SKIPTON Auction Mart’s May prime cattle show saw both championship and reserve championship honours fall to a brace of heifers from Threshfield brothers and mart regulars, Charles and Richard Kitching, of Grisedale Farm.

The victor, a 570kg Limousin-cross bought out of Skipton in January from the Barbon-based Shuttleworth family, sold for a very solid top call of £1,606, or 281.5p/kg.

The reserve champion, a 580kg Blonde-cross, again bought at Skipton last back end from Saddle End Farms in Chipping, made £1,481, or 255.5p/kg.

The Kitchings were also responsible for the first prize bullock, a 570kg Limousin-cross knocked down at £1,427, or 250.5p/kg.

All three principals fell to the same buyer, James Robertshaw, who went on to claim seven cattle in total, all for the Keelham Farm Shop in Skipton.

The haul also included the second prize 525kg Limousin bullock from the Critchley family in Hutton at £1,336, or 254.5p/kg.

Other retail purchases of the 20 under 30-month clean cattle included Simon Barker, of Stanforth’s Butchers in Skipton, with a 580kg Critchley heifer at £1,400, or 241.5p/kg, among his two buys.

There was also a brace for George Cropper Jnr for his Sanderson’s Butchers in Baxenden, which included among then a 555kg heifer at £1,395, or 251.5p/kg.