THE Pentrenant flock of Jean Price in Churchstoke, Powys, achieved a memorable hat-trick at the Northern Area Jacob Sheep Breeders’ 39th annual show and sale at Skipton Auction Mart.

Mrs Price secured her third successive supreme championship success with her first prize aged ewe and female champion, Pentrenant Angel, a 2011-born four-horned home-bred who was also Royal Welsh Show champion in 2012.

The show judge, former Jacob breeder Steph Sleightholme, of Whitby, said her chosen champion stood out from the minute it came into the exhibition arena.

The title winner also shone in the sales ring when knocked down for a show-topping 750gns to RM Burnley, of Mirfield, Wakefield.

The fixture attracted a record Skipton entry of 237 head of sheep from Jacob breeders the length and breadth of the country and was the largest breed show of the year to date, clearly demonstrating the growing popularity of the breed.

It turned into a family affair in the battle for supreme championship honours, with Mrs Price up against her husband Robert - the couple run and show their own separate flocks - who had to settle for the reserve supreme championship with the first prize shearling ram and male champion from his Pentre flock.

The home-bred four-horned Pentre Bailey Dafydd, also champion at both the Stafford and Three Counties Shows,sold for 500gns, again to Mr Burley.

Mrs Price, who has won an unprecedented six Royal Welsh titles in the past nine years, was also on the mark at Skipton when winning the ram lamb show class with a January-born four-horner, which sold for 200gns to Mrs E Wilson, of Seascales.

The day’s second top price of 600gns fell to the first prize ewe lamb and reserve female champion from Jackie Lewis’s Milldale flock in Welshpool, Powys. She found a new home with Miss M Kimber in Allendale, near Hexham.

The first prize shearling ewe came from the Moorhouse pedigree flock of Geoff Wood and Sheila Dickinson, of Scales, near Ulverston. The January-born two-horner made 300gns when becoming a further buy by Mr Burnley.

The second prize two-horned shearling ewe from Messrs Connor & Dalrymple, of Bridgend, Linlithgow in West Lothian, also caught the eye when again falling to Mr Burnley for 420gns.

The Northlands flock of John Atkinson in Thirsk was responsible for the first prize two-shear or over ram. The January, 2012-born four horner joined J Brougham in Crook, Cumbria, for 100gns.

Linda McKendrick, who runs the Arnydie flock in Cupar, Fife, also performed with credit when her second prize and reserve male champion shearling ram made 440gns on joining KM Lowthian, of Gamblesby, Shap.

The Skipton-based Hurrsdale flock of Northern Area Jacob Sheep Breeders’ stalwarts Gavin and Rebecca Haworth was also to the fore when selling a four-horned shearling ewe for 420gns to SW Roberston, of Banffshire in Scotland.

Averages were: ewe lambs £146.38; shearling ewes £176.07; ewes £195.30; ram lambs £121.37; and shearling rams £213.75.