Quality Charolais bulls met a solid commercial demand from a packed ringside selling to a top of 17,000gns in Carlisle on Saturday 12 May. Overall, 124 lots sold to average £3,441, up more than £343 on the year, including 25 entries at 5,000gns or more.

Alsnow Almighty sold for 17,000gns

The 17,000gns sale leader was Alsnow Almighty CH21, a 17 month old by the 18,000gns Derryharney Outstanding and out of a Blelack bred cow going back to Tullygarley lines. Bred by Alan Lawson and Son, Hallington, Newcastle on Tyne he commented: “Almighty has been much admired since he was a calf and we are delighted. It’s the first time we’ve sold to five figures in 20 years of breeding pedigree Charolais during which time we’ve restocked, and we’re particularly pleased he sold to a pedigree breeder.” Almighty went to join Bob Roberts’ 40 cow pedigree Brynffanigl herd based at Ucha, Abergele, Clwyd. “We’d been looking for a new bull for sometime, and Almighty caught our eye,” Mr Roberts explained. “He had everything we were looking for; size, scale and conformation, and equally import he was good on his legs.”

The day’s second highest call at 10,000gns came from P Cooper and Son, Kilcaldrum, Forfar for Caylers Boomerang CH32, a 15 month old from the Barker family who were making yet another highly successful 550 round mile trip from Nuthamptead, Royston. A second class prize winner, Boomerang was by Maerdy Uniroyal and his homebred dam also went back to Maerdy lines.

A bid of 9,500gns secured Moelfre Aaron for EI Lewis and Sons, Uwchygarreg, Machynlleth, Powys. Bred by Kevin Thomas, Capel Iwan, Newcastle Emlyn, this 18 month old was within the breed’s top 1% with a Beef Value of CH42 and had been placed first in his class. He was by the noted Mowbraypark Paramount and out of a Gower bred dam.

Minutes earlier, Aaron’s stable mate, Moelfre Afan CH29 made 7,000gns to W Brewster, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire. The second and only other entry from Kevin Thomas, Afan was another November 2005 born bull, this time by Allanfauld Norseman and out of the Royal Welsh junior heifer champion, Moelfre Ultima.

The day’s intermediate male and overall supreme championship was awarded to Trefonnen Brandnew CH26 from Mr and Mrs RM Hughes, Trefonen, Oswestry. This 16 month old sired by Doonally New, was out of a homebred cow by Moyness Maharaja and attracted a 9,000gns price tag from Isle of Man breeder, WE Parsons, Laxey.

The highest entry at 8,500gns from Gretna Green based Alasdair Houston was the 18 month old Gretnahouse Aberfeldy CH33, a Doonally Prince son and out of a Hackleton bred cow who goes back to the Royal Show champion, Lakeland Sagesse. He went to join Mr and Mrs Andrew White’s Balbithan herd, Worth Matravers, Swanage, Dorset.

Three lots shared an 8,000gns bid including Alasdair Houston’s Gretnahouse Bomber CH39, a 13 month old who earlier on had headed his class. Sired by Derryharney Outstanding, he was out of a Balmyle bred dam who goes back to the successful show cow Balmyle Cascade. The buyer was Bill Bruce, Meigle, Perthshire keen to return the genetics back to his Balmyle herd.

Bill Bruce had already recouped his precise spend having sold Balmyle Brutus CH34 earlier on in the day for 8,000gns to Mosser Mains Farm, Mosser, Cockermouth, Cumbria. Brutus was a February 2006 born Maerdy Othello son and out of a homebred cow by Dingle Hofmeister.

The third 8,000gns call was made by SI and LJ Evans, Penmaen, Gower, Swansea for the first class winner, Lowerffrydd Brightlights CH32. This 16 month old youngster was a Doonally New son and out of a Moyness Lincoln sired homebred cow from John Evans, Caesws, Powys.

Minutes before, John Evans secured a 7,000gns bid for Brightlight’s full brother, Lowerffrydd Beesnees CH27. The buyers were to Messrs Dent Brothers, Lartington, Barnard Castle, Co Durham.

A further three more entries shared a 7,000gns price tag. First to go was John Christie and Son’s (Stirling), Westcarse Beefy CH25, a 16 month old by the 28,000gns Perth champion, Maerdy Primeminister and out of a homebred dam who goes back to Lakeland Sagesse. Beefy who had headed his class, was knocked down sold in a two way split to south west breeders, Will Palmer, Ruan Highlanes, Truro and BWJ Lavis, Bridestowe, Okehampton, Devon.

First class prize winner, Trefaldwyn Benson CH34, a January 2006 born Burradon Talisman son and whose dam went back to Brampton lines, commanded 7,000gns from IR and DE Jones, Llabdrillo, Corwen, Denbighshire. The final 7,000gns call was made shortly afterwards by GG Williams, Tylwch, Llanidloes, Powys for Edenhurst Bentley CH40 bred and exhibited by Peter Vasey, Wetheral, Carlisle. Bentley was a Dingle Hofmeister son and out of the homebred Edenhurst Miranda whose grandsons have recently sold to 10,000gns.

Valerie McDonald, Newry, County Down made a successful trip across the water with her February 2006 born Lisenagh Baldur CH25, a first prize class winner making 7,500gns to MR Bound, Tylwch, Llanidloes, Powys. Bred by near neighbours, Lisenaugh Farms, Baldur was a Doonally New son while his dam went back to Bocombra lines.

Another Doonally New son, this time from fellow County Down breeder, John Fitzpatrick, Kilkeel offered the February 2006 born Lisnahilta Ballykeel CH30 for 6,500gns to EG Morgan, Sennybridge, Brecon, Powys.

Newroddige Branta CH21 from the Tamworth, Stafford based Newroddige Charolais attracted a bid of 6,200gns from WD Bayliss, Penypont, Llandrindod Wells, Powys. Sired by the several times showring champion, Inverlochy Resolve, the 16 month old Branta was out of a Maerdy bred dam.

Lowther Park Farms, Penrith, Cumbria paid 6,000gns for Whitecliffe Asia CH35, a December born Dingle Hofmeister son and out of a Balmyle bred dam from North Yorkshire breeders, M and J Hayhurst, Kirbymisperton, Malton.

The female trade was headed at 7,000gns by a cow and calf pair from the Campbell family, Ian, John and their father, Colin, of Thrunton, Alnwick to Harold Forster and Sons, Bardon Mill, Hexham, Northumberland. Their November 2003 born first calver, Thrunton Ulala CH35, who had already headed her class, was by the 25,000gns Perth champion, Mowbraypark Orlando and out of a Maerdy Location sired homebred dam. Ulala was knocked sold with Thrunton Beano, a seven month old bull calf by Solwayfirth Union, and scanned in calf to Burradon Talisman. The Forsters also went to 3,500gns for another cow and calf outfit from the same breeders. The four year old Thrunton Ursus went back to Orlando and was sold in calf to Talisman. She was accompanied by her August 2006 born heifer, Thrunton Bella, again by Union.

Corrie April CH31, a two year old Moelfre Torpedo sired heifer collected the reserve female title for Duncan Macgregor, Kilsyth, Glasgow and made 3,800gns to WS Bartram, Stowe-by-Chartley, Stafford.

Averages:

Bulls:
124 £3,441.29 (plus £343.39 on 2006) inc

33 senior £2,442.04;
54 intermediate £3,665.28;
37 junior £4,005.61

Females:
2 cows and heifers served and/or suckling £5,512.50;
7 served or maiden heifers £1,905.00

Drafts: Maerdy, 6 head £1,820.00; Stobarts, 4 head £1,023.75

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