On Monday 3rd December, Mitchell’s livestock auctioneers and valuers held their Annual Christmas prize show and sale of 94 cattle and 200 butchers lambs.
This sale was kindly sponsored by Carrs Billington Ltd, Dodd & Co Accountants, Hundith Hill Hotel, JELF and Brockbank solicitors.
Claire Cropper and John Mellin of Mill House Farm, Long Preston travelled to judge the cattle section. Which in many people’s eyes was seen to be the best show of prime butchers cattle for sometime at this renowned sale.
Claire and John done an outstanding job, looking at every beast with respect and time.
After two hours of judging the championship was awarded to the haltered British Blue Heifer owned by RE Miller, West Farm, Aspatria. They received the Mitchells silver challenge cup plus £400 cash and to there delight an extra £500 as she was purchased from Mitchells Mart, being bred by Tony Sharp.
She was later sold for 440 ppk, 614kg, £2701.60 and purchased by Haighs Workington Ltd.
Reserve honours was another outstanding butchers animal, this being a limousin heifer show and bred by G&T Tyson, East House, Brigham. Receiving the Mr & Mrs Peter Greenhill Trophy and £100, plus the limousin society plate. She sold later for 340 ppk, 648kg, £2203.20 purchased by W Lindsay & Sons, Station Street, Cockermouth to celebrate their 150 years in business.
With a packed ring of both buyers and farmers to fully appreciate the quality of stock which was on offer. Trade was very acceptable throughout with this date fully in the minds of all surrounding butchers and wholesale abattoir businesses for the future.
Prize winners
Limousin steer haltered-
1st JJ Crichton, Loughrigg 222p (£1560.66)
Limousin heifer haltered-
1st M/s Lawson, Hundith House 300p (£1980.00)
2nd JJ Crichton, Loughrigg 255p (£1586.10)
3rd T Pearson & Son, High Plaskett Lands 235p (£1402.95)
British Blue heifer haltered-
1st RE Miller, West Farm (Champion) 440p (£2701.60)
2nd T Pearson & Son, High Plaskett Lands 300p (£1605.00)
3rd RE Miller, West Farm 238p (£1494.64)
Limousin steer un haltered-
1st JJ Crichton, Loughrigg 248p (£1567.36)
2nd JJ Crichton, Loughrigg 220p (£1509.20)
3rd M/s Lawson, Hundith House 230p (£1547.90)
Limousin heifer un haltered (500-570kg)-
1st M/s Lawson, Hundith House 275p (£1441.00)
2nd BW Hewitson, Shatton Lodge 270p (£1336.50)
3rd T Pearson & Son, High Plaskett Lands 238p (£1318.52)
Limousin heifer un haltered (571-600kg)-
1st RE Miller, West Farm 265p (£1584.70)
2nd T Pearson & Son, High Plaskett Lands 242p (£1384.24)
3rd JJ Crichton, Loughrigg 250p (£1427.50)
Limousin heifer un haltered (601-650kg)-
1st G&T Tyson, East House (Reserve Champion) 340p (£2203.20)
2nd G&T Tyson, East House 250p (£1550.00)
3rd JJ Crichton, Loughrigg 240p (£1555.20)
Limousin heifer un haltered (651-700kg)-
1st JJ Crichton, Loughrigg 235p (£1541.60)
2nd JJ Crichton, Loughrigg 240p (£1596.00)
3rd AE&VJ Errington, Beck House 198p (£1437.48)
British Blue steer un haltered-
1st JJ Crichton, Loughrigg 215p (£1444.80)
British Blue heifer un haltered-
1st JJ Crichton, Loughrigg 270p (£1641.60)
2nd JJ Crichton, Loughrigg 220p (£1377.20)
3rd M/s Bowe, Hunday Farm 219p (£1362.18)
Charolais steer un haltered-
1st JJ Crichton, Loughrigg 210p (£1583.40)
Charolais heifer un haltered-
1st JJ Crichton, Loughrigg 230p (£1481.20)
2nd M/s Bowe, Hunday Farm 227p (£1448.26)
3rd T Pearson & Son, High Plaskett Lands 218p (£1403.92)
Any other continental steer un haltered-
1st M/s Bowe, Hunday Farm 230p (£1476.60)
Any other continental heifer un haltered-
1st JJ Crichton, Loughrigg 235p (£1377.10)
Native breed steer-
1st JJ Crichton, Loughrigg 222p (£1276.50)
2nd JJ Crichton, Loughrigg 230p (£1311.00)
Champion- RE Miller, West Farm – 1st prize British Blue Haltered Heifer
Reserve Champion- G&T Tyson, East House- 1st prize Limousin Heifer Un Haltered (Medium Heavy section)
Top Prices
Heifer (per head)- British Blue- 2701.60, 1494.64 West Farm, 1641.60, 1377.20 Loughrigg, 1362.18, 1219.80 Hunday Farm. Limousin- 2203.20, 1550.00, 1541.60 East House, 1980.00 Hundith House, 1596.00, 1586.10, 1555.20, 1545.24 Loughrigg, 1584.70 West Farm, 1574.40 Shatton Lodge. Charolais- 1481.20 Loughrigg, 1448.26 Hunday Farm, 1403.92 High Plaskett Lands. Blonde- 1377.10 Loughrigg. Galloway- 1311.00, 1276.50 Loughrigg.
