IT was an optimistic start to the New Year at Skipton Auction Mart’s prime sheep show on Monday with trade up on the week.

Brian and Lisa Hall, of JG Hall and Son, Gargrave, showed the champion pen of five April-born home-bred Beltex, weighing 44kg each. It was a triumphant return to the New Year show for the Halls, who won the same show in 2014.

Lisa said: "It’s only the second time we've put lambs in this show and it's the second time we've won."

The winning pen, chosen by judge Michael Winchester, took top price of 268p, or £118 each, sold to Vivers Scotlamb of Annan.

Ellis Bros, of Addingham Moorside, were reserve champions, selling a pen of five 42kg Beltex at £102 each, again to Vivers Scotlamb.

Third prize in the continental class went to WA, VJ and JA Towler, of Grindleton, who sold a pen of 42kg Beltex for £96 each to T Shepherdson, of Marsden, Huddersfield.

CD and RF Kitching, of Threshfield, took top prize in the Down cross category, selling a pen of five, weighing 41kg at £76.50 each to Woodhead Bros Butchers in Colne, while RL Wright, of Airton, sold his 57kgs for £83 each to Andrew Atkinson of Harrogate.

J Shuttleworth and Son, of Rylstone, picked up top prize for horned lambs, selling a pen of 10, weighing 40kg, for £60 each to Paul Watson, of Hellifield. Mr Watson also bought the first prize-winning pen in the Mule/Masham category, for £69 each from JC and N Throup of Draughton. Meanwhile John Bowling, of Wigan, bought the second prize Mule/Masham pen from JH and J Ryder, of Haverah Park, for £68.50 each, and the third prize-winners, from CD and RF Kitching, of Threshfield, for £70.50.

There was a sharper trade on the week for all classes, with an overall average of 169p against an SQQ of 170.8p.

It was the heavy lambs that took a good lift, with most 48kg-50kg heavies grossing £80 to £88 up to £95 from Anthony Thompson, of Foulridge.

Most smart lambs were 220p to 240p and there were plenty of export lambs selling at 180p to 190p, with a more commercial type picking up 165p to 175p.

Beltex averaged £87.69 per head or 215.5p/kg, while Suffolk averaged £74.20 per head or 165.8p/kg. Top price for Suffolks by weight went to C and SB Whitelock, of Gargrave, who made 190.7p/kg.

Texels averaged £74.03 per head or 175.2p/kg, with Thwaite Bros, of Airton, getting the best price per kg at 222p/kg. K Marshall, of Dacre, got the best price per head and by weight for a Charollais, picking up £95 per head and 237.5p/kg and an average of £78.29 per head or 172.4p/kg. Ellis Bros sold a pen of Rouge for £84 per head or 195.3p/kg. Cheviots averaged £79.45 per head or 175.2p/kg, with T Kiernan of Longridge getting top price by weight with 186p/kg.

Mules were good to sell averaging 158p, with Ellis Bros getting top price of 166.3p/kg, whilst horned lambs were £2 to £3 dearer on the week.

Another large show of ewes maintained recent rates with heavier ewes better to sell.

Cull ewes averaged £64.92, with Suffolk selling to £96.50, Texel to £104.50, BFL to £64.50, Mule to £72.50, Lleyn to £69.50, Swaledale to £44.50, Masham to £64.50, Gritstone to £59.50, Cheviot to £81.50, Beltex to £78.38 and Lonk to £50.52. Top price went to HB Atkinson of Harrogate, with Lowlands selling for £104.50 and £103.50.

Cast rams averaged £77.02, with W Mason and Son, of Appletreewick, selling a Texel for £119.50.