THE final Craven Dairy Auction of the year saw the Lawson family, from Mill Farm, Arthington, emerge victorious once again at Skipton Auction Mart.

David Lawson, accompanied by daughter Suzy, added to a long line of title wins at the venue – they have no less than eight Skipton championship successes under their belt this year with top-quality milkers from their Newbirks pedigree Holstein herd.

Their latest victor was a pedigree newly calven heifer by Stardale Downing, three weeks calved and giving 30 litres, which reached top price of the day when selling for £2,020 to ringside regular Wick Williams, of Nantwich.

The reserve champion also came from Mill Farm, another pedigree newly calven heifer, 28 days calved, also giving 30 litres and by Morningview Levi. This too fell to Mr Williams.

Third in the pedigree newly calven heifer class was M Baul and Partners, from Bishop Thornton, their charge selling for £1,960gns to G and PS Fleetwood, of Mirfield. Robert Crisp, of Calton, had the top price commercial newly calven heifer at £1,700, this falling to Alf Townsend in Southfield, Burnley.

The Parkinson family from Barden took first prize in the newly calven cows show class, their red rosette winner selling for £1,420, again to Mr Williams.

RA and HE Simpson, of Easingwold, clinched first and second prizes in the show class for in-calf heifers, while CM and EM Gratton took third and the highest price, selling for £1,800.

While trade for the 16 dairy cattle entered was down on previous dairy sales, the quality on offer went some way to help pick things up, with an average of £1,620 for newly calven heifers described as respectable in the circumstances.