6 The Chronicle, Thursday, 6th October, 2011. www.chronicleseries.co.uk

Markets

Tobacco vending machines must be out of reach

Leek

With the start of the Indian summer, entries were slow coming forward at the market, although by the end of play all sections were running up to capacity.

More than 1,000 sheep on offer, with mediumweight lambs to an encouraging average of 165.5p, amounting to £71 per head with top price for lambs at £87.60. Clean cattle saw a strong demand from local butchers for insiders, although the trade for grass-fed stock was selective. In the barren cow section there were some very good cows but a lot of them were very full. Buyers prefer to buy silage in the bale rather than in the elly! Trade for dairies remained strong, with newly-calved heifers to £2,270 and five heifers above £2,000.

CLEAN CATTLE (15): a quieter day than of late with no young bulls on offer. Steers sold to 179.5p for prime Angus, with Limousins to 173p and Simmentals 171p. Commercial stock to 143p. Medium heifers saw prime Limousins at 183p with commercial heifers to 131p. Heavy heifers topped 171p for a Belgian, with Limousins to 165.5p. Herefords to 153p. Top rices: steers £1,342.35; heifers £1,059.20. Quality prices: steers rime 179.5p (164p); commercial 143p (138p); heifers prime 183p (165p); commercial 131p).

OVER 30-MONTH STOCK (62): an entry split between good cows, some of which were full, and a lot of plain cows. Top price for Friesians was 131.5p and 130.5p, with Brown Swiss to 130p and Montbelard to 128.5p. Average for grade one cows 125p; grade two to 117.5p (110p) with grade three cows to 94.5p (84p). Overage clean sold to a top of 139.5p for Herefords with stock bulls to 126p for Limousins and 119p for Friesians. Top price £1,147 for a Friesian cow from Robert Poyser and £1146.60 for the Limousin ull. Average 109p or £703.62.

DAIRY CATTLE (77): top rice £2,270. Every standing full, with 54 dairies forward together with 24 youngstock meeting a strong trade that saw five heifers pass the £2,000 mark to a top of £2,270. Top call at £2,270 went to Joel Redfern of Enson, Stafford, for a tremendous heifer giving 33kg. He also had a second heifer to £2,120. Second in line at £2,180 was a Moet Melody daughter from Andrew and Bridget Weston of Litton. Sold giving 30kg, she went to Mr J Fernyhough of Swythamley.

Milky cows were a real trade to a top of £1,740 for a second calver from Melvin and Diane Shepherd of Bakewell, with a Swedish Red fourth calver from Messrs Smith of Hilderstone at £1710. First quality heifers to £2,270 (£2,012); quality heifers to £1,760 (£1,568); quality cows to £1,740 (£1,725); quality cows to £1,610 (£1,490). The 23 reared Friesian heifers sold to £350 (£270).

STORE CATTLE (7): Elevenmonth-old Welsh Black heifers to £358. Seven- month-old Hereford heifers to £322 and eight-monthold Angus heifers to £320.

BUTCHERS’ SHEEP (895): Over half the entry were in the mediumweight bracket, which topped 190p (165.5p). Standardweights to 176p (160p). Heavy lambs topped 180p (159p). Overweights to 155p (142p).

EWES AND STORE SHEEP (165): No let-up in demand as the kebab industry takes everything that is thrown at it. Top price 122p with others at 120p (£62.70). Cull rams to £90 (£81).

CALVES (156): Plenty of demand with a fresh Leicestershire buyer in attendance. Bulls saw Simmentals to £328 (£293 for six). Blues to £325 (£265 for 10). Limousins to £292 (£208 for 16). Angus to £238 (£201 for 6). Herefords to £232 (£192). Friesians to £148 from David Hine (£62 for 58.

Heifers produced a top price of £232 for Belgians (£187). Limousins to £220 (£162 for 13). Simmentals to £212 (£191 for nine). Angus to £156. Herefords £180.

PRODUCE: Bill bale spring barley to £20 per bale with small baled hay to £2.90 per bale.

LEEK CATTLE MARKET

The only Livestock Market in Staffordshire

EVERY TUESDAY

Selling times as follows:

Calves (Simmental Bulls £328) ............................................................. 9.30 a.m. Tested Barren Cattle (139p/kg.) ............................................................. 9.30 a.m. Clean Cattle (183p/kg.) ........................................................................ 10.30 a.m. Butchers’ Lambs followed by Ewes (Lambs 190p/kg., Ewes £122) ............................................................. 11.00 a.m. Dairy (Heifer £2,270) ........................................................................... 11.00 a.m. Stores .................................................................................................... 11.30 a.m.

