Defending Champions Make Good at Skipton Gimmer Lamb Show
2011-10-07

Reigning champions successfully defended their titles at Skipton Auction Mart’s annual show and sale of almost 6,500 ewe lambs, with quality pens commanding high prices and many repeat buyers at the ringside. (Tues, Oct 5)

David Verity with his Skipton Maham gimmer lamb champions.

Nidderdale father-and-son farmers Roland and David Verity, of Grange Farm, Bouthwaite, Ramsgill, again delivered a Mashams’ masterclass when landing their fourth title in succession at the seasonal highlight staged on behalf of Masham Sheep Breeders’ Association.

Their pen of ten gimmer lambs retained the Kemp Spokes Trophy, selling at £270 per head, top price in show and £90 more than their 2010 title winners, to Keith Liddle, of JB Liddle & Son, Stainburn, Otley, who also bought last year’s Verity victors.

The Veritys, who sold a total of 70 lambs, were also responsible for the second prize Masham pen, which sold at £135 each to Frank Tomlinson, of Wigton, Cumbria. The 350 Masham lambs forward averaged £93.09, an increase of £10.61 on 2010.

John and Sarah Tennant, of Low Bucker House Farm, Bordley, achieved a championship hat-trick in the Swaledale gimmer class, retaining the Craven Cattle Marts Trophy for the third year in succession.

They have been showing at the fixture since 1988 and Mr Tennant’s comment that “these are the best gimmer lambs I have ever brought” was underpinned in the sales ring when they sold at £230 a head – the exhibitor’s highest ever price at the show - to judges Mr and Mrs Bernard Simpson, of Pateley Bridge.

The Simpsons also bought the second prize pen of Swaledales from Kevin Huck, Bordley at £135 each. The 1,110+ Swaledales averaged £65.24.

With the Skipton Mule gimmer lamb champions are, from left, co-judge Ron Airey, Nancy Throup, co-judge Brian Watchorn, and Ken Throup.

Over 4,300 Mule gimmer lambs were sold at the season’s third open show and sale, with the championship falling to Joe and Nancy Throup, of Berwick Intake Farm, Draughton, who were following up on their title-winning peformance at the second annual North of England Mule Sheep Association gimmer lamb show at Skipton the previous month.

The victorious pen sold at £145 each when joining Derbyshire buyer Matt Tomlinson, of Muggington, just pipped for top price by a pen from John and Claire Mason, Embsay, which made £146 per head. Mules averaged £82.86 a head.

In the Continentals show class, the first and second prize pens were shown by Ken Gamble, of Easingwold. Both fell to Heather Stoney, of Bewerley, Pateley Bridge at £104 and £106 respectively, the latter top price in class. Continentals averaged £71.36 (+£7.32 on 2010).

Results at the Skipton-based NFU Mutual-sponsored show were:

Masham gimmer lambs - 1 J Verity & Son, Bouthwaite, £270 per head to JB Liddle & Son, 2 J Verity & Son, £135 to F Tomlinson, 3 JK Wilson, Blubberhouses, £140 to B&M Watkinson.

Swaledale gimmer lambs – 1 JM&S Tennant, Bordley, £230 to BS Simpson, 2 K Huck, Bordley, £135 to BS Simpson, 3 I Wilson, Winterburn, £140 to H Harvey & Son.

Mule gimmer lambs – 1 JC&N Throup, Draughton, £145 to MG Tomlinson, 2 A Caton, Otterburn, £125 to SP&LM Mason, 3 ASE Crisp & Son, Calton, £120 to AT Maude.Continental gimmer lambs – 1 & 2 Ken Gamble, Easingwold, £104 and £106 to Miss H Stoney, Bewerley, 3 MG Tomlinson, Muggington, £89 to MJ White

Principle prices:

Masham - £270, £135, £121(x2), £100, £88 J Verity & Son; £140, £94, £88, £83 JK Wilson; £100, £86, £85(x2) A&SL Throup; £94 M Ryder & Son; £88 GF Harker & Son; £84 JM Wilson & Son; £83 D Charnley.

Mule - £146 AJ Mason; £145 JC&N Throup; £144, £125, £112 A Caton; £141, £112 JA Throup; £136 R&C Greenwood; £131, £100 E&SCL Harker; £128 JC White; £120, £102 JK Wilson; £120, £107, £105, £103 ASE Crisp & Son; £118 JW Sayer & Son; £109 JH&K Dewhirst; £107, £102, £101 Ashfield Farms; £102 Saddle End Farms; £100 AJ Haggas.

Swaledale - £230, £90, £88 JM&S Tennant; £140, £92 I Wilson; £135, £85 G Huck & Son; £120, £88 TW Cowperthwaite; £110, £92 JE Cowperthwaite; £100, £85 FC,N&M Walker ; £100 Saddle End Farms; £88 S&D Robinson; £85 RW&B Chapman.

Continental -£106, £104KW Gamble; £96 WM Hall; £93 OM Chapman; £90 FG Throup.

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