Year 10 Settle College pupil Eddie Holgate, a member of Rathmell Young Farmers, impressed judges with his knowledge and stockmanship at Gisburn Auction Mart’s Cattle Over Wintering competition.

He was awarded the prestigious Young Farmers’ Club members’ trophy.

The supreme championship went to Rachel Harrison, a Slaidburn Young Farmers’ Club member and an A-level student at Nelson and Colne College.

She had earlier picked up first prize for the best female animal shown by a competitor aged 12 to 16 years and second prize rosette in the best Young Farmers’ Club member class with her 14-month-old British Blue heifer.

The heifer, purchased last autumn for £990, sold for £1,360 to co-judge Clare Cropper, of Long Preston.

Gisburn YFC member Jack Crocker, 14, had the best male animal – a 13-month-old black Limousin cross bull – shown by a competitor aged 12 to 16. Nine-year-old Freddie Shorrock, of Burnley, handled his 11-month-old British Blue heifer perfectly and picked up the red rosette for the best handled animal shown by a competitor under 11.

Ben Sutcliffe, of Grindleton, picked up the award for best male animal shown by a competitor under 11, while brother Harry, a pupil at Gisburn Primary School, won the daily live weight gain class with his seven-month-old Charolais heifer.

Sarah Whitley, whose family farm at Summerbridge, picked up an array of awards in her age group, 17 to 27 years, which included the first prize in the best presented animal.

Ben Nutter, ten, of Fence, won first prize in both the best female animal shown by an under 11-year-old and highest gross margin award with his Limousin heifer, purchased for £960 last year and sold for £1,360.

Slaidburn YFC member Stuart Hartley, currently at Bishop Burton College, took time out to compete with his 11-month-old Charolais steer, which picked up the first prize rosette in the 17 to 27 class.

Jane Chapman, from Gisburn Auction Marts, said: “Now in its second year, the Cattle Over Wintering competition saw young farmers from Lancashire and Yorkshire compete against each other. This year’s competitors have definitely learnt from last year and greatly improved in the standard of showing and presentation.

“The competition allows young people the opportunity to purchase cattle at Gisburn Auction Marts in the autumn and feed them through the winter and offer them for show and sale. It is certainly a hit with the farmers of the future – it introduces them to the business side of livestock farming.”