North Craven Coups at Skipton
2011-12-01

North Craven farming families were responsible for both champions at the Christmas shows of cull cows and cast sheep at Skipton Auction Mart.

Pictured with the Skipton Christmas cull cows champ and reserve are, from left, exhibitors James Ogden and Richard Mausdley, and judge Rob Medcalf, who bought the title winner.

James and Deborah Ogden, from Owlet Hall, Austwick, turned out the title-winning cow, a seven-year-old pure-bred British Blue, the pick of an exceptional entry of beef types by show judge Robert Medcalf, of Halifax–based wholesale butchers J & E Medcalf & Sons.

Mr Medcalf then transferred his interest to the ringside when snapping up his chosen 815kg champion for £1,569, or 192.5p/kg, top price per head in show.

Reserve champion was another British Blue, a 41-month-old cow weighing 795kg shown by Richard Maudsley on behalf of H & S Maudsley, of Stainforth, which headed the by-weight prices at 193.5p/kg, or £1,538, when joining John Thompson, of Gargrave.

A strong class of black and white cattle saw David Smith, showing on behalf of C Smith, of Sutton-in-Craven, land the honours with a six-year-old Friesian type, weighing 710kg and acquired by Dawn Meats, of Carnaby, Bridlington, for 137.5p/kg, or £976.

James Garth with his Skipton Christmas champion cull ewes.

David and Richard Pickersgill, of Intake Side Farm, Hawksworth, Leeds, presented the second and third prize dairy cows, both falling at 130.5p/kg and 126.5p/pg respectively to food group Kepak in Wakefield.

In the sheep show, James Garth & Son, of Birk Knott Farm, Keasden, fresh from their championship-winning performance in Skipton’s Christmas prime lamb show the previous day, exhibited the champion and reserve champion pens of ewes, chosen by judge Alex Riley, of Riley Bros, Dunnockshaw, Burnley.

The victors sold at £149.50 per head to Yorkshire Halal Meat Supplies for its supermarket in Alice Street, Keighley, one of several purchases made on the day, while the runners-up made £146.50 each when acquired by Michael Lomax, of Milnthorpe, Kendal.

Cull cow prices averaged £788, or 119.17p/kg, and cull ewes £78.13 per head.

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