CATTLE from the Critchley family at Mercer Farm, near Preston, dominated proceedings at Skipton's prime show and sale on Monday, where they scooped both the champion and reserve honours, with the champion animal going on to top the sale's price per head section at £1598.

Brought out by Robert Critchley and brothers John and Thomas, champion and sale leader was a Limousin cross heifer weighing 595kg bought at Skipton back in February. Backing his judgment, he sold to judge, Alan Beecroft of Countrystyle Meats Farm Shop, Lancaster.

The reserve champion, a 615kg Limousin cross bullock topped the bullock section and made £1516 or 246.5p per kg when sold to Halifax meat wholesaler, Gerald Medcalf, buying on behalf of regular butcher customer, Stephen Dorsey, Halifax Borough Market.

Top price per kilo in the sale however at 289.5p was a British Blonde cross heifer from Bill Cowperthwaite, Malham Moor, when sold to George Cropper of Sandersons Butchers, Baxenden.

On the same day, the firm held its show and sale of prime lambs where a total of 3669 levelled at 174.63p or £75.57 (+4p on the week).

Champion in the pre-sale show was a pen of home-bred Beltex scaling 42kg from brothers, Trevor and Clive Robinson, Middle Brayshaw, Tosside. They sold for £118 apiece or 281p to Keelham Farm Shop of Skipton and Thornton.

It was the reserve champion pen which topped the sale however, when a pen of home-bred 41kg Beltex crosses by Shamrock Beast from Richard and Mark Ireland, Heys Farm, Whalley, made £122 or 297p when sold to Hamlets Butchers, Garstang.

Auctioneers: CCM Auctions