THE Lawson family’s Newbirks pedigree dairy herd clinched its first championship success of 2016 at the March bank holiday Craven Dairy Auction show and sale at Skipton Auction Mart.

Father and daughter David and Suzy Lawson, of Mill Farm, Arthington, lifted the title with their first prize newly-calven heifer, four weeks calved and giving 29 litres. She sold for £1,580 to regular buyers Alf and Andrew Townsend, of Southfield, Burnley,

The Lawsons, multiple past Skipton dairy champions and top price achievers, were also responsible for the first prize newly-calven cow, which joined Cowling’s Martyn Jennings for £1,380.

They also stepped up with the third prize newly-calven heifer, which made £1,640, top call of the day, when falling to Brian Blezard, of Ribchester.

Show judge Frank Wrathall, of Gisburn, remained in the newly-calven heifers class for his chosen reserve champion, the second prize winner from Andrew Jennings, who runs the Abbeyhouse pedigree dairy herd in Fountains, near Ripon.

His 14 days-calved Abbeyhouse Baltimor Kay, came to market giving 33 litres and became another Townsend buy at £1,420.

Robin Jennings, who runs the Stainbank pedigree Holstein herd at Hill House Farm, South Stainley, also made £1,400 with a newly-calven heifer sold to Richard Sutcliffe, of Queensbury.

Bingley’s Keith Downs presented the second prize newly-calven cow, sold for £1,200 to John Marshall, of Dacre, with D and A Fort, of Glusburn, selling their third prizewinner for £1,000, again to Martyn Jennings.

With a better show of heifers, trade was a touch stronger on the fortnight, as a selective ringside forced more desirable sorts into a good trade, with three-quarters of the milkers on offer averaging well towards £1,400, though a few second rate entries dragged the average back.

Of the 24 head forward, the 19 newly calven heifers among them averaged £1,185 each, with nine newly-calven cows averaging £980 per head. Show co-sponsors were NMR, VG Energy and farmers buying group Woldmarsh.