THE inaugural North of England Beef Shorthorn Club show and sale of pedigree cattle was held at Skipton mart.

Both organisers and hosts were delighted with the strong trade and robust averages which resulted in 37 of the 38 head sold.

The championship was won by Westmoor Queen Carmen, a 19-month-old heifer from club chairman and national society director Rob Paisley, of Middleton, Ilkley.

The runner-up was a May 2008-born bull, Ballard Billy, from Eddie Hugill, of Hall Garth Farm, Chopgate.

He is by Cairnsmore Xtreme Force, the 6,000gns main stock bull out of Sapphire Xquisite, of Bilsdale. She was bought from near neighbour David Hollingworth who shares the services of Xtreme Force.

Fraser Hugill showed the runner-up and said: “He is one of the best bulls we have ever bred.

“We are currently finishing bulls on our own barley. The majority go for beef with the very best, and luckiest, going for stock bulls.”

The Hugill’s have 35 pedigree Shorthorn cows with all surplus females going for breeding.

The top price female and joint overall top price at 2,900gns (£3,045) was Croxtonpark Blythsome Parsley, an in-calf heifer from the Croxton Park Partnership, Huntingdon.

She was bought by North Craven beef and sheep farmer Stuart Currie, of Rathmell. He also paid 1,900gns (£1,995) for the second prize in-calf heifer from Paul Braithwaite, whose Albion herd is based in Stokesley.

The second prize bull, which headed the class prices and also achieved joint top price at 2,900gns (£3,045), was the March, 2009-born Christopher, of Upsall, from the Shawhill herd of Thomson, Roddick & Laurie of Annan, Dumfries and Galloway.

Both the sire and dam came from Gerald Turton’s Upsall herd, Thirsk.

The sire was bought as a calf at foot at Mr Turton’s noted Centenary Sale in September last year.

Shorthorn bulls averaged £2,598.75; cows and calves £1,575; in-calf cows £735; in-calf heifers £1,351.49 and maiden heifers £1,215.67.