Ewe lambs shine at annual Skipton highlight
It was ‘Ladies Day’ at Skipton Auction Mart, when ewe lambs from the region’s leading sheep farmers were on parade for their annual fixture, which attracted another large entry of 5,648 head, more than 300 up on the previous year. (Tues, Oct 6)
There were four breed shows – the third seasonal turnout for North of England Mule gimmer lambs, along with others for Masham, Dales Mule and Swaledale gimmers.
Kevin Huck, of Knowle Bank Farm, Bordley, emulated his success of the previous year when once more presenting the first prize pen of ten Swaledale ewe lambs, the majority of which, like his 2014 victors, were by a ram bred by Joe Nattrass in Garrigill, Cumbria.
Retaining the Craven Cattle Marts Trophy, they were chosen by father and son show judges Dick and Alan Burley, of Wath, Pateley Bridge. Mr Burley Snr bought Mr Huck’s 2014 winners and did so again at the latest renewal, paying £180 per head, the day’s top price.
There was total clearance of the 961 Swaledales on offer, producing an overall selling average of £77.31, up £10.89 on the year.
The Masham show class, as usual sponsored by Masham Sheep Breeders’ Association, fell for an unprecedented eighth year in succession to breed specialists, the Verity family from Middlesmoor in Nidderdale - brothers Roland and William, and their sons David and Keith.
They were again presented with the Kemp Spokes Trophy, before seeing their ten charges, all home-bred by Teeswater rams out of Dalesbred ewes, knocked down for £120, top price in class, to Keith Liddle, of JB Liddle & Partners in Stainburn, Otley, who also bought the 2014 red rosette winners..
The Veritys were also responsible for the third prize Masham pen, sold for £90 per head, along with the third prize pen of Dales Mules, which they first started breeding last year and which made £96 each.
However, it was long established Dales Mule breeders Richard and Matthew Close, of Calfhalls Farm, Starbotton, who secured victory in this show class, with most of their ten lambs sired by a Tan House Blue Faced Leicester tup, bred in Wales by Richard Thomas and acquired two years ago at Skipton’s annual multi-breeds October highlight.
They received the Josephine Bartlett Memorial Trophy, donated by her family in memory of the late local magistrate, who lived in Kettlewell. It was presented for the first time at the inaugural Dales Mule show in 2013 by Skipton Auction Mart foreman Andrew Wright, who again did the honours at the latest renewal.
“We have been breeding Dales Mules for 30 years and I must be one of the only people in the mart to have known Josephine personally,” said Richard Close. The class victors sold for £90 each to Robert Wallbank, of Embsay, with top price in class of £109 per head falling to a pen from Kevin Wilson, of Blubberhouses.
The first prize pen of North of England Mule gimmer lambs was shown by former CCM Farmer of the Year, Robert Crisp, of Nelson House, Calton, and all were by tups acquired from his long-time provider, Nidderdale’s Dick Burley. They sold at £128 each, again top price in class, to Robert Johnson, of Haverah Park, Beckwithshaw.
Trade for North of England lambs was brisk with the 2,436 NEMSA lambs averaging £84.23 per head and non-NEMSA lambs, 1,730 in total, averaging £82.50 each. The better tupping lambs sold well past £100, with mid-range goods £93-£100. Running lambs were as strong as ever, with handy shearling makers and genuine runners selling away at £75-£89, with very few under £70.
Cray’s Chris Akrigg had the second prize Swaledale gimmer pen, sold for £128 per head, with John Tennant, of Bordley, showing the third prize pen, knocked down at £118. The second prize Masham pen from A&SL Throup, of Silsden, also made £118, with the second prize Dales Mule pen from Joe and Trevor Stoney in Bewerley, Pateley Bridge, selling at £94.
The Fawcett family, from Drebley, stepped up with the second prize North of England Mule pen, with Embsay’s John and Claire Mason responsible for the third prize pen. They sold at £111 and £100 per head respectively.
The 323 Dales Mules on offer averaged £83.61 (-£8.24 on 2014) and 198 Masham gimmer lambs £81.60 (-£3.37).
Once again making the long journey from Devon to adjudicate in the Dales Mule and Mule gimmer lamb show classes were Robert Partridge, of Teignmouth, and Peter Tucker, from Tiverton in Devon, with Settle’s John Dawson judging the Mashams. Sponsors were Armstrong Watson Accountants and JACS Trade & DIY Warehouse, both based in Skipton.