Andrew Jennings, of Jennings Farms, based at Fountains, Ripon, won the Christmas Craven Dairy Auction championship at Skipton Auction Mart for the second year in succession.

He lifted the title with the first prize newly-calven Holstein Friesian heifer, which sold for £2,000 to show judge Wilmot Blockley, of Tarvin, Chester.

Top price in both class and show, at £2,250, fell to the second prize newly-calven heifer and reserve champion from the Harehills pedigree herd of Eric and Sally Wellock at West End Farm, Oldfield, Keighley. The buyer was Alf Townsend, of Southfield, Burnley.

A good complement of buyers ensured a strong trade throughout, with plenty of good heifers consistently making £1,800 to £2,000.

Notable at £2,220 and £2,020 were two entries from Geoff Booth, of Lothersdale, while David Lawson, of Arthington, and Brian Moorhouse, of Bell Busk, both sold heifers at £2,000. The latter also sold a 12-month-old stock bull from his Aireburn herd for 1,500gns to John Marshall, of Dacre.

Older cows were also easy to place.

The first prize newly-calven cow from Robert Crisp, of Calton, headed the class prices when joining Wick Williams in Nantwich for £2,010, with the same buyer also snapping up the second and third prizewinners at £1,990 and £1,760 respectively.

The runner-up was presented by Malcolm and Robert Swires, of Haverah Park, Beckwithshaw, with Jennings Farms again responsible for the third prize winner.

In-calf heifers sold to a high of £1,440 for an entry from James Lawn, of Cullingworth, while D&P Brown, of Ramsgill, had the first and second prize Brown Swiss maiden heifers, which sold to a high of £720 to Richard Close, of Starbotton.

With a total entry of 44 dairy cattle, newly-calven heifers averaged £1,810, newly calven cows £1,553 and in-calf heifers £1,270.

It was also the last Craven Dairy Auction conducted by auctioneer John Hanson, who has now fully retired.