THE Dalesbred Sheep Breeders’ Association’s again staged their final seasonal show and sale of shearling and aged rams, and females, at Skipton Auction Mart, when top price of 650gns fell to the second prize shearling ram fromFrank Brennand, of Ellerbeck Farm, Chapel-le-Dale.

The top price achiever sold locally to James Hall, of Darnbrook.

Father and daughter Godfrey and Alison Haygarth, of Aigden Farm, Wigglesworth, secured a memorable hat-trick when sending out the show champion for the third year in succession, as well as the reserve champion.

The title winner, which retained the Royston Baxter Trophy, presented annually by the former Skipton Auction Mart foreman, who lives in Steeton, was their first prize home-bred shearling ram, which sold for 200gns to C Harrison and Son, of Blubberhouses.

The Haygarths’ reserve champion was their first prize aged ram. The two-shear returned home.

Michael and David Wilson, of Crimple Head Farm, Beckwithshaw, finished third in the shearling ram class, their charge selling away at 120gns to John Fisher, of Chorley. The Wilsons – David continues as Dalesbred Sheep Breeders’ chairman – also sold a second shearling ram at 280gns to Miss WI Thwaite, of Winterburn.

Brian and Richard Coates, of Braida Garth, Westhouse, achieved 350gns – this joining V Verity & Son in West End - and 200gns with a brace of shearling rams, while Ken Taylor, of Higher Brayshaw, Rathmell, chipped in with another 220gns sale.

The female section was well supported, with gimmer lambs headed by Pateley Bridge’s Barry Liddle at £82 and shearling gimmers topping at £115 for a submission from the Coates brothers, of Rainscar Farm, Stainforth.

The fixture attracted a turnout of 24 rams, which sold to an overall average of £183 per head, and 125 females. Shearling gimmers averaged £91 each and gimmer lambs £63.