THE most expensive Blue-Faced Leicester ram lamb sold anywhere in the country last year took the supreme championship at a special show at Skipton mart on Sunday.

The event marked the Silver Jubilee of the local branch of the North of England Mule Sheep Association’s twice-yearly gimmer lamb show and sale at Skipton.

The championship pen was shown by Robin Booth, of W A & A Booth, Feizor, Austwick.

It was headed by the shearling ram, which he bought for £11,500 as a lamb last year from the Hundith Flock of Cumbrian breeder Jack Lawson, of Mealsgate, near Cockermouth.

The same class also produced the reserve champion pen from Granville Fairburn, of Bradford.

His ram lamb was bought from the Redgate flock of W H & M Hutchinson, of Ravenstonedale, Kirkby Stephen, for £3,500.

The show of 2008-born BFL rams and three of their Mule progeny was led by a homebred ram from John and Claire Mason, of Embsay, a product of a W A & A Booth tup.

Ken Throup, of K M & L Throup, Silsden, won the twoshear or over ram class. The home-bred was sired by a ram from Alan Barnes, of Great Harwood.

Show judges were John Bell, of Bishop Auckland, and John Pedley, of Hawes, the Nemsa president and chairman respectively.

Prize money totalled £100 per class in the progeny section, plus £50 for the champion and £25 for the reserve.

The show was supported by an open Mules judging competition featuring three penned classes for gimmer lambs, shearlings and ewes, with divisions for 16 years and under, and 17 years and over. Robin Schofield won the former and Philip Dawson the latter.

There was also a guess the weight class, won by Hannah Brown (16 and under) and James Porter (17 and over).

Results. – Home-bred BFL ram (born 2008) with three Mule progeny: 1 AJ Mason, Embsay; 2 JK Wilson, Blubberhouses; 3 Ellis Bros, Addingham Moorside.

Bought-in BFL ram lamb (born 2008) with three Mule progeny: 1&3 WA&A Booth, Feizor; 2 JC&N Throup, Draughton.

Two-shear or over BFL ram with 3 female Mule progeny: 1 KM&L Throup, Silsden; 2 JA Throup, Silsden Moor; 3 JC Walker & Son, Dunsop Bridge.