A May 2019 born Limousin cross heifer shown by senior competitor Joe Collier , Chipping, won the championship and made top price in Gisburn Auction Marts’ 2020 young handlers’ over-wintering competition.

Having topped the line-up of first prize winners in the Friday evening show, the 10 month old champion heifer, which left the second highest margin of £620 and had achieved a daily liveweight gain of 1.248kg, went on to sell at £1,600 in Saturday’s sale to the Judge, Northamptonshire beef and sheep farmer Angela Tarry-Smith.

Mrs Tarry-Smith, also took home the reserve champion, another Limousin-sired heifer, this one from Freddie Shorrock, Cliviger, who had won the 14-16 year olds class. At 14 months old on sale day, it made £1,260 having achieved a daily gain of 1.019kg and had the third highest margin of £540.

Winner in the class for bona-fide YFC members was Ellie Forster, of Stainforth, a member of Rathmell YFC, who had come second in the class for heifers shown by a 9-11 year-old. Her eight month old British Blue heifer had left the fourth highest margin of £375 and had gained 1.164kg per day. The heifer sold at £740.

The highest daily weight gain over the winter of 1.621kg, was achieved by a bull from Ebony Dakin, Clitheroe who won the 9-11 year old exhibitor class for male animals with her British Blue sired entry which later sold at £520 leaving a margin of £120.

Standing under Ebony’s highest weight gain animal, was Hector Eccles, Worsthorne, with a 15 month old Bazadaise-sired steer which gained 1.441kg daily and left the seventh highest margin of £330 when it sold at £850.

Bevin Crayston, Brindle,came third in the daily gain rankings with her eight month old Limousin heifer which had put on and averaged 1.362kg and sold for £730. At just six months old, an Angus cross heifer from Johanna O’Neill, Bolton by Bowland, had the fourth highest daily gain of 1.32kg and sold at £440 having stood second in the class for heifers shown by exhibitors eight years old and under, a class in which her sister Leonie came third.