IT'S the time of year when prime lambs from Whalley’s Richard and Mark Ireland normally reach their peak and that was certainly the case at Skipton Auction Mart’s October show and sale when the Ribble Valley father and son, of Heys Farm, clinched not only the championship, but also the reserve championship with the first and second prize Continental-x pens, both Beltex.

All were by home-bred rams going back to the renowned Clary Fantastic, the 45kg victors selling for £155 per head, 344.4p per kilo, bettered at £162 section top per head, 368.2p/kg, for the 44kg reserve champions.

The third prize 45kg Continental-x pen from Taylor Bros, Tosside, made £130, the red rosette-winning 46kg Suffolk-x pen from Andrew Fisher, Pateley Bridge, £112, the first prize 46kg North of England Mules from Ken and Lynne Throup, Silsden Moor, £108.50.

Another busy Saturday sale day featured the monthly collective fixture for a nice entry of 180 stirks, weaned calves and young store cattle, staged alongside the October Agri-Trader Auction of 468 lots of farm machinery, implements and plant equipment.

The latter was well attended, a large crowd bidding heartily for a varied offering, with trailers of particular interest and good livestock equipment again in high demand. Multiple four-figure prices were recorded.

Among the farm vehicles, top call of £12,200 went to a 09-reg Massey Ferguson 5640 tractor and loader, followed at £8,500 for a Land Rover Defender TD5 truck cab, while an Ifor Williams DP120 14ft livestock trailer made £4,300. Stone gate posts sold to £400.

There was something for everyone at the livestock collective, strong out-summered cattle doing notably well as purchasers sought to stock up sheds. Top of £1,040 came from RI Turner, Keighley, for a British Blue bullock. More cattle are required for the next sale on Saturday, November 4, with a strong purchaser base for those at 6-12 months of age with frame.

Sheep and goats were again among the mix, while Jack donkeys from A Calvert & Son, Paythrone, sold to £800.