ANOTHER sizeable entry was put forward at CCM Auctions’ second catalogue sale of store lambs.

Prices were very pleasing, especially for Mule wethers so early in the season, and a packed ringside of buyers helped propel the trade along quickly.

Robert Metcalfe, of Brearton, put forward the first prize pen of 50 Suffolk-crosses, which he sold for £68 per head.

Mr Metcalfe, at the mart with five-year-old son Jack, was delighted with the win, his third in a row.

He said: “This is the best pen I’ve had over the last three years. They’re all out of our best home-bred ewes. I’ll be selling store lambs right through until Christmas now.”

Best Beltex and smartest Texel Lambs were either side of £70, stronger Suffolk and Continental store lambs mid to late £60s, medium types around £60 into the early £60s and the smaller types in the mid £50s, with large level lots generally selling well at Skipton.

The top price of the day of £73 was for a pen of 32 Beltex from Andrew Naylor, Barden, while next best was £72 for a pen of 50 Beltex/Texel from Annabel Sugden. Chris Dawson sold his run of 600 in 50s and 60s, topping at £71.50 with a bottom of £65.50, Matt and Ted Mason sold their run of 311 Texels in just four lots, sizes of 40, 104, 105 and 62, topping at £69.50.

Ned Simpson topped the Texel-cross prices at £68 with a pen of 50. Michael Wilson, of Crimple Head, made £67.50 with a pen of 60 Texel-cross, while Tom Heseltine, of Bolton Abbey, had a pen of 100 three-quarters Texels at £67.50.

The largest lot of the day came from Stuart and Stephen Gamble, of Thorpe, who sold 126 Texels in one hit at £63 each. Buyers obviously like coming to Skipton and being able to source large level lots of 50s to 100s where possible in a short space of time - the 4,718 store lambs were sold in just two hours, five minutes. Gimmers are best sold as mixed pens with wethers, unless they are of a superior quality and size suitable for breeding.

Mule wether lambs have also been a traditional feature at Skipton sales, and there was a good early season selection of 458 head. A nice Mule wether could make mid £50s, smaller ones either side of £50. The breed average was £53.09 per head, prices being about £4-£6 up on the year.

Top section prices saw Granville and Paul Fairburn, of Marriforth. sell a pen of 91 Mule wethers at £56, John Mason, of Embsay, sold 50 also at £56, S&T Fawcett, Drebley, sold 42 at £55.50, John Harker, Lofthouse, sold a pen of 50 at £55, Martin Brown, Leyburn, sold 50 at £54.50, and Keith Verity of Middlesmoor sold 22 Dales Mules at £54.50.

Second in the Down-cross show class, judged by Tony England, from Devon, was Mrs CA Foster, of Bolton Abbey, who sold 50 Suffolk-crosses for £64 per head, and third was SL&SD Lund, of Littondale, who also sold 50 Suffolk-crosses for £59.50.

The show was sponsored by Top Tags and Laurence Pierce Wool Merchants.

The next store lamb sale is on Wednesday, August 10, when an entry of 8,000 store lambs is expected, along with the Lingfields Summer Sheep Fair. The mart is expecting 800 to 1,000 Continental, Suffolk-x, Mule and half-bred breeding ewes, along with a special sale of Suffolk and Continental aams.