ASHLEY and Rachael Caton, of Otterburn Lodge Farm, Otterburn, secured a notable championship double at the North of England Mule Sheep Association’s opening annual ewe lamb show and sale at Skipton Auction Mart.

Multiple past title winners, they took top honours with both their 10 and 20 pens.

Their champion pen of 10s sold for £200 per head, while their champion pen of 20s also sold well at £195 each, top price in class.

Both fell to the same buyer, fourth generation farmer Gareth Daniels, from Little Barningham in Norfolk.

The Catons were breaking a stranglehold on the opening highlight by the Smearsett flock of North Craven’s WA&A Booth, of Old Hall Farm, Feizor, who presented the champion pens of 10s and 20s in both 2013 and 2014.

However, they were not far behind at the latest renewal, sending out both reserve champions pens. Their 10s sold for £165 per head and their 20s pen for £155 each. They were also awarded the NEMSA Skipton branch shield for the best run of 40 or more lambs.

Former Skipton branch chairman Kevin Wilson, of Blubberhouses, stole the show on price.

Late in the day, Mr Wilson stepped into the ring with his fourth prize pen of 10s to see them snapped up for the leading per head call of £250 by Brian Ridsdale, who trades as M Ridsdale & Son at Yew Tree Farm, Penrith.

Reigning CCM Farmers of the Year, husband and wife Stephen and Tracey Fawcett, and their daughter Samantha, who farm at Fold House, Drebley, achieved a noteworthy double, finishing third in both show classes. Their 10s sold for £168 per head and their 20s pen for £136.

The opening NEMSA highlight remains one of the leading fixtures of its kind in the North of England and the first major Mule lamb sale of the year.

The 2015 renewal saw a total of 7,979 (7,810 in 2014) gimmer lambs sold through the ring at an overall average of £90.49 per head, compared to £99.88 the previous year.

Skipton branch chairman Neil Heseltine, of Malham, said: “I think both buyers and sellers came away happy. Prices were not down by as much as sellers were anticipating and buyers have been able to acquire lambs at a price that is acceptable to them.”

Craven Cattle Marts’ livestock sales manager and auctioneer Ted Ogden added: “With the weather for once being kind in the run up to this year’s sale, lambs were shown in fine bloom and were a credit to all concerned.”

CCM Auctions again presented cash prizes for the day’s leading flock averages. Of the vendors consigning 100 or more lambs, WP&B Walker & Son, of Appletreewick, led the field at £114.18 per head with their 102-strong batch, followed by the Booths at £112.23 with 140 lambs and the Fawcetts at £108.67 with 110 lambs.

Silsden Moor’s Jeff Throup led the flock averages for under 100 lambs, with their 86 charges levelling at £101.48 per head, followed by the Walker family at £99.80 for their 75 lambs, and £97.81 for the 43 lambs consigned by Francis Caton.

Full results and prices can be viewed at ccmauctions.com

The spotlight now turns to Skipton’s second annual NEMSA gimmer lamb show and sale on Tuesday.