A FARMING father and son have retained their championship title at an annual autumn show in North Yorkshire.

Father and son Charles and Stephen Marwood's Foulrice flock at Whenby, near York, not only retained last year's title, but also presented the reserve champion and top price Shearling ewe at the 12th autumn show and sale of breeding females.

The event was staged by the British Charollais Sheep Society in Skipton and saw Shearling ewes average £489 per head, an increase on the 2015 average of £451, and ewe lambs £335, compared to £385 last year.

The title winner, the first prize December 2014 Shearling ewe by the Castellau Krypton daughter, Foulrice Lightening, out of a Edstaston Head Master ewe, formed an integral part of the 2016 Marwood show team, standing first in class at both Ryedale and Kilnsey Shows this summer.

Scanned carrying twins to Foulrice Osprey, the 2015 Great Yorkshire Show male champion who has sired sons to 3,200gns, the Skipton victor was chosen by show judge David Roberts from Shropshire - who then backed his judgement in the sale ring by claiming her for 800gns.

However, it was the Marwoods' second prize Shearling ewe and reserve champion that received top call of the day at 1,100gns when finding a new home in Cumbria with E McCann, of Askam-in-Furness.

The March 2015 ewe is by Lowereye Neil’s Favourite, described as "a tremendous carcase breeder" by Mr Marwood, who acquired the sire as a lamb in 2013 from Welsh breeder Neil Oughton of Powys.

The Skipton top price, out of a Dalby Mount Aloe ewe, has also been scanned carrying twins to a recent Marwood purchase; Bronwydd Ready to Rumble.

The Marwoods also sold another Lightening daughter for 520gns to the Sandham family in East Carlton, Yeadon, along with two further Shearling ewes at 350gns, supplemented by ewe lambs at 420gns and 400gns, this for their second prize-winning daughter of Dalby Mount Aloe.

Cyril Dougherty's Shamrock flock, based at Kirby Misperton, presented the third prize and top price 500gns ewe lamb, which this year stood first at both Malton and Egton Shows. She found a new home north of the border in Clackmannanshire.