Big Sunday show starts the Christmas sale season

For the third year, Craven Cattle Marts will hold its Christmas primestock sales on a Sunday in a deliberate effort to replicate the atmosphere and sense of occasion of the former Smithfield Christmas Fatstock Show in London.

Buyers, sellers and spectators, turned out in their hundreds for the occasion last year and there was lively competition to be able to bill joints from prize-winning animals in Christmas shop windows.

The second Great Northern Pork Pie Fest will add interest – open to butchers, bakers and farm shops who make their own pies on the premises. Prizes include one each for the best from Yorkshire and from Lancashire. To enter, call 01756 792375, text 07747 780481 or email [email protected]/

There are 11 classes for butchers' cattle, including a new young handlers' class for up-and-coming handlers up to 25-years-old, and special prizes for the best home-bred animal and the best from a regular CCM vendor.

Eight butchers' lamb classes bring together recognised sheep breeds, with supreme championship honours supplemented by lowland and hill championship awards, and special prizes for the best horned lambs, best Suffolk lambs and best pen of lambs from a regular CCM vendor.

Prime pigs are back again this year after their successful reintroduction at the 2009 show – their first appearance at Skipton in 15 years – with three show classes, one for native breed pigs and an overall championship.

Entries for all livestock classes close on Monday November 22.

New this year is an inaugural charity show and sale of hay. Fuller details of this and the rest at www.ccmauctions.com/

CCM's general manager Jeremy Eaton says: "The event is growing year on year."The Christmas show season kicks off on Sunday, November 28 at Skipton Auction Mart.

For the third year, Craven Cattle Marts will hold its Christmas primestock sales on a Sunday in a deliberate effort to replicate the atmosphere and sense of occasion of the former Smithfield Christmas Fatstock Show in London.

Buyers, sellers and spectators, turned out in their hundreds for the occasion last year and there was lively competition to be able to bill joints from prize-winning animals in Christmas shop windows.

The second Great Northern Pork Pie Fest will add interest – open to butchers, bakers and farm shops who make their own pies on the premises. Prizes include one each for the best from Yorkshire and from Lancashire. To enter, call 01756 792375, text 07747 780481 or email [email protected]/

There are 11 classes for butchers' cattle, including a new young handlers' class for up-and-coming handlers up to 25-years-old, and special prizes for the best home-bred animal and the best from a regular CCM vendor.

Eight butchers' lamb classes bring together recognised sheep breeds, with supreme championship honours supplemented by lowland and hill championship awards, and special prizes for the best horned lambs, best Suffolk lambs and best pen of lambs from a regular CCM vendor.

Prime pigs are back again this year after their successful reintroduction at the 2009 show – their first appearance at Skipton in 15 years – with three show classes, one for native breed pigs and an overall championship.

Entries for all livestock classes close on Monday November 22.

New this year is an inaugural charity show and sale of hay. Fuller details of this and the rest at www.ccmauctions.com/

CCM's general manager Jeremy Eaton says: "The event is growing year on year."