MARK Evans, of Tower Gate Farm, Steeton, ruled the Down-cross show classes at the annual Easter prime lamb show and sale at Skipton Auction Mart. He won both red rosettes with his Suffolks, a 59kg single and 49kg pair, all three December-born to a home-bred ram in its first breeding season.

The latter sold for £125 each, to Eldwick’s Mick Etherington, buying on behalf of John Kearns Butchers, of Market Square, Shipley.

The first prize single lamb made £120 when joining Andrew Atkinson, of Felliscliffe, who also paid £124 for the second prize 55kg single, again from Mr Evans.

However, it was Robert Towers, of Farleton, who took the championship and reserve championship.

Mr Towers picked up his fourth successive supreme champion’s rosette with his first prize single lamb, a home-bred 45kg Beltex-cross-Charollais.

It sold for the day’s top per head price of £135, or 300p/kg, to show judge James Farrington, who also paid £130 per head, or 302.3p/kg, for Mr Towers’ first prize 45kg pairs pen and reserve champions.

Mr Farrington also added the second prize single Continental lamb, a 51kg Charollais-cross from Charles Marwood, who runs the Foulrice flock at Whenby, near York, for £128, or 251p/kg, along with two further Marwood pens – three at £123, a further pair at £121, plus another Robert Towers single at £122.

All were acquired on behalf of Roots Farm Shop and Cafe, located at Home Farm in East Rounton, near Northallerton, where Mr Farrington also works as a butcher.

Mr Marwood was also responsible for the third prize 42kg pairs pen, which were knocked down at £126 each to Eldwick’s Mick Etherington, buying on behalf of Woodend’s Family Butchers in Otley Road, Adel, Leeds. The shop also acquired further Robert Towers prize winners, the third prize 46kg single lamb at £125 and the second prize pairs at £119 each.

In addition, Mr Marwood topped the by-weight prices with a 38kg Charolais-cross pair purchased at 310p/kg, or £118, by regular buyer Vivers Scotlamb in Annan, who also paid £107 for the third prize Down-cross single lamb from Eshton’s Brian Wellock.

With Easter falling early this year, the entry of 48 spring lambs sold to an overall average of £111.98 per head, or 266.4p/kg, though this represented an increase on the previous year’s 252.95p/kg.