Yorkshire vendor makes clean sweep of prizes at sale

Buyers from Cheshire led the bidding at the annual show and sale of gimmer hoggs and ewes with lambs at foot, and geld gimmer hoggs, at Skipton Auction Mart. Local vendor John Stapleton, of High Skibeden Farm, Skipton, made a clean sweep of the prizes in the Continental hoggs and lambs class, with three pens of five Texels selling for £200, £200 and £198 to DJ Jackson.

There was a 50 cash bonus from livestock identification firm Allflex.

First and second prize pens of Mule hoggs and lambs were exhibited by father-and-son Raymond and Robert Johnson, of Felliscliffe, Harrogate. Another Cheshire buyer JH Thornhill, acquired the first prize pen, awarded the Farmway Trophy from the animal feeds class sponsor, at 188 per outfit, with the runners-up sold at 172 to Lincolnshire purchasers D&A Fenwick.

First prize in the geld gimmer hoggs class fell to a ten-strong pen of Mules from David Wood, of Wilcocks Farm, Rivington, Chorley, who also acts as a part-time auctioneer at Skipton.

They too found their way to Cheshire when acquired by Messrs S Norcott & Son at 120 per head, who also bought the runners-up from Frank Waite, Laneshawbridge, at 116 each.

With 1,172 breeding sheep forward, Mule hoggs with single lambs averaged 164.52, Mule shearlings with twin lambs 184.29 and Texel hoggs with single lambs 167.90.

CW 1/5/10