Heifer (per kilo)- British Blue- 440, 238 West Farm, 300 High Plaskett Lands 270, 220 Loughrigg, 219, 190 Hunday. Limousin- 340, 250 East House, 300, 275 Hundith House, 270 Shatton Lodge, 265 West Farm, 255, 250 x2 Loughrigg, 250 Welton Farm. Blonde- 235 Loughrigg. Charolais- 230 Loughrigg, 227 Hunday, 218 High Plaskett Lands. Galloway- 230, 222 Loughrigg.
Steer (per head)- Charolais- 1583.40 Loughrigg. Limousin-1547.90, 1410.00, 1033.60 Hundith House, 1416.36, 1473.12, 1272.00 Hunday Farm, 1567.36, 1560.66, 1509.20 Loughrigg, 1526.56 East House. Parthonaise- 1476.60 Hunday Farm. British Blue- 1444.80 Loughrigg.
Steer (per kilo)- Limousin- 248, 240, 222 Hunday, 248, 222, 220 Loughrigg. 235, 230, 190 Hundith House. Parthonaise- 230 Hunday. British Blue- 215 Loughrigg. Charolais- 210 Loughrigg.
The prime lamb show was very well supported with some outstanding pairs and pens of lambs forward. The judging was in the very capable hands of two great stock persons, Rob Garth and Sarah Priestley.
They awarded the championship to a pair of beltex lambs shown by AJ Brown, Park House Farm, which later sold for £190 (388ppk) and purchased by Wison Willis Butchers, Cleator Moor. Adam received the Mitchells Auction Trophy and £100 cash.
Reserve also was won by AJ Brown, Park House with his pair of texel lambs selling for £145 (290ppk) and also purchased by Wilson Willis Butchers.
Young handlers competition this night is something Mitchells is keen to promote as this is our next generation. Again an outstanding turnout of competitive kids (parents) were present.
The champion young handler was given to Chris Gott, Prospect House, Isel with his texel lamb. Selling for £120. Reserve young handler was kept in the family with Adam Gott achieving this, with his texel lamb £108 purchased by Tony Harrison Butchers.
Prize Winners
Pair of Texel lambs
1st AJ Brown, Park House (Reserve Champion) £145 per head
2nd RE Miller, West Farm £122 per head
3rd RE Miller, West Farm £105 per head
Pair of Beltex lambs
1st AJ Brown, Park House (Champion) £190 per head
2nd TI Bradley, Ghyll House £122 per head
3rd TI Bradley, Ghyll House £102 per head
Pair of Any Other Continental lambs
1st J&K Meadley, High Bewaldeth £84 per head
2nd J&M Wilson, Meadow Farm £93 per head
3rd JA Mousey, Grange Farm £116 per head
Pen of five Mules
1st A Fearon, Kirkland House £76 per head
2nd A Fearon, Kirkland House £78 per head
Pen of five Herdwicks
1st V&W Steele, Gill Head £69 per head
2nd D&J Wilson, Anns Cottage £56 per head
3rd M/s Bland, West Head £55 per head
Pen of five Swaledales
1st A Gill, Newlands £63 per head
2nd A Gill, Newlands £52 per head
Pen of 5 Continental x Herdwick
1st JA Mounsey, Grange Farm £84 per head
2nd D&I Sessford, Dalzell Street £64 per head
3rd D&I Sessford, Dalzell Street £58 per head
Young Handlers Under 8
1st Becka Marrs, c/o Park House £96
2nd Rebecca Meadley, High Bewaldeth £80
3rd Danny Sowerby, Grange Farm £95
Young Handlers 8-11 years
1st Christopher Gott, Prospect House £120
2nd Adam Gott, Prospect House £108
3rd Matthew Marrs, Rose Farm £112
Young Handlers 12-16 years
1st Jessica Walker, Beechcroft £108
2nd Kate Armstrong, Terrace Farm £99
3rd Kyle Fell, Stockhill £85
Overall Champion- AJ Brown, Park House
Overall Reserve Champion- AJ Brown, Park House
Champion Young Handler – Christopher Gott, Prospect House
Reserve Champion Young Handler – Adam Gott, Prospect House
Top Prices
Per Head- Beltex- 190, 96 Park House, 126 Crosshow Farm, 109, 103 Swallowdene, 103 Hillgreen, 102 Ghyll House, 96 Elva Plain. Rouge- 110 Meadow Farm. Texel- 145 Park House, 130 Aspatria Hall, 125, 122 Swallowdene, 122 West Farm, 122 Ghyll House, 122 Crosshow Farm, 120 Prospect House. Texel x Herdwick- 84 Grange Farm, 76 Winscales, 67, 64 Prospect House, 64, 58 Dalzell. Mule-78, 76 Kirkland House. Herdwick-69 The Meadow, 56 Anns Cottage, 55 West Head. Swaledale- 63, 52 Newlands Farm.
Per Kilo- Beltex- 387.80, 240.00 x2 Park House, 273.90 Crosshow Farm, 247.70, 219.10 Swallowdene, 234.10 Elva Plain, 221.70 Ghyll House, 218.60 Hill Green, 217.00 Terrace Farm. Texel- 290.00 Park House, 272.70 Prospect House, 265.30 Aspatria Hall, 265.20, 256.10 West Farm, 259.60 Ghyll House, 250.00, 249.00 Swallowdene. Rogue- 211.50 Meadow Farm. Texel x Herdwick- 168.00 Grange Farm, 164.10, 161.10 Dalzell Street, 164.10, 159.50 Prospect House, 155.10 Winscales. Mule- 149.00, 144.40 Kirkland House. Herdwick- 164.30 The Meadows, 148.60 West Head, 147.40 Anns Cottage. Swaledale- 143.20, 140.50 Newlands.