A monthly prime lambs championship and reserve hat-trick was recorded by Ribble Valley father and son, Richard and Mark Ireland, Heys Farm, Whalley, at CCM Skipton’s November show and sale on Monday(November 4). 

They took top honours yet again with two top-notch pens of five home-bred Shamrock Beltex lambs, once more sired by their high performance Scottish-bred Clary Fantastic tup. The 42kg victors sold at £180 per head, £4.28 per kilo, to regular buyer Knavesmire Butchers, York, the 48kg reserves at £170, 425.6p/kg, to Halifax wholesaler butchers J&E Medcalf. Both pens topped their section prices.

For the second consecutive month, the third prize 44kg pen, again Beltex-x, came from Calderdale’s George Sunderland, Sykes Gate, Cragg Vale, sold at £148, 390.2p/kg, to regular purchaser Andrew Atkinson, Felliscliffe, another 41kg pen from the same home doing better at £160.

A standalone show class for horned lambs was won by K Lister & Son, Kettlewell, with 42kg Dalesbred selling at £100, 238.1p/kg, double section top, to SM Halal Butchers, Bradford.

Currently in top form with their prime lambs, the Irelands will be keeping their fingers firmly crossed for further success in the show arena at what represents the climax of CCM’s primestock year, the high profile 17th annual Lingfield Christmas show and sale day on Sunday, December 1, when leading traditional family-run retail butchers and meat wholesalers will once again compete ringside to secure the best meat that money can buy for their customers’ festive tables.

Eleven butchers’ prime lamb classes, ten for prime cattle, two for prime pigs, alongside the annual lamb carcase competition again feature on an action-packed agenda, with the day also incorporating the Christmas charity section, with 15 individual classes. Proceeds will go to Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice, Oxenhope, Brooklands Community Special School, Skipton, and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Entries close on Monday, November 25, with a show schedule available under the sales catalogue section at www.ccmauctions.com