THE Craven Premier Poultry Christmas show and sale saw returning champion John Hindle fly away with the winning rosette for an impressive trio at Skipton Auction Mart.

The Red Rose poultry breeder, from Oswaldtwistle, ruled the roost yet again when once more exhibiting the champion pen of birds.

Mr Hindle has been a high flier at all three of the mart’s poultry shows this year.

He stood champion at the spring fixture with a pen of White Wyandottes and reserve champion with Light Sussex at the autumn highlight.

In his latest foray across the border, he took his second title of 2019 with a first prize trio of large fowl, on this occasion 22 to 24-week-old Buff Orpingtons.

The outstanding cockerel and two point-of lay-pullets made for swift bidding and eventually were knocked down for £91.

The defending champion, Calderdale’s Stephen Hitchen, from Ludendenfoot, was again to the fore when taking the reserve championship with his first prize pen of small fowl, a trio of July, 2019, Silver Laced Wyandotte pullets, which made £65.

The Red Rose county featured again when Lancashire breeder Graham Seedall, from Billington, achieved a first prize with his pen of waterfowl, a pair of White Indian Runners.

These went under the hammer for £25.

The day’s leading price of £100 twice fell to trios of 2018 Partridge Wyandottes from regular vendor Sid Moore, of Bedale.

One of the pens finished runners-up in the small fowl show class.

Despite the December weather being decidedly ‘foul’ outside, the winter showcase boasted almost 180 exhibits from the diminutive Serama bantams to the impressive Orpingtons, providing buyers with a healthy choice of birds to replenish their bloodlines at home.

Picking the winners fell to show judge Tim Metcalfe, of Clayton, Bradford. Craven Premier Poultry Auctions return in the New Year with the spring show and sale on Saturday, March 7.