PROCTERS Farm in Slaidburn continued to dominate the 2014 Texel sheep show arena at Skipton Auction Mart when exhibiting the supreme champion at the 22nd annual Northern Area Texel Sheep Breeders’ winter show and sale of pedigree in-lamb females.

As well as retaining the title it won last year, Procters Farm was also crowned supreme champion at this year’s two other annual Texel highlights at Skipton - September’s Northern Area Texel Sheep Breeders pedigree rams and females show and sale and the multi-breed showcase for pedigree and pure-bred rams and females a month later.

Represented by shepherd Jeff Aitken and his wife Jennifer, Procters Farm landed its latest championship success with a shearling ewe that came first in her show class.

The victor was sold, carrying twins, for 1,400gns, top call of the day, to 15-year-old William Watson, who continues to develop his Gillians Laithe pedigree flock in Hellifield.

The three further highest prices also fell to in-lamb shearling ewes from Procters Farm. The first at 950gns joined SJ Stables in Somerset, the next at 850gns sold to L Seymour, of Maulds Meaburn, Appleby-in-Westmorland and the third at 700gns was the third prize shearling ewe, who found a new home in York with RJ Dickinson.

The other leading price of the day came for an aged ewe that formed part of a dispersal sale of Red Rose breeder John Wood’s North Valley flock in Trawden.

After spirited bidding from several parties at the ringside, the red rosette winne found a new home in Horton-in-Ribblesdale with RJ Sunter, at 1,050gns. Mr Wood also sold a second ewe at 600gns.

Making a rare appearance in the show area, David Towell, who runs the Moor Top flock on Glusburn Moor, was rewarded with a first prize win in the ewe lamb show class. The red rosette winner sold at 300gns to John and Alison North in Giggleswick.

The ever-growing popularity of the sale was clearly illustrated by the fact that there were 55 different purchasers for the 101 head of sheep forward.

Craven Cattle Marts’ livestock sales manager Ted Ogden said: “Texel sales have generally been good this winter and the Northern Area Club sale was no exception. Averages were up on the year for both shearling ewes and aged ewes, while a clearance rate of over 90 per cent was achieved, as a packed ringside of buyers eagerly competed to get their names on the best of the sheep on offer.”

Gimmer lambs averaged £214.85 (compared to £280 in 2013), shearling gimmers £409.50 (£390) and aged ewes £547.17 (£287).

Full results and prices are at ccmauctions.com