Farmer provides the winning lambs again

In Skipton, history repeated itself when the 2009 champions again emerged victorious at the second annual North of England Mule Sheep Association (NEMSA) show.

Ashley and Rachel Caton, from Otterburn, presented the title-winning pen of 10 lambs for the second year in succession at Skipton Auction Mart, while Alan Lodge of Malham Moor, landed a fourth consecutive championship in the pens of 20s.

The Catons were also following up on a memorable double at the opening NEMSA show a fortnight earlier, when they exhibited both the champion pens of 10 and 20 lambs.

Their latest victors sold for 140 per head to Ben Harvey, from Waxham in Norfolk, while the Lodges' pen of 20s made 131 a head to co-judge Cameron Walton of Hellifield.

As at this year's opening NEMSA fixture, Joe and Nancy Throup, from Draughton, took top price honours when their second prize pen of 10 sold for 150 each to Claire Morris, who farms at Barnard Castle.

The 29th Northern Area Texel Sheep Breeders Association show saw robust commercial trade as well with 90 per cent of its 445-strong entry being cleared.

The supreme champion was the first prize ram lamb from Geoff Riby of Fraisthorpe, Bridlington, which sold for 550gns to Howard Peel from Embsay.

The reserve supreme championship went to the first prize shearling ewe from John Mellin, Hellifield. It sold for 1,680 to William Warren, of Gomersal.

The previous week at Skipton, Mr Warren also paid top price of 3,400gns (3,570) for the supreme champion ewe lamb at the Beltex Sheep Society's 10th annual show and sale of pedigree rams and females.

Shearling gimmers took centre stage at the annual sale of over 2,700 breeding sheep, with improved trade maintained.

At the Beltex Society show, David and Diane Findlay of Coverham, Leyburn, took the reserve supreme championship with his first prize ram lamb and male champion.

It sold jointly for 2,100 to farmers from Somerset and Devon, with a quarter share retained by the Findlays for the Pioneer flock of their two children Charlotte Findlay, 14, and 13-year-old William Ashton.

At Bentham Auction Mart, Gordon Rawsthorne and his son James took the Champion BFL Ram Lamb at the annual show and sale of BFL rams.

The animal was later sold for 5,000.

Leyburn Auction Mart enjoyed a tremendous trade at their revamped first show and sale for Mule Gimmer Lambs held on September 17.

The sale, held eight days later than usual, combined the first and second sales into one.

The move paid dividends for the mart and its customers when an impressive average of 94.20 was achieved.