Hall Mules Supreme at Skipton Shearlings Highlight
20/08/08

Over 3,500 breeding sheep passed through the sales rings at Skipton (Tues, Aug 19), as one of the mart's major summer fixtures saw entry numbers hit similar levels to those achieved at the last full show in 2006.

With the Skipton Mule shearling gimmer champions are, from left, co-judge George Whitwell, brothers James and William Hall, and co-judge William Oldfield.

Among the turnout were select BT-vaccinated and NEMSA-tagged consignments from regular vendors, many sourced from the 2007 Skipton mule gimmer lamb sale, one of the leading fixtures of its kind in the UK.

The Edgar Boothman Memorial Trophy for the best pen of ten Mule shearling gimmers went to Littondale sheep farmer James Hall, of Darnbrook Farm, Darnbrook.

James Boothman, Edgar's brother, presented the trophy to Mr Hall, who had previously won it in the 1990s. His 2008 title winners sold for the show-topping price of £130 per head to Derbyshire buyer Dan Sutton, Bakewell.

The Lancashire-based Fox farming family - father Vince and sons Peter, Edward and Robert - from New Lane Cottage, Withgill, Clitheroe, narrowly failed to make it four championship wins on the trot, having to settle for both second and third prizes in this year's renewal.

The runners-up were acquired for £110 each by Joe Throup, Draughton, the third price pen selling for £103 to Stephen Maskill, Halifax.

John North, of Doncaster, headed the Continentals show class with a pen of Texel-cross sheep, knocked down for £106 each to S Walmsley & Partners, Harrogate.

Best of the Mashams came from KE & AM Pilkington, Rimington, making £81 a head to a purchaser from Dewsbury.

Show judges were George Whitwell, Lanshaw, and William Oldfield, Newsholme. Mules averaged £82.87, Texels £80.97 and Mashams £64.26.

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