A BRITISH Blue cross heifer from RE Miller, West Farm, Aspatria, was crowned champion at Mitchell's annual Christmas prize show and sale at Cockermouth on Monday, where some 94 cattle and 200 butchers lambs were forward.

The 614kg heifer, selected by judges Claire Cropper and John Mellin of Mill House Farm, Long Preston, later sold for the top price of 440p per kg or £2701.60 to Haighs, Workington.

Local butchers, W Lindsay and Sons, Staiton Street, who were celebrating 150 years in business, bought the reserve champion, a Limouin heifer from G and T Tyson, East House, Brigham.

Rob Garth and Sarah Priestley had their work cut out for them judging the prime lambs but soon found their supreme winners in a pair of Beltex lambs from AJ Brown, Park House Farm, which sold for £190 per head or 388p per kg to Wison Willis Butchers, Cleator Moor.

The same consignors produced the reserve winners, Texel lambs that also sold to Wison Willis Brothers, at £145 per head or 290p per kg.

Champion young handler was Chris Gott, Prospect House, Isel with a Texel lamb that made £120, while brother Adam picked up the reserve with another Texel lamb that sold for £108.

LEADING awards

Haltered – Steers – Lim – 1, JJ Crichton, Loughrigg, 222p (£1560.66).

Heifers – Lim – 1, Messrs Lawson, Hundith House, 300p (£1980.00); 2, JJ Crichton, Loughrigg, 255p (£1586.10); T Pearson and Son, High Plaskett Lands, 235p (£1402.95). BB – 1 and champion, RE Miller, West Farm, 440p (£2701.60); 2, T Pearson and Son, High Plaskett Lands, 300p (£1605.00); 3, RE Miller, West Farm, 238p (£1547.90).

Unhaltered – Steers – Lim – 1 and 2, JJ Crichton, Loughrigg, 248p (£1567.36) and 220p (£1509.20); 3, Messrs Lawson, Hundith House, 230p (£1547.90). BB – 1, JJ Crichton, Loughrigg, 215p (£1444.80). Char – JJ Chrichton, Loughrigg, 210p, (£1583.40). Any other continental – 1, Messrs Bowe, Hunday Farm, 230p (£1476.60). Native bred – 1 and 2, JJ Crichton, Loughrigg, 222p (£1276.50) and 230p (£1311.00)

Heifers – Lim (500-570kg) – 1, Messrs Lawson, Hundith House, 275p (£1441.00); 2, BW Hewitson, Shatton Lodge, 270p (£1336.50); 3, T Pearson and Son, High Plaskett Lands, 238p (£1318.52). Lim (571-600kg) – 1, RE Miller, West Farm, 265p (£1584.70); 2, T Pearson and Son, High Plaskett Lands, 242p (£1384.24); 3, JJ Crichton, Loughrigg, 250p (£1527.50). Lim (601-650kg) – 1 and reserve and 2 – G and T Tyson, East House 340p (£2203.20) and 250p (£1550.00); 3, JJ Crichton, Loughrigg, 240p (£1555.20). Lim (651-700kg) – 1 and 2, JJ Crichton, Loughrigg, 235p (£1541.60) and 240p (£1596.00); 3, AE and VJ Errington, Beck House, 198p (£1437.48). BB – 1 and 2, JJ Crichton, Loughrigg, 270p (£1641.60) and 220p (£1377.20); 3, Messrs Bowe, Hunday Farm, 219p (£1362.18). Char – 1, JJ Crichton, Loughrigg, 230p (£1481.20); 2, Messrs Bowe, Hunday Farm, 227p (£1448.26); 3, T Pearson and Son, High Plaskett Lands, 218p (£1403.92). Any other continental – 1, JJ Crichton, Loughrigg, 235p (£1377.10).

Prime lambs – Texel pair – 1 and resreve, AJ Brown, Park House, £145 per head; 2 and 3, RE Miller, West Farm, £122 and £105. Beltex pair – 1 and champion, AJ Brown, Park House, £190; 2 and 3, TI Bradley, Ghyll House, £122 and £102 per head . Any other continental – 1, J and K Meadley, High Bewaldeth, £84; 2, J and M Wilson, Meadow Farm, £93; 3, JA Mousey, Grange Farm, £116.

Pens of five – Mules – 1 and 2, A Fearon, Kirkland House, £76 and £78. Herdwicks – 1, V and W Steele, Gill Head £69; 2, and J Wilson, Anns Cottage, £56; 3, Messrs Bland, West Head, £55. Swaledales – 1 and 2, A Gill, Newlands, £63 and £52. Cont X Herd – 1, JA Mounsey, Grange Farm, £84; 2 and 3, D and I Sessford, Dalzell Street, £64 and £58.

Young handlers – Under eight years – 1, Becka Marrs, c/o Park House, £96; 2, Rebecca Meadley, High Bewaldeth, £80; 3, Danny Sowerby, Grange Farm, £95.

Young handlers 8-11years – 1 and champion, Christopher Gott, Prospect House, £120; 2 and reserve, Adam Gott, Prospect House, £108; 3, Matthew Marrs, Rose Farm, £112

Young handlers 12-16years – 1, Jessica Walker, Beechcroft, £108; 2, Kate Armstrong, Terrace Farm, £99; 3, Kyle Fell, Stockhill, £85