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STORE SHEEP SECTION

THIS SATURDAY 8th OCTOBER 2011

Store Sheep Sale Sale to Commence at 10.30 a.m.

Catalogued Sale of 5,000 Store Lambs,

Shearlings, Ewe Lambs and Ewes Next Sale - 22nd October 2011 Entries Close - 14th October 2011

STORE CATTLE SECTION

SATURDAY 15th OCTOBER 2011

Store and Suckler Cattle Sale to Commence at 10 a.m.

Catalogued Sale of Mainly Continental Bred Suckler Cows, Some with Calves at Foot,

Young Bulls and Store Cattle Entries Close - 7th October 2011

POULTRY & SMALL STOCK SALES

SATURDAY 15th OCTOBER 2011

Sale To Commence at 9.30 a.m.

Usual Sale of Poultry, Caged Birds, Small Stock, Eggs

G. L. Watkins - 07976 370894. B. Daniel - 07768 368686 Mark Elliott - 07973 673092. Meg Elliott - 07967 007049

C7152h

Huge crowd enjoyed rare and traditional breeds sale The 24th annual show and sale of rare and traditional breeds of cattle, sheep and pigs at Chelford, held by auctioneers Frank Marshall and Company on behalf of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, brought forward an excellent entry of stock, and attracted a huge crowd of potential purchasers, enthusiasts and on lookers from a wide area.

There was a “superb” entry of cattle on offer, prices reflecting the high level of confidence within the industry at present and virtually every lot sold at levels in excess of expectations.

the current buoyant trade throughout store and breeding sheep sales.

In particular, there was a super quality entry of Greyface Dartmoors, for the society’s official show, resulting in the day’s top price of 400gns being paid for the champion Greyface Dartmoor and reserve overall champion sheep, a shearling ram from S and J Bullock, Rushton, Macclesfield, which sold for 400gns to fellow breeder A J Roe, Llandegla, Denbigh. Another shearling Greyface Dartmoor Ram, this time from Mrs E J Dale, Leek, made 300gns to C Humphreys, Caernarfon.

best of a pen from Messrs E W and K M Austin, Reynoldston, Swansea selling to 370gns to J E Williams of Pwllheli, Gwynedd. J Wild from Matlock, Derbyshire, saw her Reserve Champion pig, a Gloucestershire Oldspot sold six weeks in-pig to a prize Boar make 350gns to D L Gemmill, Holywell, while best of the British Saddlebacks, the Show Champion from S Samuels, Bicester, Oxford, made 300 gns, also going home with D L Gemmill.

The second rare breed poultry sale of the year saw a super trade with some interesting quality lots.

Leading the day’s prices was regular consignor The Bollin Valley Partnership with a fantastic young cow Bollin Groundsel. She sold with her twin bull calves at foot at 1,200gns (£1,260) to Mr A Marsden of Alvanley. Nicky Luckett made the long journey from Cumbria and saw her March 2007 cow Wellhead Hope sell with her April born bull calf at 1,020gns (£1,071) also to Mr Marsden.

Sue Davies brought forward a very classy pen of Beef Shorthorn heifers from her Bitfel Herd, Welshpool. The leading price was 1,100gns for Bitfel Nellie selling to Mr G Sutton of Winterley. Bitfel Princess Royal sold to Mr Whalley, Accrington for 1,060 gns.

Home Farm Tatton were well represented with its Red Poll cow Tatton Ursula sold together with her heifer calf at 1,010gns to Mr R Lightfoot from Mold. Maiden Red Poll heifers peaked at 710gns from the same stable, Mr Lightfoot once again the buyer.

There was terrific demand in the sheep section, again reflecting

Other notable prices included the leading Balwen, a two year old ram from R Lovatt, Ingestre, Stafford, which made 250gns to R Edwards, Hatherton, Nantwich; best of the Greyface Dartmoor ewes, a shearling from Mrs E Dawson, Criggion, Shrewsbury made 230gns to R C Prince, Leek, with several other leading Greyface Dartmoor shearling ewes making in excess of 200 gns; best of the Jacob ewes a shearling from Messrs Shemwell, Chesterfield, making 150 gns; leading Cotswold ram, a shearling from Messrs J M Fearn, Darley Moor making 160 gns.

Among a good selection of ewe lambs, it was again Greyface Dartmoors which lead the way, with Messrs Bullock selling their best at 180 gns, Cotswold to 110 gns, Shetlands to 80 gns, Shropshire’s to 70gns etc.

Pigs proved a more difficult trade, although there were several leading prices of note. Best of the day was 370gns for a Welsh gilt, sold in-pig and from a show background. This gilt was the

Large fowl achieved sound prices with White Silkie hens reaching £44, half grown Speckled Sussex pullets £20 each, Buff Sussex, Rhode Island Red and Splash Orpington made £60, while most others averaged between £16 - £20.

