LINTON'S Thomas Boothman was again the standout performer at Skipton Auction Mart’s opening early spring show of ewes with lambs at foot, landing the championship for the second year in succession.

Mr Boothman, of Linton Hall Farm, secured principal honours with two pens from his annual consignment of 72 outfits of Texel and Continental-cross ewes and shearlings, all with twin Beltex lambs.

The title winners sold for £260 per outfit, bettered by the runners-up at £265 per outfit, the day’s joint top price. Both joined GW and MA Platt and Son in Macclesfield.

Mr Boothman also chipped in with the third prize Continental pen and these too made £265 when also joining the Platts. The same vendor was also responsible for the third prize pen of five Mule ewes with twin lambs, sold locally for £225 per outfit to John Turner in Draughton.

There was a third £265 joint top price outfit, the first prize pen of two Mule shearlings with twin lambs from Andrew Bailey, of Bailey Farms in Eldroth, which found a new home with Brenda Bell in Ripon.

Bailey Farms also figured prominently among the prizes, presenting the first and second prize pens of five Mule ewes with lambs. The red rosette winners, each with twin lambs, sold for £250 per outfit, again to Mrs Bell, while the runners-up, each with single lambs, made £185 the outfit when joining Frankland Farms in Rathmell.

Bailey Farms also stepped up with the second prize pen of two Mule ewes with single lambs, sold for £210 per outfit to Mrs Bell again.

A total of 591 head of breeding sheep – 215 dams with 375 lambs at foot – were forward for Skipton’s weekly sale.

Young sheep with strong lambs were again keenly contested and prices between £230 and £250 per outfit were not uncommon. Older sheep with strong lambs were again good to sell, while those with younger lambs were a much better trade than the previous week.