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             27/03/07           
              While lambing time reduced quantity, quality remained uncompromised
                among the 20 entries at the February Craven Dairy Auction at
                Skipton Auction Mart. (Mon, March 26) 
 
              
              
             The Craven Dairy Auction February champion, right,  
             and reserve champion. 
              
              
              
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              A newly-calven heifer from local dairy farmer Robert Phillip’s
                Hellifield Holsteins pedigree herd landed a first Craven Dairy
                Auction championship success for the Green Farm operation, selling
                for £1,140 to Aubrey Greenhalgh, of Preston. 
                 
                In fact, three of the four-strong contingent of newly-calven
                heifers entered by Mr Phillip made it a clean sweep of prizes
                in their class and all were knocked down to Mr Greenhalgh, who
                paid the day’s top price of £1,220 for the runner-up
                and £1,120 for the third-placed heifer. 
                 
                Best of the newly-calven cows and reserve champion was a third
                calver from Robert Crisp, of Calton, bought for £1,140
                by J Hargreaves, of Walton-le-Dale, Preston. 
                 
                The first prize in-calf heifer from David Calvert, of West Marton,
                sold for £920 to David Shuttleworth, of Gargrave. Top price
                in class at £970 went to Tim Crocker, of Silsden, the entry
                bought by Haigh Speak, of Chorley. 
                 
                GR Bretherton, of Hoghton, Preston, presented the first prize
                maiden heifer, which was another Aubrey Greenhalgh purchase at £600. 
                 
                The show, judged by David Pennock, of Summerscales Farm, Bolton
                Abbey, had a local sponsor in Guy Machinery Ltd, who are based
                at Skipton Auction Mart and were represented by Gary Robinson.
                The champion received the Craven Dairy Trophy from Ian Lindsay,
                of monthly sponsor BOCM-Pauls Animal Feeds. 
                 
                The next Craven Dairy Auction takes place on Monday, April 23,
              with entries accepted up to the day of sale. 
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