Priestley hat-trick at Skipton multi-breeds fixture

And he’s done it again………west Yorkshire Limousin cattleman Steven Priestley landed an unprecedented third successive championship success – and saw his victor sell for a new mart record price – at the annual multi-breeds show and sale of pedigree beef breeding cattle at Skipton Auction Mart.

Steven, of J M and S M Priestley, Hill Top Farm, Denholme, Bradford, notched his first championship win in 2005, following up by sending out both the champion and reserve champion last year. This time around, it was another excellent young bull from the Priestley’s Brontemoor herd that stole the show on his debut in the exhibition arena.

The September, 2005, bull – Brontemoor Apenzeller – by the AI sire Sarkley Panther, out of the home-bred Brontemoor Romance, also made a lasting impression in the ring, selling for the day’s top price of 3100gns, a new mart record for a pedigree bull, to E & M A Procter & Son, of Kirkby Stephen.

The Priestleys also sold another Limousin bull, the July, 2005, Brontemoor Arrowmint, by Procters Subaru, out of the home-bred Brontemoor Rolo, for 2000gns to J R Carr, of Bolton Abbey.

Reserve champion was another show debutant, a January, 2006, Blonde D’Aquitaine bull exhibited by Ian Moorhouse,Harrogate, who are beginning to make their mark on the show circuit, stepping up on their second and third in class at last year’s Skipton show.

Their 2007 runner-up, Fouldshaw Bouncer, is a product of Hillhead Umpire, standing in Ireland, himself a son of the French-bred Palace. The dam is the Cheshire-based Bridge Odile. Unsold on the day, Bouncer can be expected bounce back to further success in the show ring.

Judging on the day was Eileen Wilson, of Scorton, Richmond and breeder of pedigree Limousin, Belgian Blue and Blonde D’Aquitaine cattle. Overall she was impressed with the breeds exhibited, the champion stood out as a long, clean modern-day bull carrying flesh in all the right places.

The show saw a turnout of 25 breeding bulls and ten females and representation from Limousin, Belgian Blue, Charolais, Blonde d’Aquitaine, Aberdeen Angus and Saler pedigree breeds. Many came from noted breeders, offering plenty of appeal for pedigree, commercial, beef and dairy herds.