The Border Belgian Blue Club Annual Autumn Show & Sale of Pedigree British Blue Bulls and Females Wednesday 31st October 2007

“SELECTIVE BIDS FOR QUALITY BLUES AT CARLISLE”

The Border British Blue Club staged their Eighteenth Annual Autumn Show & Sale at Carlisle, when auctioneers Harrison & Hetherington offered for sale a good selection of British Blue Cattle.

Numbers entered were good, with members travelling the distance to support this annual event. However, Bluetongue clearly had an effect on the day, and buyers were quality selective. With a lead call of 6,500gns and a further 5 bids of 4,000gns and above, the overall average for bulls was up slightly on the year.

The show and sale was kindly sponsored by BBG (Class Prize Money), British Blue Cattle Society and Border Club (Advertising).

The judge, Andy Ryder, (Annanwater Herd), Newton, Moffat had the difficult task of judging the show. He commented
“There was a good show of cattle, which realised realistic prices on the year”.

The Female & Supreme Championship was awarded to JE Bellas & Son for their outstanding black heifer Croftends Black Beauty ET. This 21 month old heifer, by Dafydd D’Ochain and out of a Philipper bred daughter Lismannan Sally, already has an impeccable show record and remains unbeaten in her class. She was Junior Female and Breed Champion Royal Highland Show; Junior, Female and Reserve Supreme Champion Royal Show; and Junior Champion, Reserve Female Champion and Reserve Junior Interbreed Champion Great Yorkshire Show. Her full sister, Croftends Bonnie sold for 8,500gns at Chelford. Black Beauty ET left the sale ring unsold, as she did not reach her reserve price.

He awarded the Male and Reserve Supreme Championship to Franks Arnie ET, a November 2005 son of Baron du Bois Bauloye IS. He was exhibited by Messrs D Whiteley & J Courts, Pond Farm, Scawton, Thirsk, N Yorkshire. This exceptional blue and white bull was sold to G & JH Tomlinson & Son, Sunnyside Farm, Knitsley, Consett, Co. Durham for 5,500gns. They were also presented with the ‘Wilodge Perpetual Shield’ for the Best Animal Opposite Sex to the Champion.

Top call of the day was 6,500gns for the much sought after 2nd prize winning bull Droit Archie ET, shown by Irish Breeders’ Richard J Mowbray, 34 Droit Road, Newtown Stewart, Co. Tyrone. Archie is a December 2005 son of the noted Hazelwood Freshman. His dam Annanwater Verona is by Visconti and out of Ridge Dean Totty. The successful bid came from J Lewis & Son, Cellar Farm, Aberffraw, Anglesey.

Also hitting the high spots at 6,000gns was the additonal entry from RW & LA Jones. Hazelwood Barnabas, a February 2006 son of Hazelwood Upton and out of a Hazelwood Jake sired cow Hazelwood Paulette. This first prize winning bull & Reserve Male Champion was bred by DM & SM Hazel and joins the pedigree Clarebrand herd of Messrs WC McMiken, Nether Ernambrie Cottage, Castle Douglas.

An AI son of Daffyd D’Ochain was next in the price ratings. Ridge Dean Bronson ET bred by Michele Wilde and exhibited by Mr D Small, C/o Abotts Close Farm, Sutton, Thirsk, N Yorkshire was placed 2nd in his class. This 19 month old is out of a Ridge Dean Jessie daughter, Ridge Dean Ursula. Bronson was successfully purchased by H Ridley, Woodhall, Hesket-new-Market, Wigton for 5,800gns.

Leading the ladies at 3,600gns was the 3rd prize and top price for Mel & Diane Lucas’ Lukeroyal herd, from 154 Sevenmile Straight, Antrim, N Ireland for Lukeroyal Bimbo, a 10 month old daughter of Twyning Ash Vaughan and Lukeroyal Valentine. Valentine is a very stylish, black heifer who sold to A Williams, Nantygeifr, Llandloes.

Next at 3,500gns was the 2nd prize winning and reserve female champion Solway View Alexandra ET, from the additional entry from the Solway View stable for Kevin Watret. This stylish blue and white, 2 year old heifer is by Danseur D’Embise and out of one of Annanwater’s top brood cows Springfield Tinga. Signing the cheque is GW & K Wallbank, Higher Moss House, Keasden, Clapham, Lancaster.

Averages
5 Bulls £3,318.00
4 Served Heifers £2,283.75
9 Maiden Heifers £2,496.66
1 Cow served and/or suckling £2,730.00

Other leading prices: -

Bulls

JP Graham & Son’s “Wreay Amber” 4,500gns to Anderson Smallburn, Smallburn Farms, Mayne Farm, Elgin. 5th in class 2 and winner of the Border British Blue Club Special Trophy for the top price animal owned by a member of the club.

Gill & Rhys Bellas’ “Betws Cole ET” 4,000gns to EA Davies, Pantmaenog, Llangadog, Carmarthenshire. 1st in class 3B

Mel & Diane Lucas’ “Lukeroyal Amos” 3,600gns to JS & HJ Greenbank, The Faulds, Caldbeck, Wigton, Cumbria. 4th in class 2

D Smalls’ “Ridge Dean Boomer ET” 3,600gns to CW Hurton & Sons, Keyholme Farm, Marshchapel, Grimsby, N.Lincs. 5th in class 3A

Females

WT McMiken’s’ “Clarebrand Bertha” 2,800gns, to G Sharplaw Farm, Sharplaw, Hownam, Kelso, Rox and A & GE Redhead, Bowsden Moor Farm, Bowsden, Berwick on Tweed. 5th in class 5

MJ Lucas’ “ Lukeroyal Ulster Bluebell ET” 2,600gns to RA & NJ Wheelwright, Crow Hill Farm, Waterstalls Lane, Cragg Vale, Halifax. 1st in class 6