Shearling ram secures top prize and price at 500gns

Members of the Dalesbred Sheep Breeders’ Association were on parade for their annual show and sale of shearling and aged rams at Skipton Auction Mart.

The championship was awarded to a shearling ram from the Penyghent flock of John and Jean Bradley, of Penny Grange, Giggleswick, Settle. With it went the Royston Baxter Trophy, presented annually by the former Skipton Auction Mart foreman.

The victor, by a home-bred sire that won at Kilnsey Show this year, out of a Rishworth-based John Greenwood-sired ewe, also achieved top price in show at 500gns – the second year in succession the Bradleys have headed the Skipton prices – when purchased by William Atkinson, of Holme House, Bleasdale, Garstang.

Mr and Mrs Bradley – Jean remains secretary of the Dalesbred Sheep Breeders’ Association – capped a good day when selling a further shearling ram, by a sire from Dickie Brown at Bishopdale, out of another John Greenwood-sired ewe, for 340gns.

The buyer was Mark Harrison on behalf of the farming partnership of V Verity and Son at West End, Summerbridge, Nidderdale.

Reserve champion was the first prize aged ram from Richard Close, Starbotton, with CM & SM Faraday, of Kingsdale Head Farm, Westhouse responsible for the second prize aged ram.

Runner-up in the shearling class was MJ & A Carr, of Brackenbottom Farm, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, and third the 2010 Skipton show champion Godfrey Haygarth, who trades as GC & PM Haygarth & Daughters at Aigden Farm, Wigglesworth.

Aged rams averaged £133.08 (£123 in 2010) and shearling rams £117.88 (£90)

Picture: John Bradley with his Skipton Dalesbred shearling ram champion, joined by trophy presenter Royston Baxter, right, and co-judges Steven Wright and John Atkinson.