Blonde cattle were in strong demand at the early spring show and sale for the Blonde Society on Friday 7th March 2008 at Carlisle.

Trade was good throughout with five bulls reaching over the 4,000gn mark and their overall average showing a slight rise on the year just short of £3,000 a head.

Hillhead Brilliant - 5,300 gns

Topping the sale at 5,300gns was an entry from Northern Ireland breeders Hillhead Blondes with Hillhead Brilliant a July 2006 born son of their successful imported herd sire Palace. Brilliant was not forward for the judging as Hillhead female team member Leanne Workman was acting as official judge. Brilliant a son bred out of Glassdrummond Lucy an Ashtonlodge Aaron sired mother, he sold to border breeders G & A Hamilton of Ramrig Farm, Duns, Berwickshire to join their pedigree herd.

Hallfield Bonzo - 5,000 gns

Society Chairman James Weightman along with his father Peter, of Hallfield Farm, Peterlee, Co.Durham, sold the joint next leading price of 5,000gns. Their senior bull, Hallfield Bonzo an April 2006 sired entry of Easterton Tsar and going back to Ballygowan Noble on his mothers pedigree, caught the eye of WJ Scott, of Low Leam Farm, Hexham.

Blackwater Beachboy - 5,000 gns

Also selling for 5,000gns was Blackwater Beachboy shown by Essex breeder Ian Calderbank of Blackwater Farm, Mundon, Maldon. A September 2006 born son of the imported sire Nielsen and bred out of Blackwater Primrose a Hadley Hank sired daughter, Beachboy went to WH Barker of Lawrence House Farm, Knaresborough.

Rayneside Brett - 4,800gns

The day's Junior Male Champion and Reserve Overall Champion clinched the next price tag of 4,800gns. Local breeders L & PA Haygarth of Kelleth Rigg, Penrith sold the first of two entries consigned. Rayneside Brett a much admired June 2006 born son of Easterton Rowan now joins the Driot Northern Ireland based herd for Richard Mowbray of Co.Tyrone.

The second entry from Messrs Haygarth also reached over the 4,000gn mark. Rayneside Bradboy, another Easterton Rowan son and going back to the noted sired Ashtonlodge Jet on his mothers pedigree, sold for 4,300gns. He travels into Wales for JR & HH Thomas of Montgomery.

Dalton Betty - 2,000gns

In the female section the top price of the day was two heifers selling up to 2,000gns. First came Dalton Betty from John Langhorn of Ulverston, Cumbria. Betty, a senior maiden heifer born January 2006 sired by the Irish bred Cromkill Sandy, she sold to RB Atkinson of Bluehouse Farm, Cleveland.

Also selling for 2,000gns was the Reserve Blonde Babe Champion the youngest entry of the sale Whitefield Candy shown by Aberdeenshire breeder Eric Mutch of Forglen, Banff. Candy an Ivaniskey Vincent bred daughter caught the eye of Northern Ireland breeder Ken Archer of Dungannon, Co.Tyrone.

Following closely at 1,800gns was the Blonde Babe Reserve Champion Penyghent Betty brought forward by Yorkshire breeder John Bradley of Skipton. A daughter of Madden Paternak and going back to the noted Kinaston Henry VIII on herd mothers pedigree, she was also purchased by RB Atkinson of Cleveland.

Averages –
12 senior bulls £2,423.75, 11 junior bulls £3,531.82, 23 bulls overall £2,953.70, 6 senior maiden heifers £1,715.00, 5 junior maiden heifers £1,396.50.