North Craven farmers claimed top honours in both the show and sales rings as the season finale show and sale of 133 head of pedigree Dalesbred rams and females on behalf of the Dalesbred Sheep Breeders Association took place at CCM Skipton Auction Mart.

As expected, a fine selection of powerful tups with good skins and mouths was forward for the October highlight. A top call of 450gns (£472) culminated in a triple victory for the MJ&A Carr family of Bracken Bottom, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, after their highest price four-shear ram had already impressed judges Ellie Forster and Amy Brown to secure first prize aged ram and overall champion.

Ellie, from near Bentham, and Amy, from the Pateley Bridge district, were making their judging debut for the Association, both being familiar with the sales and show rings with their own flocks. The champion headed to the Wray home of farmers A&MA Wright after some particularly brisk bidding in the ring.

(Image: CCM Auctions)

Handler John Carr, whose paternal great-grandfather, Alan, was a founder of the Dalesbred Sheep Breeders Association, said he was delighted with the win. The farm has around 250 Dalesbred sheep alongside flocks of Texels and Mules.

John’s victory was further augmented with the presentation of The Royston Baxter Trophy, first awarded to the overall champion many years ago by the late long-serving Craven Cattle Marts foreman, from Steeton. The cup was presented by mart auctioneer Ted Ogden.

It was a good day also for the Carr family’s farming neighbours, R Jackson and Son, of Town Head Farm, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, when they came away with first prize in the shearling ram class and the reserve champion rosette, while clinching the day’s second highest call at 380gns (£399). The home-bred tup, the biggest in the ring, was shown by Frank Jackson and knocked down to E Snowden, of Stanbury, Keighley.

Other strong rams on the day sold to 150gns for the third place shearling from BD&PM Gill & Son, Yarlsber Farm, Ingleton. The second prize aged ram from Nidderdale’s W&R Verity sold for 100gns. Shearling rams averaged £128 and aged rams £182.

Females brought a large amount of interest and good prices for all classes. Top gavel prices were £160 per head achieved by David Charnley, Sawyersgarth Farm, Litton, and Messrs Coates, Rainscar Farm, Stainforth, who each put forward two pens of 12 shearlings.

Swapping her judge’s hat for her sales hat, Ellie Forster brought forward a number of quality ewes as a reduction to her flock selling 1 and 2 crops to £150 with 3 crop to £145 and other strong ewes in excess of £122 with just one pen at £95 for aged ewes long in the tooth.

Gimmer lambs followed and again a strong following and great interest; these all consigned from Hayton and Stocks, Bolton Abbey. A pen of four strong gimmers sold to £140 with other stronger end gimmers £95-plus. Show sponsors were Agrimin and The Farmer Network.