THE two young handlers’ prime lambs show classes were again well supported, the championship going to Oliver Marshall, 11-year-old son of Rob and Sarah Marshall, Dacre, Harrogate, with an all-black home-bred Beltex by a well-utilised Anthony Thompson, Foulridge, tup.

The Dacre Braithwaite Primary School pupil saw his 51kg title winner, recipient of the Hannah Brown Memorial Trophy, presented annually by her parents, Leyburn’s Martin and Val Brown in honour of their late daughter, go under the hammer at £260, £5.09 per kilo section top, to Kendalls Farm Butchers, who also paid £200, 377p/kg, for the runner-up in the over tens class from Oliver’s elder brother Thomas. Both will go on sale at its two shops in Harrogate and Pateley Bridge.

The reserve championship went to the other class winner, Naomi Harrison, five-year-old daughter of Tim and Natalie Harrison, Clifford House, Skipton, with a home-bred Beltex-x, by Adrian Leach’s supreme champion sire, Blackadder. The St Stephen’s Primary School pupil saw her 35kg lamb become another acquisition by judge Clare Mellin for Cropper Family Butchers & Deli, at £160, 457p/kg.

Narrowly missing out on a third consecutive young handlers’ championship was Adrian and Kathryn Leach’s ten-year-old son, Charlie, who stood runner-up in his class with a 31kg Beltex-making £132, 425p/kg, with the third prize winner, a 49kg Beltex from Olivia Harrison, Coniston Cold, selling at £180, 367p/kg, to Knavesmire Butchers, third prize in the over 10s class going to Daniel Lund, Walshaw, with a 43kg Beltex making £150, 348p/kg.

A total of 180 butchers’ lambs sold to an overall average of £151.46 per head, 329.2p/kg, a marked improvement on the previous year’s £137.30, 299.7p/kg.

The annual Christmas showcase was once more supported by multiple sponsors, with Skipton NFU again the keynote sponsor and Townhead Farm Shop, Malham, sponsoring the hill lamb championship. Detailed reports on the festive prime cattle and lamb carcase shows will appear in next week’s Herald.