reserve fell for £170 to regular butcher buyer George Cropper Snr, who for many years has had a shop in Accrington Market.

He runs it with his daughter Clare, from Long Preston, who was herself in action in the same day’s prime cattle show ring. Mr Cropper had snapped up the Christmas lamb carcase supreme champion the previous three years.

Top price in the under 35kg Continental show class of £200 fell to the third prize winner from the same day’s prime lamb supreme champions, Richard and Mark Ireland, from Whalley, the carcase (32kg 17.5kg E2) returning to its place of origin when claimed by SR Hallworth Butchers in Accrington Road, Whalley, who also paid the same price for each of another two Ireland family Continental class prize winners. (38kg 20.7kg E3L and 41kg 23.1kg E3L)

Back in the under 35kg show class, the second prize winner (33kg 17.9kg E2) from Trevor and Clive Robinson, of Tosside, sold for £155 to Stephen Hogdson, who has the Falcon Inn in Arncliffe and will appear on its Christmas menu.

The Robinson brothers were also responsible for the second prize 41-44kg Continental carcase (41kg 22.9kg E3L), this selling at £105 to M Bland, a private buyer from Denholme

All three prize winners in the 41-45kg hill lambs show class fell to Skipton-based Stanforths Butchers, with the red rosette winner from JM Wilson & Sons in Beckwithsaw, having a live weight of 43kg, 20.9kg deadweight, killing out percentage of 48.6% and O4L grading. Also clinching a special award from Masham Sheepbreeders Association, it made top price in class of £105 when sold to raise funds on behalf of the Parkinson’s charity.

The second prize winner (43kg 20.5kg O3H), again from the Stockdale family, made £90 and the third prize winner (44kg 20.9kg O3H) from Kevin Wilson in Blubberhouses £88. Mr Wilson also chipped in with the second prize Dalesbred carcase (43kg 20.9kg O3H), claimed at £85 by Mick Greenwood, of Addingham, for his own use.

JM Wilson & Sons struck again with the first prize winner in the Dalesbred show class, also receiving a special prize from Dalesbred Sheepbreeders Association. The carcase, live weight 41kg, 19.7kg deadweight, killing out percentage 48%, O3L grading, sold for £92 to Swaledale Foods in Skipton.

A special prize from the Northern Area Texel Sheep Breeders Club for the top price breed-sired carcase was awarded to Charlie Clark, of Lothersdale, before selling for £102 to Parkins Butchers, of Eastoft, near Crowle.

All carcases had first been delivered to the mart and weighed live, before slaughter at John Penny and Sons in Rawdon, returning to the CCM Quality Foods meat processing plant, run by Stanforths Butchers, who also sponsored the five show classes, which were judged by John Penny and Sons’ Gary Rice.

The increasingly popular fixture again presented an ideal opportunity for butchers, hotels, restaurants and pubs to purchase award-winning carcases for display and sale in the run up to Christmas.