Skipton’s spring sale of cattle with show potential saw British Blues crosses maintain their domination of recent years when again taking the championship on Wednesday, but it was a Limousin cross that took the day’s top price.
Lifting the championship was the first prize 12-month-old British Blue-cross heifer from the North Craven-based Littlebank herd of show debutants Richard and Wendy Maudsley, Rathmell.
Champion from the pre-sale show, Messrs Maudleys' British Blue cross heifer
The star of the show, out of a half-British Blue cow, sold for £1200 to Jeff Burrow, Hanlith, a regular buyer at the fixture.
It was the same vendor-buyer combination which resulted in the day’s top price, but this time is was a red ticket winning Limousin cross heifer from the Maudsleys which Mr Burrow paid £1320 for.
The defending champion, Calderdale’s David Broadbent, Midgley, had to settle for reserve championship honours this year with the second prize 13-month-old home-bred British Blue-cross heifer.
She is by Owlden Brutus, a son of the of the 5000gns Owlden Whitestar, both bred by James Ogden in Austwick. This one sold at £1260 to H and E Boak, Langton, Malton, a price equalled by Mr Broadbent’s second prize British Blue-cross bullock, which joined David and Martin Wilcock, North Ashton, Wigan.
The same buyers also paid £1070 for the first prize Limousin-cross bullock from Alan Simpson, Giggleswick.
All but one of the British Blue and Limousin show class prize winners made four figures. The first prize British Blue-cross bullock from John and Alison Spensley, Thorlby, achieved £1040 when crossing the border to join mart regulars Matt and Ben Townsend, Laneshawbridge, who also paid £1170 for the third prize British Blue heifer from John Fawcett, Barden.
John and Gill Huck, Hubberholme, sold their second prize Limousin heifer for £1160 to Malcolm Metcalfe, Baldersby, while the third prize British Blue bullock from Trevor Dobson at Grindleton sold for £1110 Matthew Keel, Thirsk
Strong trade for store cattle, both in the show and general fortnightly sale, saw Continental cross bullocks average £990, compared to £745 at last year’s corresponding fixture, and Continental cross heifers £891, as against £664 last year.
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