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CHRISTMAS PRIME PIGS - SUNDAY 26TH NOVEMBER 2017

Bamforth four-timer at CCM Skipton Christmas porkers show JG Bamforth & Son, of Heyknowle Farm, Slaithwaite, rattled up a fourth successive championship win with a trio of home-bred Pietrain-cross pigs at Skipton Auction Mart’s annual Christmas primestock shows and sales. (Sun, Nov 26) Again shown by Matthew Bamforth, the first prize 88kg trio, all gilts by a White boar, sold for £240 each, top price in show, to Stanforths Butchers on Mill Bridge, Skipton, who are renowned for their pork products, especially their famous pork pies.



The Bamforth family, who have been breeding pigs for four decades, including pedigree Pietrain for the past 15 years, also presented the third prize trio of 57kg pigs, these selling at £100 each to Wilf Buckle, who runs a hog roast business in Barras, near Brough in Cumbria. Mr Buckle also paid £155 each for the second prize 79kg trio from Daniel Thackray, of Fewston.

The reserve championship fell to the first prize 67kg Pietrain trio – a boar and a brace of gilts – from 17-year-old North Yorkshire breeder Louise Findlay, of Coverdale, who is studying animal science at Askham Bryan Agricultural College. Home-bred, they sold for top price in class of £180 each to show judge Anthony Swales for his Knavesmire Butchers shop in Albermarle Road, York.

The second prize 112kg trio from Lewis Greenwood, of Otley, made £170 per head when claimed by Stephen Taylor, who has an abattoir in Bamber Bridge, Preston, and also runs a hog roast business.

The section attracted an increased entry of 24 prime pigs.