THE annual Christmas show for cast ewes was again on the festive agenda at Skipton Auction Mart.

North Yorkshire husband and wife Ken and Hazel Gamble, of Brickyard Farm, Easingwold, proved the headline performers when landing the ewe championship for the third consecutive year with their pen of five pure Texels.

They were chosen as champions by judge Paul Harrison, buyer for Yorkshire Halal Meats, who later backed his judgment when buying the victors at £119.50 per head.

A large entry of over 4,000 Spring lambs met with a good trade, finishing 3p/kg up on the week, with an overall average of 165.6p/kg, or £71.57 per head.

Just short of 400 head of cast sheep were also among the mix. The cull ewe average was up on the week at £52.22 per head, showing a general hardening of trade. Cast rams averaged £76.

Hazel Gamble also won the competition class for fruit cakes at the big CCM Skipton Christmas primestock shows the previous day.