Craven Cattle Marts in Skipton was among the mainline sponsors of NSA North Sheep 2013, the National Sheep Association northern region’s biennial one-day event, this year staged at Crimple Head Farm, Beckwithshaw, Harrogate, by kind permission of J M Wilson and Sons.
The day proved an outstanding success for the NSA, offering innovation for sheep farmers, while at the same time challenging traditionally held views.
It was a successful one too for Skipton Auction Mart, which was runner-up in a competition for the best trade stand.
CCM’s livestock manager and auctioneer Ted Ogden also turned chef and won through to the final of a ‘Ready Steady Cook’ competition, coming out on top in a head-to-head first round clash against Wharfedale Auction Mart’s Ian Smith.
Both had to prepare and cook a Shepherd’s Pie dish, with lamb not unnaturally featuring in all competition recipes. It was purchased by Andrew Atkinson, of Felliscliffe, who is a regular buyer at Skipton Auction Mart, and supplied through his butcher brother Gordon, who runs Elite Meat in Starbeck, and is a member of the national Butchers Q Guild.
In the final, Ted was up against Andrew Atkinson himself, who in an earlier cook-off, this time with lamb burgers on the menu, had seen off Hebden Bridge butcher Stephen Maskill, also a regular CCM customer. Challenged to prepare and cook lamb and mushroom pie, the heat was on and Ted met his match.
The competition was organised and run by a team headed up by mother and daughter Val and Hannah Brown, of Newton-le-Willows. The Brown family regularly sells Beltex sheep at Skipton Auction Mart.
CCM’s general manager Jeremy Eaton was also in action helping to judge the sheep stands. He commented afterwards: “It was heartening to see the high levels of interest in a technical event dedicated to sheep, particularly after the adverse conditions that all farmers have had to endure during the last six months.”
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.