A BLACK and white home-bred bull by the Belgian sire, Boherard Cantona, netted yet another British Blue championship at Skipton Auction Mart for the Walker family, from Brennand Farm, Dunsop Bridge.

Their 18-month-old Brennand Invincibull lived up to his new when taking supreme honours at Blue Wednesday, the mart’s annual breed showpiece and traditional opener to its 2015 pedigree beef season.

Described as a “very correct and mobile bull” by show judge Sheila Mason, who runs the Keasden Head British Blue herd in Clapham, the victor made top price in show when selling for 3,900gns (£4,095) to Richard Sandham, of Town End Farm, Carlton, Yeadon.

Mr Sandham bought a Brennand bull by the same sire at last year’s Skipton Blue sale and, pleased with its first calves this spring, decided to look for a similar bull at this year’s renewal. His latest acquisition will go straight to work on his Blue-cross commercial herd.

Cantona scored yet again for the Walkers at the Skipton highlight when also responsible for the female champion, which was secured by MT Sweetmore, of Buxton, for 2,450gns (£2,572).

The Walker family – Jeff, wife Margaret and sons John and Rob, are also fully involved - has dominated the British Blue show arena at Skipton in 2015, sending out both title winners at the two main store cattle with show potential fixtures staged so far this year.

The bull section achieved total clearance, with the reserve championship falling to the High Moss pedigree herd of Jack and Rebecca Wallbank in Keasden with their home-bred two-year-old bull, High Moss Ian.

It joined local breeders John and Gill Huck, of Church Farm, Hubberholme, for 3,300gns (£3,465).

The same vendors also sold a second 18-month-old black and white bull bull for 2,500gns (£2,625) to DP Moore, of Sowerby Bridge.

The third prize bull came from the North Craven Greystone pedigree herd of the Coates family, based at Rainscar Farm, Stainforth. The two-year-old sold for 3,200gns (£3,360) to Messrs Horsfield & Son, of Foulridge.

Another North Craven pedigree herd, the Owlden holding of James and Deborah Ogden in Austwick, caught the eye with their two-year-old bull, which also made 3,200gns when joining TH Kilby & Son, of Thorp Arch, Wetherby.

The Brookfield herd of Stephen and Gillian Potter, from Topcliffe, near Thirsk, achieved another high price with their September, 2013- born bull, which joined Stuart Barrett, of Braisty Woods, Summerbridge, for 3,000gns (£3,150).

Alan Barnes, who runs the Cowden pedigree herd near Great Harwood, chipped in with a two-year-old black bull, which made 2,600gns (£2,730) when sold to C Smith, of Sutton-in-Craven.

The overall bull average was £3,255 per head, with the fixture again creating keen interest at the ringside from premium suckled calf breeders, coupled with demand from dairy producers for bulls ready to work.

“It was a tremendous sale. The quality of entries is improving year on year and a number of potential buyers returned home empty handed,” said CCM’s general manager Jeremy Eaton.

Skipton’s pedigree beef season continues on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the big Limousin two-day highlight. There is the show-only Northern Limousin Extravaganza on day one, followed by the Craven Limousin Day show and sale. Both have record entries.

The season concludes on Wednesday, May 27, with Skipton’s Ling Fields Beef Cattle Fair, the annual multi-breed show and sale of pedigree beef breeding cattle, coupled with the late spring sale of breeding bulls.