2012-03-07
Heading the pecking order at the annual Craven Feather Auctions Spring show and sale of poultry and waterfowl at Skipton Auction Mart were brothers Andrew and Richard Gascoyne, of Wakefield. (Sat, March 3)
Brothers Andrew, centre, and Richard Gascoyne, left
, with their champion trio of Buff Orpingtons,
joined by show judge Edward Dickinson.
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The Gascoynes, who also ruled the roost at the corresponding fixture in 2009, once again secured the title with a trio of grass-fed Buff Orpingtons – a cockerel and two hens that had just started laying.
The victors are from top quality bloodlines, established many years ago by Andrew and Richard’s grandfather Cyril Hemmingway, also of Wakefield, who first introduced the brothers to the world of poultry when they were around six-years-old. They now breed only Buff Orpingtons.
Show judge Edward Dickinson, of Oldfield, Keighley, vice-chairman of Craven Poultry Keepers’ Club, said his chosen champions were “in a class of their own.” They sold for £90.
The reserve championship fell to a trio of Chocolate Orpingtons from S Stanhope, of Hawksworth, Leeds, with J Hindle, of Oswaldtwistle, exhibiting the first prize pen of waterfowl, a pair of Saxony ducks.
Yet again, Alan Barnes, of Cowden, Great Harwood, headed the show prices by far with two trios of White Wyandottes, which made £260 and £200 respectively. Mr Barnes has been breeding poultry for more than 60 years, having achieved multiple successes on the national show circuit, also being regularly called on to adjudicate himself.
The latest Craven Feather Auctions show and sale attracted an entry of 311 cages, along with 104 lots of hatching eggs and poultry equipment.
The fixture was again staged alongside Skipton Auction Mart’s regular Saturday sales of machinery, reclamation and salvage, antique and furniture items, plus 4x4 vehicles, tractors and plant equipment. As usual, the event attracted a large turnout from regional agricultural communities, collectors and the general public.
Future Craven Feather Auctions will take place on Saturdays, May 26, July 7, September 1 – also the Autumn show - October 13, November 10 and the Christmas show in December, with the date to be confirmed.
 Brian Lund Shines in Skipton Prime Cattle Arena
Bauls’ Back-to-Back Craven Dairy Auction Coup
Cray Hill Farmers Reign Supreme on Craven Champions Day
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