First time exhibitor, Josh Ryder, Masongill Hall, near Ingleton, couldn’t have made a better start when he flew off with the championship at Skipton Auction Mart’s summer show and sale of poultry and waterfowl.

Better known for breeding sheep in the show arena, Josh clinched his maiden poultry title with the first prize pen of bantams/small fowl, a pair of unrelated 2023-born Black Rosecombs – a cockerel and a hen.

He started with this true breed of bantam, so named for its distinctive comb, three years ago and now runs two separate Black Rosecomb lines, with his victors selling for £40.

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Josh also topped the day’s prices at £92 with a large fowl trio of 13-week-old Welsummer pullets.

Show judge, West Yorkshire poultry breeder Tim Metcalfe, Clayton, again tuned to the bantams/small fowl class for his reserve champion pen – a trio of Partridge Wyandotte from fixture regular Geoff Marston, Wetherby, which made £90. Another pair of pullets the same way and from the same home also fetched £90.

Other highlights of the sale included the first prize pen of large fowl, a quad of April, 2024-born Salmon Faverolles – originally a French breed of chicken with a unique colour pattern, consigned by Padside Produce, Harrogate – making £45.

The first prize pen of waterfowl, a pair of 2024-born call ducks from P Osbaldiston, Eldwick, sold for £25.

Stephen Pepper, Oxenhope, caught the eye with a trio of six-week-old Wellsummer Pullets making £85, while quartets of point of lay Light Sussex pullets, one pen a third prize winner, from J Harker, Nesfield, Ilkley, realised £70 and £68.

Auctioneers: CCM.