A conscious decision to target a well thought of Belgian Blue youngster at the annual Christmas calves show at Skipton Auction Mart paid off handsomely for local farmer Andrew Ayrton when his six-week-old heifer calf took supreme championship honours. (Mon, Nov 27).

Andrew Ayrton is pictured left with his Skipton calf champion, joined by - from left - Julian Hall, area sales manager of Trouw Nutrition International, their local agent Janet Sheard, and Vicky Hawley, of Crossgates Bioenergetics.

Andrew, of RE and J Ayrton & Son, Bower House Farm, Eastby, then had the double delight of seeing his title winner sell for the day’s top price of £300 to Lincolnshire buyer Michael Fane, of Stow Park Livestock, who was purchasing the Skipton Christmas champion for the second year in succession.

The reserve champion, a nine-week-old Limousin bull calf, was presented by Richard Spence, of Low Jack Field Farm, Sutton-in-Craven, realising £270 when bought by John Otterburn, of Helmsley.

The annual fixture had a main sponsor in Cheshire-based Trouw Nutrition International, whose local agent is Craven Cattle Marts’ fieldsperson Janet Sheard, of Huddersfield.

Also represented were Vicky Hawley, of monthly calf show sponsor Crossgates Bioenergetics, of Settle, while the best black-and-white bull calf also received at £20 meat voucher from Stanforths Butchers, of Skipton.

Next up at Skipton Auction Mart is “Craven’s Prime Christmas,” the annual festive shows and sales of prime cattle and prime lambs, on Monday, December 4, when a total of four trophies will be awarded.

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