Linton’s Thomas Boothman was the headline performer at Skipton Auction Mart’s opening early Spring show of 219 ewes with 380 lambs at foot.

From his annual consignment of 40 Texel and Continental-cross ewes and shearlings, all with twin Beltex lambs, Mr Boothman, of Linton Hall Farm, produced three prize-winning pens, among them the best pen of five outfits and overall show champions.

His home-bred Texel-cross two-shear title winners, with twin Beltex lambs by tups acquired from Skipton’s Chris Windle, also a partner with Windle Beech Winthrop, based at the auction mart, sold for £255 per outfit to Lincolnshire buyer T Ogg, of Coleby.

Mr Boothman was also responsible for the second prize pen of five Texel shearlings with lambs, which again sold well at £235 per outfit to the same buyer, along with the third prize pair of ewes with lambs, which returned to their place of origin when knocked down at £205 each to Linton’s Johnny Metcalfe.

The same vendor also achieved the day’s highest price of £260 per outfit for another top-notch pen of five Texel ewes with twin lambs, which again fell to Mr Metcalfe.

In addition, Mr Boothman chipped in with the top price £200 per outfit pen of Suffolk ewes with twin lambs, which joined Peter Houseman in Padside, Harrogate, and the top price pen of Texel shearling ewes with single lambs, a further T Ogg acquisition at £170 each.

The pairs class was won by Chris Craven of Whitethorne Farm, Kexby, York, with his home-bred Beltex-cross ewes with twin Beltex lambs. He also headed the day’s ewes with single lamb prices with a Charollais pen sold away at £192 per outfit to regular Skipton prime lamb vendor Robert Towers, of Farleton, Lancaster.

Eldroth’s Andrew Bailey presented the second prize pairs pen, sold for £230 per outfit, again to Mr Houseman, who also paid £192 each for the third prize winners in the pen of fives show class, Suffolks from Cowling’s Martin Jennings.

Show judge was Stainforth’s Richard Caton, while co-sponsors were JG Animal Health, represented by Robert Garth, and Lancashire tractor firm Bryan Hoggarth, represented by local salesman Ed Tinker.

The show formed part of a 622-strong turnout of breeding sheep, which drew a large crowd of buyers. The quality end met with an exceptional trade, with several vendors seeing the equivalent of £75 to £85 per life for singles and twins.

Weekly Monday sales of ewes with lambs at foot continue throughout April and May, with two Saturday shows also scheduled for April 26 and May 24.