Cheshire Buyers Flock to Skipton for Gimmer Hoggs
2010-04-27

Cheshire buyers hogged the limelight at the ringside when travelling north to supplement their flocks at the annual show and sale of gimmer hoggs and ewes with lambs at foot, and geld gimmer hoggs, at Skipton Auction Mart. (Mon, Apr 26)

John Stapleton, left, with his Skipton Texel hoggs and lambs first prize winners, joined by Allflex’s Jane Chapman
and judge Martin Brown.

Local vendor John Stapleton, of High Skibeden Farm, Skipton, made a clean sweep of the prizes in the Continental hoggs and lambs class, his three pens of five Texels all selling for £200, twice, and £198 respectively to Cheshire buyer D J Jackson, of Northwich, who also acquired Mr Stapleton’s first and third prize pens at last year’s show. There was a £50 cash bonus this year from livestock identification firm Allflex, presented by the company’s Jane Chapman, of Skipton.

The first and second prize pens of Mule hoggs and lambs were exhibited by father-and-son Raymond and Robert Johnson, of Felliscliffe, Harrogate. Another Cheshire buyer J H Thornhill, acquired the first prize pen, awarded the Farmway Trophy from the animal feeds class sponsor, at £188 per outfit, with the runners-up sold at £172 to Lincolnshire purchasers D & A Fenwick.

David Wood, right, with his Skipton geld gimmer hoggs class winners, joined by Richard Paul, of sponsors Farmway.

First prize in the geld gimmer hoggs class fell to ten-strong pen of Mules from David Wood, of Wilcocks Farm, Rivington, Chorley, who also acts as a part-time auctioneer at Skipton. They too found their way to Cheshire when acquired by Messrs S Norcott & Son at £120 per head, who also bought the runners-up from Frank Waite, Laneshawbridge, at £116 each.

Judge was North Yorkshire sheep showman and noted Beltex breeder Martin Brown, of Newton-le-Willows, Bedale.

With 1,172 breeding sheep forward, Mule hoggs with single lambs averaged £164.52, Mule shearlings with twin lambs £184.29 and Texel hoggs with single lambs £167.90.

Hubberholme Hucks on High at Skipton Store Cattle Show
Viper Son Strikes at Skipton Young Bulls Show
Early Ewes and Lambs on Parade at Skipton