Parade of champions

This extravaganza of bovine muscle was held on Tuesday, when all leading Ryedale beef producers gathered at Malton market to compete for the annual array of silverware.

This year it was Andrew White, of Yorkshire Beef, who judged the cattle. A difficult task indeed.

The sheep were judged by Colin Bull, of Stamford Bridge.

This year it gave the whole market community great pleasure to welcome Christine Mason to present the trophies, and her presence brought back happy memories, not only of Roland's successes at shows of years gone by, but also of his unstinting support for the live auction. It was a pleasure to see Winnie Gray's champion heifer bred by one of Roland's cows.

Thanks to Christine for adding a touch of colour, glamour and style to the occasion.

The list of other prize winners is at the end of this column.

After all the huffing, puffing and gerrymandering of New Labour's left wing, I find it quite ironic - if not comic - that their beloved leader has left the hunting bill out of Her Majesty's speech.

There must be blue smoke coming off the back benches where MPs no doubt perceived it as a foregone conclusion that the Middleton would not be meeting on Boxing Day. But I have to agree that the bill has become thoroughly discredited over the past months. Per chance, I was in a village near Oxford on Friday night and went to listen to John Jackson, chairman of the Countryside Alliance, and it was fascinating to hear his side of the battle.

Apparently a senior minister had button-holed him outside the House of Commons saying words roughly to this effect:

"You old B......, you have made us look petty and vindictive; and we have lost public support."

An interesting stay of execution of which both sides can follow the scent!

I got a letter from Mr Baxter, of Pickering, who had come to our poultry sale on a September Friday and, as usual, parked on Spital Street, outside the sheep building.

He bought his birds and came out to find that, despite his being the only car on the street, he had received a fixed-penalty ticket.

Next day, on the Saturday, Spital Street was full of cars and no tickets. There seems to be little logic or sense in this persecution wanting to visit Malton.

I am sure Mr Baxter's tale is only one amongst many, but I do hope the message gets through to the police and the council that a market town is meant to be full of people on market days and, if we don't welcome them, there will soon be none.

I think this year we ought to run a competition for Christmas ditties, and to start it off, I received one from the Bard of Sinnington:

"As Santa prepares his merry way,

Helping him his wife will say,

You must pack your anorak

It might rein dear"!!

(With apologies to Father Christmas)

Tuesday, December 2, saw the annual Christmas faststock show and forward were 138 cattle including 48 bulls; 476 sheep including 152 ewes. Results:

Supreme champion beast, and champion heifer, and winner of the Major A P Cooper Perpetual Challenge Trophy and the Dennis Goodwill Memorial Trophy - J L Gray, Grindale, 585 kilos; 246p to Radfords Butchers, Sleights.

Champion bullock and winner of the W A Cundall Perpetual Challenge Trophy - F Fairburn, Rievaulx, 680 kilos; 165p to S Voase, Withernwick.

Champion home-bred heifer and winner of the F Beal Memorial Trophy - J A Barker, Snainton 535 kilos; 160p to B W Glaves & Sons, Brompton-by-Sawdon.

Champion bull and winner of the R F H Stephenson Memorial Trophy - D Beal, Yedingham, 715 kilos; 143p to Swales Butchers, York.

First prize lightweight bull, F Fairburn, 475 kilos; 141p to Swales Butchers, York. Second, D Blacklock, Nawton, 505 kilos; 116p to S Hibberd, Doncaster.

Heavy bull second, D Blacklock, 605 kilos; 119p to S Hibberd, Doncaster. Third, R Baxter, Pickering, 815 kilos; 107p to S Hibberd.

Light steers, first J L Gray, 545 kilos; 130p to S Hibberd. Second, J A Barker, Snainton 465 kilos; 135p to S Hibberd. Third, J A Barker, 435 kilos; 135p to S Hibberd.

Heavy steers, second F Fairburn, Rievaulx, 560 kilos; 142p to S Voase. Third, J Remmer, Pickering, 765 kilos; 107p to A Butterfield, Barnsley.

Light heifers, G I Marwood, Harome, 465 kilo; 159p, to Radfords Butchers, Sleights. Third, G I Marwood, 450 kilos; 150p to Swales Butchers.

Heavy heifers, second, G I Marwood, 525 kilos; 160p to Radfords Butchers. Third G I Marwood, 580 kilos; 188p to Radfords Butchers.

SHEEP

Champion pen of butcher's lambs and winner of the Malton Market Perpetual Challenge Trophy - C & K Milburn, Scagglethorpe, 53kilos; £98 to Radfords Butchers.

Reserve champion and winner of the Yorkshire & Northern Woolgrowers Trophy, G Gamble - Kirkbymoorside, 45 kilos; £60 to Swales Butchers.

Best pen of lightweight lambs and winner of the J W Creaser Trophy - K B & R P Harrison, Riseborough, 40 kilos; £58 to Swales Butchers. Second, G Harper & Sons, Newton-on-Rawcliffe, 40 kilos; £49.50 to S Hibberd. Third, F J Hodsman & Sons, 33 kilos; £39 to S Hibberd.

Butcher's lambs (41-45 kilos), second, C & K Milburn, Scagglethorpe, 43 kilos; £68 to Swales Butchers. Third, G Harper, 43 kilos; £51 to S Hibberd.

Best pen of butcher's lambs over 46 kilos, second G Harper & Son, 47 kilos; £59 to Agars Butchers, Ilkley. Third, C & K Milburn, 53 kilos; £59.50 to Radfords Butchers, Sleights.

Light Steers to 124p B Gray, Fryup, Medium Steers to 135p J A Barker, Snainton, avge 120.24p. Heavy Steers to 165p, F Fairburn, Rievaulx avge 104.1p. Light Heifers to 135p D Tomlinson, Langdale End avge 118.3p. Medium Heifers to 159p G I Marwood, Harome, avge 114.3p. Heavy Heifers to 246p J L Grafy, Grindale, avge 117.3p. Light Bulls to 141p F Fairburn, Rievaulx, avge 96.5p. Heavy Bulls to 143p D Beal, Yedingham, avge 97.8p. Black & white bulls to 91p C Leckonby, Pockley, avge 81.2p.

Standard lambs to 118.1p F J Hodsman & Sons, Eddlethorpe, avge 114p. Medium lambs to 158p C & K Milburn, Scagglethorpe, avge 119.3p. Heavy lambs to 134p W Burdass & Sons, Harpham, avge 112.5p. Overweight lambs to 185p C & K Milburn, Scagglethorpe, avge 121.5p.

Updated: 11:31 Wednesday, December 03, 2003