Craven Mart crowns regular vendor ‘Stock Person of the Year’

Skipton-based Craven Cattle Marts has crowned its first-ever Stock Person of the Year, with the honour going to Jimmy Baines, whose family has farms in both Gisburn and Trawden.

The mart introduced the new annual award to recognise the contribution of regular vendors at Skipton Auction Mart – and honour a champion among them.

Points were awarded at livestock shows throughout the year. Regular prime stock vendor Mr Baines received a cash prize from main sponsors, the Silsden-based West Riding Motor Group, with all mainline sponsors of Skipton livestock shows throughout the year also contributing to the new awards.

Dairy stock class winner and second overall was Robin Jennings, of South Stainley, Ripon, while John and Stephen Fawcett, of Barden, amassed points for store cattle, prime and breeding sheep to finish third overall in the points table.

Auctioneer Ted Ogden said: “The 2009 competition will again see points awarded to winners of prize shows at Skipton during the year, but will be further developed with points awarded on a weekly basis for the highest priced cattle, pen of lambs, calf, which will get more of our customers involved in the initiative.”

Picture: CCM Stockman of the Year Jimmy Baines and son Paul, right, are congratulated by auctioneer Ted Ogden and the mart’s Diane Pickles.