THE largest entry of CCM Skipton’s peak sheep sale season so far saw JM Wilson & Sons, of Beckwithshaw, triumph in the Masham wethers annual prize show.

David Wilson, chairman of the Masham Sheep Breeders Association, picked up the top prize for a pen of 40 Masham wethers, which sold for £55 per head.

“It’s been a very, very good year,” said Mr Wilson, who finished second in the corresponding show in 2013. “Much better than last year. The weather’s helped a lot.”

K Lister & Son, of Kettlewell, picked up second and third prizes with pens of Masham Wethers, which sold for £49 and £48 per head respectively.

A total of 7,251 were put forward on the day, including the first of the drawn Suffolk and Continental gimmer lambs, with an overall average price of £54.10.

F Reeday & Son, of Hetton, picked up top price of £79.50 per head for a pen of Suffolk gimmer lambs.

The store lambs saw Suffolk and Continentals in strong demand. Smaller lambs sold for £50 to £53, medium types £54 to £57 and the top end £58 to £62.

Top price for Texels was reached by Will Crane, of Silsden, at £62.50, while SL & SD Lund, of Litton, sold Suffolks for £62 and £60 per head.

Quality smart store lambs, notably Beltex, fetched £64 to £76, with Michael Burnop, of Clitheroe, reaching top price of £76 per head.

The next fortnightly sale is on Wednesday, when an entry of 8,000 to 10,000 is expected, including a show for pens of 10 Suffolk and Continental gimmer lambs.