Class winners parade in the main sales ring at Skipton at-last year's show

A high-profile fixture, which shines the spotlight on traditional, native and rare breed sheep, cattle, poultry and waterfowl, takes place this year at Craven Cattle Marts' Skipton Auction Mart in North Yorkshire, on Saturday, September 17.

It is again being staged in association with the Dales Support Group of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.

Arrangements are already well advanced for the show, which in 2004 attracted more than 200 sheep exhibitors, along with 700 poultry and waterfowl entries.

Ryeland Down sheep were particularly well represented - and this year there will be a separate Ryeland show sponsored by the Northern Ryeland Breeders Group. The day will also feature the second annual show and sale of sheep at Skipton for the Hampshire Down Society.

“We are expecting a good turnout, mostly females - in-lamb ewes and maiden ewe lambs - plus some rams,” said Richard Davis, secretary of The Hampshire Downs Sheepbreeders Association. There will also be a show and sale on behalf of the Hebridean Sheep Society.

Jeremy Eaton, Craven Cattle Marts' general manager, said: “Pedigree sales at Skipton have shown a dramatic increase in both popularity and levels of support - among both buyers and sellers - over the past 12 months.

“The traditional, native and rare breeds show this September looks set to be the biggest and best yet, and we remain extremely keen to encourage local, regional and national breed societies to support the event by running their own shows and sales alongside our established hardy annuals.”