It was a successful day at market for a host of East Lancashire farmers last week at an auction mart’s annual sale.

The sale of pedigree Bluefaced Leicester sheep at Craven Cattle Mart Auctions in Skipton saw the top show and top sale ribbons both go to the Walker family farm in Dunsop Bridge.

Geoff and Margaret, along with their sons John and Rob, saw their top ram go for 2,200gns to Paul Broughton, who farms on the North York Moors, while they also picked up third prize for a 700gns ram.

Gordon Haynes, who farms in Mitton, was the man responsible for the reserve champion when he bought a 2,000gns ram from the Mason family farm in Embsay, Craven.

The Bluefaced Leicester pedigree event was another successThe Bluefaced Leicester pedigree event was another success (Image: ADRIAN LEGGE)

Richard Lancaster, of Wiswell, also did well, seeing his aged ram go for 1,300gns to a Pateley Bridge farm, the runner-up in this category.

The Horsfield family of Blacko picked up a shearling ram – a young ram that has been weaned but is yet to have its first shearing – for 1,600gns from an Addingham farmer, while the first and second prize in the ram lambs show went to Chipping farmer John Stott, with the runner up going for 850gns.

CCM Auctions said it saw all ram class prices increase from last year, with shearling rams averaging £809, up £141 from 2023, with aged ram averages skyrocketing to £953 from £575 last year, and lamb rams rising modestly by £19 to an average of £535.