2010-12-22
Records crashed yet again at an annual charity show and sale of lambs at Skipton Auction Mart in aid of Sue Ryder – Manorlands Hospice at Oxenhope, Keighley.
Martin Throup with the Addingham & District Sheep Breeders’ Association charity lambs show champion.
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Organised by Addingham & District Sheep Breeders’ Association, a record number of 45 lambs – 34 Mule Wethers and 11 assorted cross-breds – were donated for the fourth annual event by association members and local farmers.
When they went on sale, record proceeds of £6,184 – almost £800 more than last year, itself a record – were realised.
“And the good thing was, farmers and other generous bidders didn’t feel they were being fleeced one little bit!” quipped Addingham & District Sheep Breeders’ Association chairman John Mawson. “It was a tremendous effort in difficult economic times and made twice the amount we had originally estimated.”
In the show arena, both the champion and reserve champion were presented by two brothers from the Throup farming family, who hold some renown as Mules maestros.
The championship fell to Ken and Lynne Throup, of Woofa Bank, Silsden, and reserve honours for the second year running to Joe and Nancy Throup, of Berwick Intake Farm, Draughton - victors in 2008.
First up in the sales ring, the title winner was initially knocked down by Craven Cattle Marts’ auctioneer Ted Ogden for £800 to show co-judge Les Thackray, of Mickley, Ripon, who immediately handed it back for resale, as did the second ‘buyer’ at £250, event sponsor Chris Pearson, of Pearson Farm Supplies, West Marton.
The third and final buyer at £120 was second co-judge James Bracewell, of Bent House Farm, Cliviger, Burnley, which meant the victor sold for a total of £1,170 – a heady figure when considering that the Mule prime stock selling average at Skipton earlier the same week was £67!
Mr Bracewell, who runs J & D Bracewell Butchers in Todmorden Market, also bought the Skipton charity champion last year, selling it through the shop in aid of his local cancer research charity. He’ll be doing the same again early in the New Year with his latest acquisition.
Anabelle Sugden, of Dobfield Farm, Laycock, again donated a Texel prime lamb carcass for sale, which was prepared free of charge by Skipton-based Stanforth Butchers in their CCM Quality Foods meat unit at Skipton Auction Mart.
The mart itself provided facilities for the fixture at no cost, also waving all commission charges on the sale. Refreshments were sponsored by Malham Agricultural Show.
In addition, many other gestures of goodwill helped to boost proceeds. “We can’t thank all those who supported us enough – it’s a magnificent effort,” said Mr Mawson.
Manorlands fundraiser Andrew Wood added. “Of the many hundreds of fund-raisers held on our behalf each year, this is one of the more novel and unusual. We are again ever-grateful for the overwhelming support and generosity that the organisers, local farming communities and all involved with the event continue to show us. The funds raised are a huge boost to our work, which sees us care for over 650 local people living with serious conditions such as cancer. ”
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