Mashams victorious at Skipton

Skipton’s high profile annual show and sale of gimmer lambs saw more than 6000 lambs passing through the ring.

Highlight was the show and sale of 695 Masham gimmer lambs on behalf of Masham Sheep Breeders Association, with the champion pen of ten exhibited by north Yorkshire father and son breeders, Roland and David Verity, Pateley Bridge.

They sold for both top price in class and of the entire day at £110 a head to co-judge Keith Liddle, Otley.

The title winners received the Kemp Spokes Trophy from Angela Spokes, the third generation of a family that had been buying Mule and Masham sheep at Skipton since late 1930. They are based at Long Buckby, Northampton.

For the second year running, the second prize pen of Mashams came from Colin Willoughby, Redmire, Leyburn. The third prize pen of J M Wilson and Sons, Harrogate, sold for £69 each to Margaret Watkinson, Thirsk.

The Swaledale gimmer lambs was won for a record-equalling fourth time in succession by local farmer Kevin Huck, of Bordley, his charges selling for £60 a head, top price in class. There were 930 Swaledales forward.  

A total of 4363 Mule lambs passed through the ring, selling to a good company of buyers. Trade was above expectations levelling at £46.95 a head.