TRADE was red hot at CCM Skipton’s opening August Craven Dairy Auction show and sale, with fresh heifers keenly sought, going on to top at £2750 and average £2336.

Judge Andrew Wright made his trip from Cheshire worthwhile by buying both his champion and reserve. For the second consecutive sale Pete Baul, Bishop Thornton, stood top of a strong heifer in milk class and then went on to be champion with Ravensgate Spock Sparkle 359, the hammer falling after a flurry of ringside bids at £2700.

The July 16th freshened heifer, Wiskemanor Dalliance Lottie 2, from Margaret Goldie, Danby Wiske, was at 28kg and rising and finished second and reserve champion before she went on to lead the day’s trade at £2750.

Next in line was a black fresh heifer from Mark Smith, Winterburn, who was already robot-trained and at 34kg. She commanded £2200.

Over in the same day’s primestock show area, it’s the time of year when Darwen husband and wife, David and Laura Coar, Yew Tree Farm, usually hit top gear with their Spring-born prime lambs, and so it proved at the August show and sale when the couple not only claimed the championship, but also stood reserve champions too.

The Coars, also reserve champions in July, claimed double top with two five-strong pens of Beltex-x lambs, the 43kg victors making £164 per head, the 46kg runners-up doing better at £173 each. .

Placed third were July champions Ellis Bros, Addingham Moorside, again with Beltex-x lambs, their 44kg pen selling for a sale high £4.20 per kilo, or £185 each. Michael Spensley, Elslack, topped the sale at £190 with 59kg Texel lambs claimed by Joe Bosworth for Rossendale Meats.

A standalone show class for North of England Mules was won by Kevin Wilson, Blubberhouses, his 44kg lambs selling for £128 each to regular buyer Andrew Atkinson, Felliscliffe. Nick Dalby, Hartwith, judged.