The first prize continental pen from Robert Fielden, secured the championship at CCM’s monthly show of prime lambs staged at Skipton Auction Market.

The five home-bred April-born 42kg Beltex cross Texel lambs, sold for £128 or 304.8p per kg, to show judge, Anthony Swales, buying on behalf of Knavesmire Butchers in York.

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However it was the reserve champion, a pen of 42kg Beltex cross lambs, from Ellis Bros, Addingham Moorside, that led the trade at £133 and 317p.

Another to achieve £133 was the third prize pen, which scaled 47kg, from Stokesley’s Richard Wood.

The overall sale average was 225.9p per kg, up 10p on the year.

Among the cattle rings, it was a 595kg Limousin cross heifer, that secured an unprecedented fifth consecutive monthly prime cattle championship for Charles and Richard Kitching.

 

Charles Kitching with family’s latest prime cattle champion at Skipton

Charles Kitching with family’s latest prime cattle champion at Skipton

 

She was bred by John Fawcett, Barden, and sold for the top price per kg and gross at 298.5p, and £1776, to James Robertshaw, of Robertshaw’s Farm Shop in Thornton.

North Craven father and son, Francis and Andrew Smith, of Masongill, bagged the reserve overall with their first prize steer, a 570kg British Blue cross bred by John White, which later realised 292.5p and £1667.

Steers averaged £1627, whilst heifers cashed in at £1635.