RED Rose beef farmers the Critchley family, of Mercer Farm, Hutton, near Preston, returned to top form at Skipton Auction Mart’s April prime cattle show and sale when claiming a championship and reserve championship double.

The multiple past champions took the title with the first prize 600kg Limousin-cross steer acquired last December. By the Irish Limousin bull, Lodge Hamlet, the victor sold for the leading gross price of £1,599, or 266.5p/kg, to Phil Gregory, of D Gregory and Sons Butchers in Bacup. Mr Gregory then added the joint highest priced per kilo animal, the second prize-winning 555kg British Blue-cross heifer from James Drake, of Denholme, for 266.5p/kg, or £1,479.

The Critchleys’ reserve champion - both frontrunners were shown by Robert Critchley - was the first prize 535kg British Blue-cross heifer acquired from her breeders, the Pedley family, who run the Oak Tree pedigree herd in Barbon. The overall runner-up sold for £1,319, or 246.5p/kg, to Halifax meat wholesalers J and E Medcalf. Mr Drake was also responsible for the second prize British Blue-cross steer, which made £1,436, or 245.5p/kg, when joining Keelham Farm Shop, of Skipton and Thornton, with the third in class, a Limousin-cross from Malham Moor’s Bill Cowpertthate knocked down for £1,341, or 237.5p/kg, to Skipton’s Stanforths Butchers.