THE final Christmas show of prime lambs to be held at the old Darlington Farmers Auction Mart (DFAM) site was incredibly well supported.

The mart said: “Without doubt our vendors provided one of the highest-quality offerings in recent memory,” and thanked judge James Farrington of Roots Farm Shop, East Rounton, Northallerton, saying he carried out his task impeccably.

“With an impressive 47 pens of three before him our judge certainly had his work cut out and called upon his lifetime’s experience in the butchery trade to find his very worthy prize winners,” said a DFAM spokesperson.

“The champion lambs came from Darlington regulars Elaine, Chris, Matthew and Callum Dent of Northfield Farms, South Thornberry, with a trio of wonderful Beltex, tremendous butchers lambs with great loin and gigots.

“Weighing 51kg, they sold for a fantastic 408 pence per kilo when the judge himself paid a handsome £208 per head for them to take pride of place in the fridge at the local farm shop.

“The reserve champion pen came right off the side of the Roman wall from more Darlington regulars John, Ben & Jack Moralee of Hardriding Farm, Hexham, with a tremendous trio of 50kg Texels.

“It was clear to see the tremendous effort which had gone in to presenting them paid off when they sold to Ali Shan of Yorkshire Halal for 254 pence per kilo and £127 per head.”

Show results

Best Pen of three Lambs sired by a Suffolk

1st A Crowder, Butsfield Burn Farm – 59.5kg 190ppk £113 to S S Meats, West Auckland

2nd A Crowder, Butsfield Burn Farm – 61.5kg 171ppk £105 to Worsley Wholesale, Dewsbury

3rd A C Simpson & Son, McNeil Farm – 63kg 164ppk £103.50 to West Scottish Lamb

Best Pen of three Lambs sired by a Texel

1st J & A Moralee, Hardriding Farm – 50kg 254ppk £127 to Yorkshire Halal, Ossett

2nd Askwiths, Middle Mown Meadows – 52.5kg 234ppk £116 to Jewitts, Spenymoor

3rd A Tindale, Paradise Farm – 46.5kg 243ppk £113 to Thompson Wholesale Meats, Witton-le-Wear

Best Pen of three Lambs sired by Any Other Continental

1st Northfield Farms, South Thornberry – 51kg 408ppk £208 to Roots Farm Shop, South Thornberry

2nd A Tindale, Paradise Farm – 43kg 270ppk £116 to West Scottish Lamb

3rd G W Dent, The Bungalow – 48kg 246ppk £118 to Jewitts, Spenymoor

Best Pen of three Mule Lambs

T H Richardson, Low Moor Hill Farm 46kg 174ppk