Young farmers shine in CCM Skipton show arena
Twenty up-and-coming farmers of the future participated in the annual Young Farmers prime lamb show and sale at CCM Skipton on Monday.
With three show classes, the overall champion and top price came from the older age group, when judge Angus Dean, of Threshfield, awarded the title to 24-year-old Laura Robinson, whose father Trevor and uncle Clive Robinson run Middle Brayshaw Farm, Tosside.
Ms Robinson was victorious with a 38kg Beltex-cross lamb, which sold for £146, or 384.2p/kg – the top price in show and on the day. Buyer was Steven Swales for his Knavesmire Butchers Shop in Albemarle Road,York.
Mr Swales bought five of the nine main prize winners in total, also among them the reserve champion at £108. This was another Beltex-cross weighing 42kg from Rebecca Stapleton, winner of the 10-16 years class.
Twelve-year-old Ms Stapleton – her father George farms at High Skibeden, Skipton, is a pupil at Skipton Girls High School and was making her first-ever appearance in the show ring.
Winner of the Under-10’s class was nine-year-old Sam Phillipson, whose parents Janet and Christine Phillipson run Netherwood Farm in Briercliffe, Burnley. His red rosette winner, a 43kg Beltex-x-Charollais earmarked specially for the event, sold for £112 to Keelham Farm Shop in Thornton, Bradford, who also purchased last’s years young farmers show champion.
Results, prices and buyers:
Under 10
1st Phillipson, Briercliffe, £112 to Keelham Farm Shop, Thornton, 2nd Freddie Shorrock, Cliviger, £86 to Steven Swales, Knavesmire Butchers, York, 3rd Henry Shorrock, Cliviger, £87 to Hartshead Meats, Mossley, Oldham.
10-16 years
1st Rebecca Stapleton, High Skibeden, £108 to S Swales, 2nd Simone Burrow, Hanlith, £118 to S Swales, 3rd Jacob Ogg, Scunthope, £85 to Vivers ScotLamb, Annan.
17–26 years
1st Laura Robinson, Tosside, £146 to S Swales, 2nd Hayley Baines, Trawden, £114 to S Swales, 3rd Becky Ellis, Addingham Moorside, £98 to Vivers Scot Lamb.
Other young handlers taking part were Richard Greenwood, Daniel Ellis, Harry Shearsmith, Daniel Dobson, Ellis Snowden, Josh Lawn, Nathan Greenwood, Thomas Ogg, Robert Ellis, Sarah Eddleston and Georgie Fort.
Prime sheep trade climbs
The young farmers’ prime lambs were among a total headcount of 2,902 prime sheep at the CCM Skipton’s weekly sale, when trade showed an expected improvement,as numbers tighten countrywide.
In general, all classes were up £8 to £12 each on the week, achieving an overall average of £75.41 per head, or 189.75p/kg, as buyers continued to seek well-fleshed lambs.
Smart Beltex and three-quarters Texel sorts were generally 210-230p/kg, with a few pens exceeding this. Plenty of half-bred handy-weighted lambs sold at 185-195p/kg, with commercial lambs generally 180-185p/kg.
Mules and hill-bred lambs found a better following, with ethnic trade helping these along. Colin Price, of Keasden, sold 32kg Dalesbred lambs at £59 per head, while John Bland, of Crowden, Glossop, had 28kg Swaledales at £48, Andrew Barker, of Todmorden, 26kg Scottish Blackface at £48, and Alan Fothergill, of Silsden, 36kg Dalesbreds at £68.
In the cast ewe market, 11 buyers bid freely for a turnout of 600 head, with trade stronger on the week to see cull ewes average £47.23 per head overall and cast rams £64.17.