Championship delight for new recruit Philip in show debut (From Craven Herald)

Championship delight for new recruit Philip in show debut

2:05pm Thursday 29th September 2011 in Countryfile By Lindsey Moore

A recent recruit to the Northern Area Texel Sheep Breeders’ Association made an immediate impact on his first-ever appearance at its 30th anniversary show and sale of pedigree rams and females at Skipton Auction Mart.

Philip Makin, of Williambeck Farm, Chop Gate, who only joined Northern Area Texel Sheep Breeders last year, saw his first prize-winning shearling ram and male champion go on to be crowned the overall title winner. It sold locally for 1,500gns to John Mellin, of Mill House, Long Preston.

Another John Mellin – he and his wife, Linda, have the renowned Hull House Texel flock at nearby Hellifield – beat strong competition with a bid of 4,100gns (£4,305), top price in show and one of the highest ever prices paid at Skipton for a Texel female, when claiming the third prize shearling ewe from Stuart Currie’s Beautry flock at Rathmell, Settle.

The strong shearling rams class, one of the best in recent years, was also responsible for the reserve male and reserve supreme champion from Peter Longdin, of Wellingley Grange, Tickhill, Doncaster.

He said it was his best-ever result since he started showing at the Skipton fixture some 20 years ago. This was reflected in the selling price of 2,200gns when the ram joined HA Sawrey at Great Urswick, Ulverston. The same price was achieved by the third prize shearling ram from Steve and Sherry Richardson, of Mount Pleasant Farm, Great Houghton, Barnsley. The buyers were P & S Mellor, of Little Hayfield, High Peak .

Northern Area Texel chairman Mark Keighley and his wife, Helen, from Leathley, won the female championship with their first prize March 2010-born shearling ewe, which sold for 1,000gns to RN Kirby & Son of Ainderby Steeple, Northallerton. The Keighleys were also in action at the ringside when paying 900gns for a home-bred ram lamb from Mrs C Woodward, of Holyrood Farm, Balne.

Helen Keighley also runs the Wigglesworth Texel flock in partnership with her mother, Freda Booth, at Wigglesworth Hall Farm, Long Preston. They had a shearling ram sell at 1,900gns to Roger and Jason Craddock, of Bolton by Bowland, along with a second shearling ram knocked down at 1,150gns to David and Robin Booth, of Feizor.

The reserve female champion emerged from the Tophill flock of David Houghton at Isherwood Farm, Affetside. His second prize shearling ewe, bought as a ram lamb, sold locally for 750gns to John Stephenson, of Bordley Green.