Teenager Henry Bailey flies high with championship coup on poultry show debut at Skipton
Making his first-ever foray into the poultry show arena, West Yorkshire 17-year-old Henry Bailey made an immediate impact when flying away with championship honours at 2020’s opening Craven Premier Poultry Spring show and sale at Skipton Auction Mart. (Sat, March 7)
Henry, of Long Lee Hall Farm, above Keighley, ruled the roost with his first prize pen of large poultry, a trio of 28-week-old Rhode Island Red – a cockerel and two pullets already laying. They sold for £35.
Henry has been keeping poultry for a couple of years, both Rhode Island Red and Welsummers. His flock currently stands at some 50-strong and he sells the eggs from them direct to local customers. He farms with father David Bailey, who runs the Long Lee pedigree Beltex flock of around 20 breeding ewes, as well as raising prime cattle, some of which are sold at Skipton.
Standing reserve champion with the first prize pen of bantams, four October, 2019, Silver Laced Wyandotte pullets, was Craven Premier Poultry show regular and past multiple champion, Stephen Hitchen, from Ludendenfoot in Calderdale.
They made the day’s joint top price of £92, matched by another trio of Silver Laced Wyandottes from M Pickering, of Richmond, who also sold three Rhode Island Red pullets at £50.
AP Leetham, of Howden, Goole, caught the eye with a trio of prize-winning pens, the second and third prize bantams – 2019 Rhode Island Red and 2018 Buff Rock trios – and the third prize pen of large poultry, a trio of 2019 Light Sussex, which made £37.
Runner-up in the large poultry show class was RJ Metcalfe, of Clayton, Bradford, with a pair of point of lay Copper Black Maran pullets, which sold for £24.
As well as the young up-and-coming title winner, another 17-year-old, Harry Parsons, from Settle, proved an able show judge. His other interest is Zwartble sheep through the Newfield pedigree flock.
The Spring fixture attracted a 145-strong entry. Light Sussex pullets sold to £61, Copper Black Maran to £60 and Swedish Fowl to £45.
Future Craven Feather Auctions take place this year on Saturdays, June 13, September 12 = also Skipton’s annual Rare and Native Breeds show day, - and December 12, the high profile Christmas show.
Agri Trader Auctions return
Another busy Saturday at Skipton also featured the first Agri Trader Auctions of the year. The machinery section again proved popular, with the 369 lots forward meeting strong demand and some solid prices, notably one of £21,800 for a Land Rover Defender XS 15 plate, followed at £5,800 for a mini digger, £3,900 for a flat bale trailer and a muck spreader at £2,800, another at £1,000. A post knocker also sold well at £1,300.
Almost 500 reclaimable/indoor lots saw a top of the range tool box in excellent condition make £400, a go kart £150 and a post box £70. The diversity on offer was again illustrated when a metal country sign was snapped up for £52.
Stone and timber items, exactly 100 lots in total, were keenly sought after as usual, with a brace of stone troughs selling at £620 and £360, and gate posts at £440 and £400. Of other three figure sales, some Yorkshire flags made £140. The next Agri Trader sale is on Saturday, May 2.