Mules make more money for Manorlands

The seventh annual charity sheep show and sale of predominantly Mule wether lambs staged by Addingham & District Sheep Breeders’ Association at Skipton Auction Mart raised a resounding £4,500 for Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice in Oxenhope, Keighley. (Wed, Dec 11)

With additional items donated for auction by mart regulars and other generous supporters, the final figure is likely to top £5,000, meaning that the overall total raised for Manorlands through the annual charity event is now fast approaching £30,000.

The 2013 show champion from father-and-son Patrick and Thomas Walker, of Fold Farm, Appletreewick, itself raised an exhilarating £830 after being bought and sold no less than four times.

The home-bred title winner, by a son of the North Craven-based Booth farming family’s top-performing Y2 ram, himself by a £17,000 tup bred by Gordon Rawsthorne in Nether Kellet, Carnforth, first sold for £420 to John Turner, of Draughton, who promptly offered it back for resale.

So too did the next two successful bidders at £200 and £100 respectively – firstly show sponsor Chris Pearson, who runs Pearson Farm Supplies in West Marton and has a retail outlet on the auction mart site, followed by Bingley farmer Keith Downs.

Auctioneer Ted Ogden then brought the hammer down on himself when putting in the final bid of £100 on behalf of Craven Cattle Marts. But, that wasn’t the end of it, as the champion will now be put out to graze, before returning to Skipton Auction Mart’s opening New Year prime lamb show and sale in January to further swell the Manorlands charity kitty.

A total of 30 lambs, judged by Linda Allen, of Killington, Kendal, were donated by association members and local farmers.

The champion, recipient of the Pearson Farm Supplies Shield, was followed into the ring by the runner-up, which, like last year, came from Ken and Linda Throup, of Silsden Moor. Next up was the third-placed Mule from Kevin and Daphne Wilson, of Blubberhouses, with the fourth prize winner shown by Robin and David Booth in Feizor - the 2012 show champions and breeders of the 2013 title winner’s sire.

The fifth lamb into the ring, donated by Thomas Boothman, of Linton, in memory of Hebden farmer Derek Appleton, who died earlier this year, fell for £200 to Chris Pearson. Subsequent lamb sales further boosted the fund-raiser, among them five additional store lambs donated by Gargrave’s Simon Spensley, plus two shearlings from Malcolm Dibb, of Kilnsey, which had wandered in off the moor and remained unclaimed for 12 months.

Joint organisers Joe Throup, Richard Ellis and Richard Mawson thanked all who had supported the event for their ongoing generosity and “a magnificent result.”

Manorlands fundraiser Hayley Ibbotson said: “It was a privilege to be invited to attend this year’s Addingham Sheepbreeders sale.  To see so many people there who continue to support the sale each year really is testament to the kind generosity of the local farming community.  

“I'd like to thank everyone who contributed to making the day such a success, particularly main sponsor Chris Pearson, Addingham Sheepbreeders for organising the event, everyone who donated and bought the lambs, as well as Craven Cattle Marts for waiving their commission from the sale.  We are delighted to receive such a generous amount, which will enable us to continue to provide incredible care to our patients and their families in the local community.”

The charity fund-raiser formed part of the fortnightly sale of store lambs – the final one of the year – when the 2,330-strong entry sold to an enthusiastic audience of purchasers keen to replenish stocks with grass in good supply countrywide. They sold to an overall average of £54.57 per head.

The entry was made up mostly of long-keep lambs, with strong lowland lambs generally mid-£60’s, medium lambs £58 to £62 and smaller sorts in the early £50’s. A few pens of nice Mules topped £60, but in the main size was lacking and mid to late £50’s proved the general price range. Swaledale lambs were forward in large numbers, with almost 500 head among the entry, though nice framed lambs were sold for either side of £40.