John Stephenson Retains Prime Cattle Championship at Skipton

Christmas Highlight Title winner claimed by Bacup butcher co-judge

4th December 2019

John Stephenson, of Bordley Green Farm, Bordley, was crowned supreme champion for the second year running at Skipton Auction Mart’s 12th annual Christmas prime cattle show and sale. (Sunday, December 1)

Mr Stephenson secured a repeat championship success with a home-bred British Blue-cross heifer, like his 2018 title winner by the well utilised stock bull, Tanat Harlequin, (Imperial de L’Ecluse) acquired eight years ago from Wyn Jones.

The winner of the young handlers show class in the hands of Mr Stephenson’s son, also John, had also competed successfully on this year’s summer show circuit, standing second at Countryside Live.

Out of a Blue-x-Parthenais cow, the 2019 female and overall supreme caught the eye of co-judge, retail butcher Phil Gregory, who later snapped up the 535kg heifer for a sale-topping 550p/kg, or £2,943, for his DA Gregory & Sons Butchers shop in Bacup. It was also the highest price home-bred entry.

Another good day for the Stephenson family at the festive highlight saw them win two further show classes for overweight steers and heifers with further Blue-cross entries by Tanat Harlequin.

The male champion was consigned by Cropper and Mellin, Their first prize 535kg Blue-cross steer sold for 330p/kg, or £1,765, to Anthony Swales for his Knavesmire Butchers in York.

A notable acquisition for Robertshaws was the un-haltered champion, a home-bred 510kg British Blue-cross heifer from Elslack’s Jim and Christine Scrivin, of Park House Farm, at 282p/kg, or £1,438.

Other prize-winners included the second prize 610kg Blue-cross steer, again from the Scrivin family, at 238p/kg, or £1,452, and, from the same home, a third prize 580kg Blue-cross heifer at 248p/kg, or £1,438.

Back in the un-haltered classes, Simon Barker, of Barkers Yorkshire Butchers, which is based at the auction mart, claimed three rosette winners, including the first prize any other breed steer, a 590kg Blue-cross heifer from Wendy Stamper, of Chipping, at 225p/kg, or £1,327,

Father and son, John and John Stephenson, with their 2019 Skipton Christmas prime cattle supreme champion.

Pictured with the 2019 Skipton Christmas prime cattle supreme champion are, left, co-judge Andrew Atkinson, co-judge and buyer Philip Gregory, John Stephenson Snr, Sarah Hargreaves, representing mainline sponsor Skipton NFU, and John Stephenson Jnr.

Jim Scrivin with the 2019 Skipton Christmas prime cattle un-haltered champion