Bantams were particularly well represented in the sale and proved as popular as ever. Blue Millefleur Barbu d’Uccks attracted £55 each, Gold Pekins £24; Sablefoots, Silver-laced Wyandottes and White Miniature Silkies £20; Blue-black Silkies, Lemon Cuckoo Pekins £18 each.

Ornamental waterfowl saw some intense bidding at times on some breeds rarely seen in the auction yet, on occasion, some very ambitious reserves were not met. Mandarin ducks mostly achieved £30 in-pairs, all female lots, both normal, silver or blonde as did Chilean Wigeon, Bchara Pintails £26; Ferringinous Teal and Tufted £20.

Other best prices included Sebastapol geese at £35 each and a stunning pair of Snow Geese at £56.

Owners and managers o premises containing tobacco vending machines are being reminded that it is now illegal to have them in public places.

Any tobacco vending machines still in use will have to be out of reach of the public.

The law applies to every type of premises, regardless of any age restriction applied to it.

Staffordshire County Council’s trading standards team has contacted managers o pubs, hotels and places of wor to remind them of the change in the law.

Welcomes Cabinet member for public health and community safety, County Coun Robert Marshall, said: “The county council welcomes this new legislation — anything that reduces the number of people smoking in Staffordshire has to be a good thing.

“Our trading standards team has been visiting businesses to ensure that they are aware o the change in the law and will continue to do so now it is introduced.

“Any business that has a tobacco vending machine should by now have taken steps to have it removed or moved away from public access and any advertising removed.

“People can contact a member of the team if they have any queries.”

Breaking the law could result in prosecution and a fine o up to £2,500. It is also against the law to advertise tobacco products on vending machines.

The trading standards team can be contacted on 0300 111 8000.

(Photograph: Rigsby8131).

HIGH VALUE OF GOLD AND SILVER MEANT A SELL-OUT

The big surprise on day one of Louis Taylor’s latest two-day fine art auction came when a small Royal Doulton miniature novelty Flambe elephant came up for auction.

The piece, measuring just 3”, was estimated at £500-£800 and saw fierce competition from the room against competition from abroad. After quite a tussle the hammer fell at £4,000.

Other prices on day one, which saw Doulton and Beswick being sold, included £900 for a Royal Doulton Old King Cole with yellow crown musical jug and £800 for a Doulton prototype baseball player. A miniature

This Royal Doulton flambe miniature elephant sold for £4,000.

Titanianware vase painted with a bird, but unsigned, realised £460 and the Royal Doulton figure Scotties HN1281 with a small hairline, sold for £480.

Top price in the Beswick section was £500 for a Beswick part hunting set and £350 was paid for a Beswick gamecock, which had sustained some damage.

Tuesday’s auction saw furniture, clocks, other ceramics, paintings, silver and jewellery under the hammer.

Top price for the second auction in a row was for a fine solitaire diamond ring — diamond weight 2.78 carat approx — estimated at £3,500-£5,000.

Competition from two private individuals saw the bidding rise to £7,400. As one can imagine because of the high gold and silver prices these sections were a sell-out.

A small collection of Kruger rands realised £19,450.

A heavy nine ct gold chain bracelet sold for £1,800 and an 18 ct gold hunter pocket watch realised £1,400.

A Victorian silver ewer sold for £1,150 (estimate £700-£1,000) and a Harlequin part set of silver cutlery saw the hammer fall at £1,000.

An Edward VII silver novelty lamp in the form of a small submarine sold for £840.

Early Moorcroft fared well with a powder bowl and cover decorated with a fish design realising £1,300. A William Moorcroft four-piece tea set with Tudric PEWTER mounts, decorated with the pomegranate design, sold for £1,150 despite slight damage. A Wedgwood Majolica plaque estimated at £150-£200 realised £1,100.

Other lots to fare considerably better than their estimates included £1,100 for a pair of Adams style giltwood torcheres, £1,200 for an oak 30 hour longcase clock — maker Henry Higinbotham, Macclesfield — and £560 for a Bonzo tinplate money box — estimate £100-£150.

Two paintings by George Hyde-Pownall depicting London

Edward VII silver novelty lamp, in the form of a submarine: dive, dive dive at £840.

Bonzo tinplate money box: cashed in at £560.

scenes sold for £1,600 and £1,200.

The auctioneers’ next specialist two day fine art/ antiques auction takes place on the 5th/6th December, with a closing entry date of 4th November.

For further information please contact Clive Hillier or Sheila Doolan on 01782 214111.

