SEAN Hickey made an infrequent excursion into the dairy show arena at Skipton Auction Mart and was rewarded when his first prize newly calven heifer clinched championship honours at the main July Craven Dairy Auction.

Mr Hickey, of Bridge House Farm, Laneshawbridge, is better known as a dairy cattle buyer at Skipton, where he had earlier purchased his commercial Holstein Friesian victor as a stirk.

Eight days calved and giving over six-and-a-half gallons, she sold for the day’s second top price of £2,250 to G and PS Fleetwood, of Mirfield.

Top price of £2,300 fell to the second prize newly calven heifer and reserve champion from Robin Jennings, who runs the Stainbank pedigree Holstein Friesian herd at Hill House Farm, South Stainley.

Twelve days calved and giving 35 litres, she found a new home in Glusburn with regular dairy buyers Stephen and Edward Jeanes.

Chris Broadwith, of Thornton Watlass, was also among the leading performers with a newly calven heifer that achieved the same price as the title winner when also joining the Fleetwoods.

First and second prizes in the show class for newly-calven cows fell to John Rennard, of Beamsley, with his red rosette winner becoming the top-priced cow at £1,420 when bought by Wick Williams, of Nantwich.

The Lea farming family from Wortley, Sheffield, won all three prizes in the in-calf show class with Holstein-x-MRI heifers due at the end of August to an Ayrshire sire. They sold to a high of £1,150.

Trade for the top end of the 34 dairy cattle forward was again strong, with some decent heifers achieving in the £1,700 to£1,850.

Pedigree newly calven heifers averaged £1,930, with their commercial counterparts averaging £1,654. Newly calven cows averaged £1,385 and in-calf heifers £1,125.