FATHER and son farmers, John and Joe Fawcett, achieved a championship and reserve championship double at Skipton mart’s prime cattle show with a pair of home-bred British Blue-cross heifers.

The Fawcetts, of Dale Head Farm, Barden, took pole positions with heifers by a bull acquired from Thirsk’s Stephen Potter and used successfully for the past five years.

The 520kg victor, out of a Limousin-cross cow, sold for a top price per kilo of 278.5p (£1,448), to George Cropper of Sandersons Butchers in Baxenden.

The 480kg reserve champion, out of a Blonde-cross cow, sold for 254.5p/kg (£1,222), to Kirkby Malham’s Jeff Burrows.

The first-prize steer was presented by another father and son farming duo, Francis and Andrew Smith, who trade as F&B Smith at Lodge Farm, Masongill, between Ingleton and Kirkby Lonsdale.

Their 525kg Limousin-cross was one of two prime cattle purchased by Tim Hamlet for his family-run Hamlets Butchers in Garstang, at a section by-weight top of 263.5p/kg (£1,383).

Keelham Farm Shop took home half a dozen cattle for its Skipton and Thornton shops, among them the third prize Aberdeen-Angus-cross heifer from TWH Assets in Selby at £1,339, or 250.5p/kg.

The third-prize Blonde-cross steer from Threshfield brothers, Charles and Richard Kitching, sold for £1,389, or 231.5p/kg, to Skipton-based Stanforths Butchers.