AN overall selling average of £102.97 for 2,700 head, a solid rise of £13.69 and up almost exactly 15% on the previous year’s £89.28, was recorded at CCM Skipton Auction Mart’s annual opening show and sale of store lambs on Wednesday. 

 They were presented to a packed ringside of customers, as busy as has been seen for many years at the high profile 2024 opener, among them the usual travelled customers seeking sheep countrywide.

Again traditionally staged on the second day of the Great Yorkshire Show, bragging rights in the prize show for pens of 40 or more lambs again fell to an exhibitor who has won it no less than five times out of six past attempts, Andrew Haggas, Grove Farm, Otterburn.

As before, Andrew, who also consigned the 2023 victors, claimed leading honours with another 40-strong Beltex-x offering, again his only pen and first draw of the year, all April-born twins, a mix of both gimmer and wether lambs, the best by two Skipton-bought rams, one from mart regular Adrian Leach, Hebden Bridge, the other, like the previous year, a Wannops tup.

They went on to make a sale-topping £140 per head, comfortably exceeding the red rosette winners’ selling price of £126, also top call, last year, this time around joining Lincolnshire show judge Tom French.

He turned to the Bank Newton Hewetson family for his runners-up in show. Presented by brothers Albert and Fred Hewetson, the 40-strong three-quarters Texel pen, again a mix of gimmer and wether lambs, made £126 each, the third prize Beltex-x pen from Bolton Abbey father and son, Chris and Tom Heseltine, away at £118.

Adrian Leach, Owlers Farm, was himself represented and caught the eye with two ten-strong Beltex-x pens each making second top £138, while in the mix plenty of smart lambs got away well at £115-£122.

First draw Continental lambs out of North of England Mule ewes sold well, many pens making £110-£120, the next grade strong lambs £98-£108 for fresh stores, with longer-keep and younger lambs £88-£95.

Overall, Beltex averaged £122.24 and Texel £102.86. Elsewhere, returning vendors did well with Suffolk lambs, Robert Metcalfe, Brearton, heading the section with a £124 per head offering, while Michael Parker, Winterburn, topped his annual consignment with a pen of 40 at £120, three further pens from the same home hitting three figures. The Suffolk average was £105.66.

North of England Mules averaged £91.33, peaking at £114 from the Dakin Partnership, Hellifield, while North Lincolnshire regular Steve Dorey presented the £99 and £96 per head top price Charollais pens, this section averaging £95.74. Dutch Spotted lambs levelled at £91.17, with a top of £93 from J&L Mallender, Thornton-in-Craven, while Cheviots sold to £91 from R Taylor, Preston, averaging £89.46.

Co-sponsors were Top Tags Animal ID and British Wool Marketing Board. CCM’s second seasonal store lambs sale is scheduled for Wednesday, July 24, and again features the annual Down-x prize show