They established a new event high of 4,200gns with Millerscotenook Jezabell, a classy February, 2014 heifer by Wilodge Fastrac, bred in Shifnal, Shropshire by Christine Williams and Paul Tippetts. The January 2010-born Fastrac, himself a son of Wilodge Vantastic, was a sold in a five figure private deal to David and Emma Armstrong’s Gritstone herd at Chorley in Lancashire.

Out of Millerscotenook Gobjat, the Skipton frontrunner, sold in-calf to Netherhall Jackpot, a bull from the Kelly family in Mansergh, Kirkby Lonsdale, returned to her place of origin with Rossendale’s Kevin Sunderland.

Not far behind at 3,600gns was Millerscotenook Ivy, a 2013 Carmorn Dauphin daughter sold with her Wilodge Goldcard heifer calf at foot and also carrying a service to the renowned sire, Galileo. Mother and daughter found a new home in Kirklees with show judge Janet Sheard’s pedigree Limousin herd at Low Common Farm, Almondbury, Huddersfield.

Janet, who also acts as a fieldsperson for Craven Cattle Mart, then went to 2,800gns to acquire another outfit from the Miller family, their 2012-born female, Millerscotenook Helen, by Fieldson Alfy, sold with her bull calf at foot.

A small show of pedigree bulls saw a complete clearance of the Limousin bulls on offer, headed up by Coachhouse Lionheart, from Jan Feather, of Hainworth Shaw, Keighley. His 18-month-old son of Mereside Daytona was bred from Coachouse Fantasy, bought by Mr Feather from Retford’s Barry and Gill Heald in 2013. He sold for 1,700gns to Sheila Mason’s Keasden Head pedigree herd in North Craven.

The show champion was Toftgate Lion, a May, 2015, Limousin bull from Chris and Caroline Prince, of Toftgate Farm. Greenhow. The home-bred was among the first crop of calves by their own Toftgate Harry, who has sold bulls to 3,700gns, and he found a new home in nearby Nidderdale when joining AD Metcalfe & Son, of Birstwith, for 1,650gns.

The same sire was also responsible for the Prince’s third prize winner, the 18-month-old Toftgate Lincoln, which sold for 1,500gns to Graham Stephenson in Kirkby Lonsdale. Mrs Prince also runs Toft Gate Barn Cafe, which was established two years ago on the family farm and stands at 1,200ft high.

It was the show class runner-up, a pedigree Beef Shorthorn bull from Jeremy Daggett, of Wharfe House Farm, Hartlington, that headed the bull prices at 1,750gns. His 18-month-old Hartlington Julius has had an exceptional summer on the regional  show circuit, standing champion at both Halifax and Gargrave, and reserve champion at Arthington Show,

He is by Croxtonpark Orville, bred in St Neots, Cambridge, out of a Scottish-bred dam, Dunsyre Magic 13th. With an exceptional carcass, Julius found a new home in Pendle when joining Laneshawbridge’s Ben Townsend, a leading consigner of prime cattle at Skipton, and will be put to work on his heifers.

With a turnout of 26 beef breeding cattle - 15 pedigree and 11 others – cows with heifer calves averaged £3,150 and 2015 Limousin bulls £1,697.

The multi-breed fixture formed part of the mart’s fortnightly Wednesday cattle sale, which attracted an entry of 618 head, among them an increased turnout of 103 young feeding bulls, as this year’s calves began to come forward for sale. Strong bulls received plenty of attention, with the best £1,150-plus, up to £1,340 for a British Blue-cross from Ben Townsend.

Procters Farm in Slaidburn had the top price pen of five Limousin-cross bulls, which each made £1,180. The Continental-cross average was £915, while natives averaged £580.

In the store section, which attracted 543 bullocks and heifers, quality of any age sold very well, but a plainer commercial quality type beast was a shade harder to sell.

Continental-cross bullocks averaged £943 and natives £979, with a section high of £1,235 for a Blonde from Clitheroe’s Peter and Edward Fox, who also headed the Limousin-cross prices with two entries at £1,195 and £1,170. There was a joint native high of £1,150 for a brace of Aberdeen Angus from D Batty, of Greetland, Halifax. The top price pen of three Angus bullocks from Conistone-with-Kilnsey’s Robert Tennant each made £1,080.
 
Store heifers peaked at £1,290 for one of a strong consignment of British Blue-cross from Edward and John Parkinson, of Dunsop Bridge, while Halton West’s Donald Sunderland made £1,090 each with his top price pen of four Charolais heifers. The section produced a Continental-cross average of £836 and a native average of £710.
 
Beef-bred feeding cows sold to an overall average of £727, with a high of £970 for a British Blue from Howard Barker, of Fewston.

An anticipated entry of 800 head of cattle will be forward for the next fortnightly sale on Wednesday, October 26, which also features the main autumn show and sale for 2016-born suckled calves, and 2015-born store cattle with show potential.