NORTH of England butchers Kitson & Sons snapped up both the champion and reserve champion pens at Bentham Auction Mart’s annual summer show.

The sale of Beltex and Texel prime lambs saw a brisk trade at the mart which took place on Wednesday, June 26, and which was expertly and swiftly conducted by auctioneers Richard Turner & Son.

The prime animals were purchased on behalf of Kitsons by the show judge, Mick Etherington, of Eldwick.

The judge is a regular buyer of lambs at local auction marts for the award-winning butcher as they continue their quest to take home quality meat from the local marts

These latest acquisitions are again on sale at the Five Houses Farm Shop and Kitchen in Crathorne, along with their three retail shops in Northallerton, Stockton-on-Tees and Hutton Rudby.

The title-winning pen summer prime lambs, consisting of five 41kg Beltex-cross lambs, was shown by father and son, Stephen and Adam Lawson.

The successful duo trade as J&A Lawson & Son at High Threaber Farm, Westhouse, Ingleton.

Their champions were knocked down to Kitson & Sons for a pleasing result of £122 per head.

The buyers also went to £120.50 each to secure the reserve champion pen of five 40kg Beltex-cross lambs from brother and sister, Ben and Katie Thompson, of SR&PA Thompson at Newfield, Sedbergh.

Kitson & Sons’ owner Anthony Kitson is well-known for travelling the length and breadth of the country to purchase championship-winning primestock.

These, including butchers lambs, cattle and pigs are snapped up at both regional and high profile national shows.

And there was no disappointment for them as their requirements were met at the Bentham premises.

“We leave no stone unturned in our ongoing quest to source the best meat that money can buy.

“Our customers deserve it,” said Mr Kitson.

Back at Bentham, the third prize pen of 39kg Beltex-cross lambs was consigned by father and son, Richard and Jonathan Frankland, of Frankland Farms in Rathmell,

The premises had recently hosted NSA North Sheep 2019.

They were purchased for £103 per head by Simon Heather, buying on behalf of Oldham wholesale butchers, J&R Fitton Ltd.

A total of 2,237 prime lambs were penned for sale, producing an overall average of 205.4p/kg, or £81.71.per head.

Adam Lawson was also responsible for the day’s top price pen of 56kg Suffolk-cross lambs which sold at £126.50 each.

The hammer fell on these to Worsley Wholesale Butchers in Dewsbury.