(Submitted photograph). Farmer and ramblers welcome Bridestones footpath re-route

The Chronicle, Thursday, 6th October, 2011. www.chronicleseries.co.uk 7

By Chris Young A new footpath at a opular beauty spot will mean local walkers no longer have to cross an “intimidating” private farm and quarry.

The path also means eople will be able to get closer to one of the only eolithic burial chambers in Cheshire.

Last month, Cheshire

ADVERTISER'S FEATURE

School leavers are ‘confused’ about what to do after GCSEs

South Cheshire College is calling for parents to help after new research revealed that fewer than half of pupils preparing for their GCSEs receive specialist advice on post-exam options.

Research released by the Association of Colleges showed “considerable confusion” among young people about what they should do next after leaving school.

Half of year 10 pupils surveyed were unable to name more than two post-GCSE qualifications while a quarter could only name one.

The study, which was conducted on behalf of the Association of Colleges, was released to launch the beginning of colleges week (26th September to 2nd October) and involved interviews with 500 upils aged 14 who are currently studying for GCSEs.

South Cheshire College is holding a series of open evenings at its campus, starting in October, which give school pupils the opportunity to find out about the range of options which are available to them when they leave school.

The Crewe college offers more than 40 academic A-level programmes and over 100 vocational courses, which range from bricklaying and engineering to hair and eauty and hospitality and catering.

Apprenticeships in areas such as construction and child care and other work related training programmes are also becoming popular and the college celebrated its 100th apprentice this week.

Pupils from all local high schools are invited to the open evenings, which take place at South Cheshire College on Monday (6pm-9pm), Monday, 17th October (6pm-9pm) and Monday, 7th November (6pm9pm).

At the events, specialist staff from the college’s careers team will be on hand to give pupils advice and guidance about what to do next.

Tutors will also be available to talk to about what different courses involve and prospective students will have the opportunity to take a closer look at the college’s campus and facilities.

The research found that while 63% of young people were able to name A-levels as a post-GCSE qualification, very few could name any of the other choices.

Only 7% of pupils were able to name apprenticeships as a postGCSE qualification.

Only 26% of pupils were able to name NVQs; 19% could name BTECs; 9% identified a diplomas, and only 3% of pupils were able to name foundation learnin courses.

East Council decided to create a new footpath on The Cloud near Bosley, to move it away from the Bridestones Farm on Dial Lane. It will be moved to what has been described as a “less intimidating” and more picturesque route, passing the remains of the Bridestones monument.

And one local rambler says all local walking groups welcomed the diversion.

The alterations, made by the council’s Public Rights Of Way Committee on 19th September, will see footpath 51, in Rushton Spencer, decommissioned, and the new 469m long footpath 83 created. Because the new footpath lies in Congleton, it falls under the jurisdiction of Cheshire East Council.

The farm and quarry’s owners, the Goodfellow family, asked to have the path diverted.

The existing route requires walkers to pass through a large pipe, installed by previous landowners, and a working farm.

A report presented to the committee said: “Moving the footpath away from the farm will help the landowners with the running of their business (both farm and quarry) and allow them to increase the privacy and security of their site.

“The proposed route offers a less intimidating footpath for walkers and provides enhanced, panoramic views of the Cheshire countryside and, in addition, the Bridestones monument.

“The proposed route will not be substantially less convenient than the existing route, and taking walkers away from the farm yard may provide a health and safety benefit to users.”

On the fact that the existing footpath passes through the farm, it says: “This can be intimidating for some walkers and causes issues with animal waste creating a muddy surface which is difficult to cross.

“There is often large machinery operated in and around the farm and quarry and this can pose a health and safety risk for users.

“User groups have been consulted. The Ramblers’Association has responded to state they have no objection to the proposal and ‘look forward to the pleasure which will be gained by the walking public from the new route.’ The Peak and Northern Footpaths Society have responded to state their enthusiastic support.”

Congleton Ramblers’ member Alan Soper said: “This has been welcomed by all the walking groups and will resolve a number of issues. The walk will be greatly improved and there will be much better views of the Bridestones.”

He said negotiations were also ongoing to claim a number of other routes at The Cloud to have them officially recognised as public footpaths.

AT SPECSAVERS CONGLETON

Congleton Bridestone Centre, Victoria St. Tel: 01260 299 395

2 for 1 varifocals: Choose any two pairs of varifocal glasses from the £69 to £125 ranges, and PENTAX scratch-resistant varifocal lenses from £49, and pay for just one. Cannot be used with other offers. Second pair from the same price range or below and to the same prescription. Applies to 1.5 scratch-resistant lenses. Extra Options available at an additional charge on both pairs. SKU 25178197, SKU 25177725. ©2011 Specsavers. All rights reserved.