Showing birds for the first time ever, North Craven’s Josh Ryder, Masongill Hall, near Ingleton, couldn’t have made a better start when he flew off with the championship at CCM Skipton Auction Mart’s Craven Feather Auction summer show and sale of poultry and waterfowl on Saturday.

Better known as a sheep breeder and no stranger to success in the show arena at Skipton with these, Josh clinched his maiden poultry title with the first prize pen of bantams/small fowl, a pair of unrelated 2023 Black Rosecomb, a cockerel and a hen.

He started with this true breed of bantam, so named for its distinctive comb, three years ago and now runs two separate Black Rosecomb lines, his victors making £40. Josh had further reason to celebrate on debut when also topping the day’s selling prices at £92 with a large fowl trio of 13-week-old Welsummer pullets.

Show judge, well-known West Yorkshire poultry breeder Tim Metcalfe, Clayton, again tuned to the bantams/small fowl class for his reserve champion pen, the runners-up, a trio of Partridge Wyandotte from fixture regular Geoff Marston, Wetherby, which made £90, as did a same way bred pair of pullets from the same home.

The first prize pen of large fowl, a quad of April, 2024, Salmon Faverolles, originally a French breed of chicken with a unique colour pattern, was consigned by Padside Produce, Harrogate, making £45, with first prize pen of waterfowl, a pair of 2024 Call Ducks from P Osbaldiston, Eldwick, selling for £25.

Stephen Pepper, Oxenhope, caught the eye with a trio of six-week-old Wellsummer Pullets making £85, while quartets of point of lay Light Sussex pullets, one pen a third prize winner, from J Harker, Nesfield, Ilkley, made £70 and £68.

The next Craven Feather Auction show and sale is the Christmas fixture on Saturday, December 14, for which entries close of December 6.