James Drake lands first prime cattle title at Skipton Local beef cattle farmer James Drake, of Carla Beck Farm, Carleton, was both champion and reserve at the April prime cattle show at Skipton Auction Mart. (Mon, April 4) While Mr Drake is a regular prize winner at his local mart, where he sources all his store cattle, it was his first-ever title-winning performance, achieved with his first prize 510kg British Blue-cross bullock, which sold for £1,242, or 243.5p/kg, to D&A Gregory and Sons Butchers in Bacup.

Forward: 20 Prime cattle comprising 9 Clean Cattle (under 30 mos) & 11 Cast Cattle. 2,078 Prime Sheep comprising 27 Spring Lambs, 1744 Hoggs, 307 Cast Ewes & Rams. 1,053 Breeding Sheep comprising 382 Sheep with 671 lambs at foot. 64 Rearing Calves to £435 x 2 (64) B&W av £102.5 Cont av £326 Native av £217.2. 25 Dairy Cattle. 10 Loads of produce.

Forward: 44 Prime cattle comprising 13 Clean Cattle (under 30 mos), 2 Clean Cattle (over 30 mos) & 29 Cast Cattle 3,099 Prime Sheep comprising 48 Spring Lambs, 2734 Old Season Lambs, 317 Cast Ewes & Rams 263 Breeding Sheep 83 Rearing Calves: B&W av £85.30 Cont av £364.26 Native av £200.6 to £780 7 Loads of produce

Robert Towers again dominates Skipton Easter Spring lamb showcase Red Rose sheep farmer Robert Towers rattled up another championship and reserve championship double at the annual Easter prime lamb show and sale at Skipton Auction Mart. (Mon, March 21) Mr Towers, of Camp House Farm, Farleton, Lancaster, was repeating his coup of the previous year at the North Yorkshire venue, while also picking up his fourth successive supreme champion’s rosette at the annual highlight with his first prize single lamb, a home-bred 45kg Beltex-cross-Charollais.

MARKET REPORT – MONDAY 14th MARCH 2016 Forward: 63 Prime cattle comprising 13 Clean Cattle (under 30 mos), 3 Clean Cattle (over 30 mos) & 47 Cast Cattle incl. 2 Mature Bulls. 3,033 Prime Sheep comprising 22 Spring Lambs 2,693 Old Season Lambs, 318 Cast Ewes & Rams. 440 Breeding Sheep. 64 Rearing Calves B&W av £69 Cont av £318.42 Native av £223.4 to £435. 27 Dairy Cattle: Newly Calven Heifers (18): av £1188 to £1780 M Baul & Partners. 13 Loads of produce.

Forward: 74 Prime cattle comprising 21 Clean Cattle (under 30 mos), 3 Clean Cattle (over 30 mos) & 50 Cast Cattle 3,275 Prime Sheep comprising 3,002 Old Season Lambs, 273 Cast Ewes & Rams 319 Breeding Sheep comprising 306 Ewes & Lambs & 13 Geld Hoggs 61 Rearing Calves 11 Loads of produce

Capstick family first-time championship at Skipton prime lamb show Father-and-son sheep farmers Nicky and Robert Capstick, of Yew Tree Farm, Bolton-by-Bowland, won the prime lamb championship for the first time ever at Skipton Auction Mart’s March show. (Mon, March 7) The Capsticks were not only clinching their first title, but also their first-ever prize at Skipton with the red rosette-winning pen of five Continental home-bred Texel-cross-Beltex 48kg prime lambs from their 200-strong flock. They sold for £119 per head to regular buyers Vivers Scotlamb in Annan

Malcolm Metcalfe champion again at Skipton prime cattle show Baldersby Park beef cattle farmer Malcolm Metcalfe notched up a second successive championship at Skipton Auction Mart’s March prime cattle show. (Mon, March 7) Mr Metcalfe clinched his latest title with his red rosette-winning all-black Limousin-cross bullock, bred in Cumbria and acquired from Clapham’s Jonathan Townley at last December’s annual Christmas store cattle show and sale at Skipton, when it was the first prize steer.

Forward: 63 Prime cattle comprising 16 Clean Cattle (under 30 mos), 1 Clean Cattle (over 30 mos) & 46 Cast Cattle. 3,129 Prime Sheep comprising 2,879 Old Season Lambs, 250 Cast Ewes & Rams. 72 Rearing Calves. 38 Dairy Cattle. 10 Loads of produce.

Forward: 63 Prime cattle comprising 19 Clean Cattle (under 30 mos), 3 Clean Cattle (over 30 mos) & 41 Cast Cattle. 3,085 Prime Sheep comprising 2743 Old Season Lambs, 342 Cast Ewes & Rams. 40 Rearing Calves. 8 Loads of produce.

Forward: 48 Prime cattle comprising 12 Clean Cattle (under 30 mos.), 1 Clean Cattle (over 30 mos.) & 35 Cast Cattle. 3804 Prime Sheep comprising 3280 Old Season Lambs, 524 Cast Ewes & Rams. 54 Rearing Calves. 9 Loads of produce.

Skipton Auction Mart charity fundraisers net £5,600-plus Brooklands Community Special School in Skipton and Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice in Oxenhope have again received substantial charity windfalls from annual fundraisers at Skipton Auction Mart. Craven Cattle Marts’ high profile Christmas primestock shows and the Great Northern Pork Pie Competition staged at the end of November last year featured charity sales of pork pies, Scotch eggs, sausage rolls, fruit cakes, sponges and fodder hay – all donated by willing participants and fought for enthusiastically at the ringside by generous bidders.

Forward: 83 Prime cattle comprising 22 Clean Cattle (under 30 mos) & 61 Cast Cattle. 2,662 Prime Sheep comprising 2,470 Old Season Lambs, 192 Cast Ewes & Rams. 91 Rearing Calves. 16 Dairy Cattle. 7 Loads of produce.

Forward: 102 Prime cattle comprising 28 Clean Cattle (under 30 mos), 5 Clean Cattle (over 30 mos) & 69 Cast Cattle. 2,748 Prime Sheep comprising 2,535 Old Season Lambs, 213 Cast Ewes & Rams. 51 Rearing Calves. 10 Loads of produce.

Keelham doubles up again with Skipton prime shows principles Keelham Farm Shop embarked on yet another buying spree at Skipton Auction Mart’s February prime shows when acquiring both the champion and top gross price prime cattle, along with the champion and reserve champion pens of prime lambs.