THE third seasonal sale of gimmer lambs at CCM Skipton attracted an increased entry of 3105 head and while the quality on offer was again solid, trade was, as expected - and in common with other centres - not just as sharp as previous sales, the overall average down £13.79 on the year to level at £111.81.

Swaledale gimmer lambs attracted plenty of buyers for the strongest pens, with a good trade in evidence, the 600 head averaging £77.09, down £25.14 on 2023. Larger, darker lambs were in high demand.

There were four prize shows for pens of ten. Claiming a fourth consecutive success in the Swaledales were father and daughter, John and Rose Tennant, Bordley, and like the previous year their pen again topped the day’s prices at £205 per head when claimed by North Craven show judge Rowan Pickles, Ribblehead. The Tennants have been breeding Swaledales across several generations and have farmed at Bordley for over 100 years. The majority of the flock are for pure breeding and they only started crossing sheep some eight years ago to breed North of England Mules, with just 150 put to the Blue Faced Leicester tup.

Kevin Huck, Bordley, stood runner-up, his pen making £165, bettered at £185 by the third prize pen from the Mason family, Oddacres, Embsay.

Dales Mule, Masham and North of England Mule show classes were judged by Steve Lofthouse, Grewelthorpe. Winning the Dales Mules, again for the fourth consecutive year, were Richard and Matthew Close, Starbotton, their pen making section top £150, the second prize winners from the same home £135. 52 Dales Mule averaged £122.04 (-£6.22 on 2023).

David Newbould, Dallowgill, once again proved that age is no barrier to success in the show arena when the 82-year-old, accompanied by grandson Ben Buckingham, won the class for the second year running, selling for £140, again section top, the runners-up from Allan and Susan Throup, Silsden Moor, making £125, J Verity & Son, Middlesmoor, also doing well with pens at £135 and £125. 116 Masham lambs averaged £118.78 (-£12.12).

North of England Mules were again in the ascendancy in terms of numbers, 2274 head averaging £111.81 (-£13.79). Top of the trade at £175 was a pair of strong, flashy tupping lambs from the Kitching family, Threshfield, followed at £168 for five from Joe and Nancy Throup, Draughton.

Topping the prices for pens of ten or more were Francis and James Caton, Weston, selling to £165.

In the Mules show class, Calton father and daughter, Robert and Ellie Crisp, stepped up on their second prize success last year to take top spot, also consigning the third prize pen, the victors making £160, the yellow rosette pen £152.

The class runners-up from John, Gill and James Huck, Hubberholme, made £150, the Walker family, Dunsop Bridge, also catching the eye with a £160 pen. Texel lambs peaked at £130 from M Taylor & Son, Rathmell, and averaging £112.34.