LEADING North Yorkshire breeders Kenton Foster and Charles Marwood vied for top honours at the British Charollais Sheep Society’s annual show and sale of commercial rams at Skipton auction mart. (Sept 16th)

Mr Foster, of Garriston, Leyburn, is chairman of the society’s North of England region, and was responsible for the first prize shearling ram, while Mr Marwood, who runs the Floulrice flock at Whenby, near York, and is national chairman of the society’s finance and general purposes committee, had the first prize ram lamb.

Stephen Maskill, judge and Hebden Bridge butcher, selected Mr Foster's shearling as champion because of its “exceptional fleshing quality and power.”

Mr Foster acquired his winner last year from the Duiske flock of Dympna and Gerry Grogan, County Kildare. He has been used to good effect over two breeding seasons on Mr Foster's flock and sold for a sale-topping 800gns (£840) to Richard Sandham, East Carlton, Yeadon.

Mr Sandham then paid 400gns for Mr Marwood's reserve champion which was by his renowned Dalby Mount Aloe, acquired two years ago from Charles Sercombe in Leicester, and regarded as one of the nation’s top index sires.

Mount Aloe was responsible for the 5,200gns top price ram lamb in the country last year and was also breed champion at the Great Yorkshire Show, and interbreed champion at both Ryedale and Driffield Shows.

Mr Marwood’s 14-strong consignment – an equal split of shearlings and ram lambs – was also responsible for the third prize shearling ram, a March-born son of Foulrice Lightening, out of a Langstone K2-sired dam, which also found favour with Mr Sandham when selling for 620gns.

The leading Marwood performer at 640gns was another shearling ram, by Wernfawr Jim, out of a another dam sired by Ballynoe House Isaac. He also sold further entries at 480gns and 440gns.

Second prize shearling went to Cyril Dougherty, who runs the Shamrock flock at Kirby Misperton, Malton. His December 2012-born son of Rhaedr Lord Jim, out of a dam by Sheldon Handsome, made 540gns on joining BC Dawson, Ulverston. Mr Dougherty also sold a second entry at 450gns.

.Shearlings averaged £500 overall and ram lambs £335, on a par with the previous year.