28/10/08
Suckled calves and store cattle, with special prize classes for British Blues and Limousins, took centre stage at Skipton Auction Mart at a new format show and sale that – judged on its initial success - will now become an annual event. (Wed, Oct 22)
James Stockdale, left, with his Skipton suckled calves supreme champion, joined by judge George Rice.
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A well-bred eight-month-old Limousin-cross bullock from JW Stockdale & Sons, Oat Croft Farm, Burnsall, was first chosen as best of breed, before going on to take supreme championship honours.
Exhibited by James Stockdale, the victor is by the family’s main stock bull, Clough Head Vodka, bred by George Hutton in Cumbria, out of a British Blue-cross cow.
Dubbed “a first-class animal” by judge and well-known Limousin showman George Rice, from the Rice family, of Carlton, Leeds, the title winner at the Novartis Animal Health-sponsored fixture sold to M Keel, of Thirsk, for £980.
The same purchaser also paid £860 for the first prize British Blue and reserve champion calf, a March-born heifer shown by Stephen Wallbank, of R&A Wallbank, Halsteads Farm, Slaidburn. She is by the Wallbank’s established stock bull Carrok Patron, acquired over ten years ago from SJ & RR Brough in Cumbria.
Top price in show at £1,250 fell to the best of the 2007-born store cattle and overall reserve supreme show champion from John Stephenson, of Bordley Green Farm, Bordley. The 18-month-old home-bred Limousin was class champion at this year’s Kilnsey Show.
He is by John’s own sire, acquired in 2001 for restocking purposes, out of a British Blue-x-Limousin cow.
For good measure, John also presented the best Continental young bull, a 13-month-old British Blue-x-Limousin son of another Stephenson stock bull, Sambo.
The North Eastern Limousin Breeders Club and The British Blue Cattle Society presented cash prizes in their respective sections.
On a day when 800 cattle passed through the Skipton ring, farmstock sales manager and auctioneer Ted Ogden explained: “We purposely extended and enhanced the suckled calves classes at this special show to cater for the ever-increasing number of farmers who are breeding show cattle, along with others seeking to buy quality animals. It will now become an annual event.”
Skipton’s high profile Autumn beef season continues on Wednesday, November 5, with the inaugural sale of in-calf breeding cattle and cows and heifers with calves at foot. It will run alongside the fortnightly sale of young feeding bulls, store cattle and suckled calves.
 John Bradley Shearling Champion at Skipton Dalesbred Rams Show
John Stott Supreme at Skipton Charollais Sheep Show
Six-Shear Stalwart Supreme at Skipton Swaledale Rams Show
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