Bovine ‘babies’ take centre stage at Skipton
Two exhibitors achieved multiple successes at Skipton Auction
Mart’s annual show of 2010-born suckled calves and 2009-born store
cattle with show potential, which formed part of the fortnightly sale of
over 550 head of store and breeding cattle. (Wed, Oct 27)
Six-month-old British Blue youngsters from Jonathan Townley, of Nutta Farm,
Clapham, assisted during half term week by his 15-year-old son Adam, who
attends Settle College, took the lion’s share of the leading honours
in the suckled calf bull, steer and heifer classes.
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| Pictured with the champion, left, and reserve champion
2009-born store cattle are, from left, exhibitor John Stephenson, co-judge
Anthony Swales, John Stephenson Jnr, sponsor Jim Peet and co-judge Luke
Swales. |
The first prize steer was overall champion, heading the calf
prices at £940
when selling to show judge Anthony Swales, of Haverland Farm, Melbourne,
York, also assisted by his son Luke, a pupil at York High School, who was
making his debut as an adjudicator in the exhibition arena.
The Swales family also acquired Mr Townley’s first and second prize-winning
British Blue bull calves at £800 and £820 respectively, with
the North Craven exhibitor’s first prize heifer calf joining Matt Townsend,
Laneshawbridge, for £820.
Back in the suckled calf classes, the third prize bull calf from Jim Stockdale,
Burnsall, sold for £815 to J B Eastwood, Emley, Huddersfield, with
Tim Metcalfe, of Clayton, Bradford, clinching second and third prizes in
the steer class, both selling for £630 to Jeff Burrow, Hanlith, and
Mick Bradley, Scarborough.
In the store classes, John Stephenson, of Bordley Green Farm, Bordley, also
assisted by his son John, a pupil at Upper Wharfedale School, sent out both
the champion and reserve champion, each earlier chosen as first prize winners
in the steer and heifer classes.
The first prize steer and store champion was a 16-months-old Blonde d’Aquitaine-British
Blue-cross bull, which joined David and Martin Wilcock, Wigan, for the show-topping
price of £1,260.
Standing reserve was Mr Stephenson’s 15-month-old first prize British
Blue heifer, another acquisition by Matt Townsend at £1,020. Mr Stephenson
also presented the second prize steer, knocked down for £870 to Craven
Cattle Marts’ Stock Person of the Year, Jimmy Baines, of Trawden, and
the second prize suckled calves heifer, sold for £560 to South Yorkshire
purchasers R & P Blacker.
Three further prize winners in the store cattle classes topped four figures – the
second and third prize heifers from T B Moorhouse & Son, Dacre, Harrogate,
both sold for the joint top price in class at £1,060 to Jeff Burrows,
and the third prize steer from Peter and Edward Fox, Clitheroe, another purchase
by the Wilcocks at £1,020.
Main show sponsor was Cumbrian-based animal feeds company Jim Peet Agriculture,
of Langwathby, Penrith, supported by agricultural insurance firm Towergate
Risk Solutions.
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