An excellent breed show was headed by the first prize and champion pen of ten home-bred 3 crop ewes from Stuart and Debbie Robinson, of Foredale Farm, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, which sold to co-judge Kevin Wilson, of Blubberhouses, for the day’s leading price of £220 per head.

Four in the Robinsons’ title-winning pen were by a tup from Swaledale Sheep Breeders Association A district chairman David Allinson, of West Briscoe, while three other rams from Alan Coates in Aygill, the late George Harker in Punchard, Arkengarthdale, and Jack Wade, from Cracoe, were responsible a brace each.

The Robinsons – they were also champions in 2014 – also presented the fourth prize gimmer shearlings pen, the majority by Ewbank and Redgate rams, which sold for £170 each to Alan Barnes, of Great Harwood.

Mr Wilson and co-judge, Swaledale’s Alan Busby, remained in the ewes show class for their reserve champions, the second prize pen from Jeff Walker and family, of Brennand Farm, Dunsop Bridge. Their 3 crop ewes, home-bred by five rams, made £155 per head when joining Alan Busby, of Marrick, in the heart of Swaledale.

Chris Akrigg, of Cray, sold his third prize ewes for £150 each, along with two other pens at £175 to Ellis Bros, of Addingham Moorside, and Silsden Moor’s Ken Throup. Also catching the eye were ewe pens from David Pighills, of Barden, including one at £190 and another at £170. Both fell to JM&JK Alpe, of Whitewell, Clitheroe.

The fourth prize pen of ewes from 2015 show champions, Malham Moor father and son Bill and Robert Cowperthwaite, of Tennant Gill Farm, also sold at £170 when joining Keith Harryman in Keswick.

Derbyshire show regular Neil Richardson, of Big Fernyford Farm, Reapsmoor, near Buxton, won the shearling ewe show class with a pen sold at £190 per head. These returned to the Derbyshire Peak District with MJ Wells, of Monyash.

Three in the pen of ten were by the £46,000 ‘Noble,’ bred by Eric Coates, which Mr Richardson, a former Great Yorkshire Show sheep shearing champion, shares in partnership with Swaledale’s Fred and Ruth Prescott, Richard Hutchinson, of Redgate, and Richard Harrison, of Shap.

The second prize gimmer shearling pen from Swaledale Sheep Breeders Association national chairman Alan Alderson, of Barras, Kirkby Stephen, made £180 per head, bettered at £200, joint top price in class, by the third prize pen from Giggleswick’s John and Jean Bradley. These joined John and Daniel Alpe, also from Whitewell. Chris Akrigg also hit £200 with another gimmer shearling pen sold to DA&MA Brown, of Agglethorpe, Leyburn.

With trade up on the year, demand was particularly focussed on young, quality sheep, with shearlings recording an increase of £9.18 (£124.11) on the year, 1 crop ewes +£31.04 (£137.76), 2 crop ewes +£8.69 (£124.45) and 3 crop ewes +£2.26 (£98.16).
 
Show sponsors were Top Tags Animal ID and the British Wool Marketing Board.The next major Skipton highlight for Swaledale sheep breeders is the annual evening sale of 100 shearling and aged rams, on Monday, October 10, with judging from 5pm.