May Show and Sale of Charolais Bulls & Females Friday 13th & Saturday 14th May 2005
SALE REPORT

Carlisle Charolais achieve centre breed record average: 99 bulls £3,560

An unprecedented demand for Charolais bulls at the breed society’s official late spring show at the Carlisle centre on Saturday 14 May led bidding to peak to 18,000gns and 99 of the 119 lots forward changed hands to achieve a centre record breed average of £3,560, up £224 on the year.

With buyers at a packed ringside from as far a field as Devon, Orkney and Northern Ireland, there was every indication that operating under the new SFP regime, they had woken up to the real cost benefits of Charolais and its ability to deliver that unbeatable weight for age. “Trade was the best ever for Charolais bulls in Carlisle,” commented Harrison and Hetherington’s David Dickinson. “The day’s spirited bidding was underpinned by commercial men seeking bulls with a combination of figures and quality – length, clean bellies and shape. In fact demand outstripped supply and several would be buyers left empty handed.”

Deerfin Upstart

Stealing the limelight at 18,000gns was the day’s senior champion, Deerfin Upstart, a 19 month old from Sean McGovern, of Clogher, County Tyrone who despite being a familiar face at Perth was making only his second trip to the centre in as many years. Sired by Indurain and out of a Doonally New sired dam, Upstart was much admired for his Beef Value being in the breed’s top 1% at CH43, accompanied by an exceptional muscle score of 2.1, and he also demonstrated power, easy fleshing stretch and good bone. Bred in County Antrim by Eamon McGarry, he was one of twin bulls secured last July and since he has achieved major success on the show circuit having collected a fistful of tickets and rounding off the season with the reserve overall champion at both the National Charolais Show at Fintona and at the World Ploughing Match, Lamavady. Upstart returned over the water with breed newcomer, Mervyn McElroy who is establishing a herd at Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.

The day was rounded off for the McGoverns when Sean’s nine year old daughter, Eimear offered Tullylagan Unicorn a Hammond bred September 2003 bull for 4,000gns to David Arrel, Bellaghy, County Derry.

Solwayfirth Union

Securing the day’s second leading bid at 11,000gns was the reserve senior champion, Solwayfirth Union, the first calf to be sold at auction by Iain and Dot Goldie since they restocked their Cummertrees, near Annan based farm and adopted the new prefix. The couple were also enjoying their best ever trade. Union who had been sifted out for his shape, was by the 7,800gns Maerdy Restful and out of a Maerdy Impeccable sired Moyness bred dam, one of 12 cows carefully selected to establish the new herd. Union went to join the Campbell family’s Thrunton herd, at Whittingham, near Alnwick.

Next to go at 10,000gns was Balthayock Ulex, another entry within the breed’s top 1% at CH37 this time from Major David Walter, Perth to Jim Goldie, Mouswald, Dumfries. Ulex was a 17 month old Dingle Hofmeister son and out of a homebred dam by Bowerhouses Topper. Contributing towards the investment was Jim Goldie’s 5,000gns sale of Goldies Untouchable CH24 to AH Fisher, Portpatrick, Stranraer. Untouchable was backed by powerful bloodlines – he was full brother to the 34,000gns Perth champion, Goldies Uppermost and he goes back to two of the breed’s top two cows, Blelack Lucy and Picton Umbel.

Balthayock Ulex

Seconds earlier, Duncan MacGregor, Kilsyth, Glasgow sold for 8,500gns his second prize class winner, Corrie Ursus CH27, a 17 month old by the 13,000gns Gretnahouse Noel and out of an Allanfauld Flintlock sired cow. Ursus was knocked down to James Herdman, Edlingham Newtown, Alnwick. Later in the day, his stable mate, Corrie Viera CH20, a 15 month old Allanfauld Vagabond son made 5,500gns to WJ Irving, Dalbeattie.

Heading up the entry of Welsh bred bulls at 8,000gns was the 14 month old youngster, Trefaldwyn Valiant CH20 who the previous day had secured the junior male and overall supreme championships. A Moyness Maharajah son and out of a Maerdy Grimaldi sired cow, Valiant was offered by Arwel Owen, Foel, Welshpool and secured by Aberdeenshire breeder, W Whyte, New Aberlour, Fraserburgh.

Yorkshire based breeders, Mike and Margaret Atkinson, of Kirkby Malzeard, Ripon were once again among the top lots selling their Mowbraypark Ufo CH37 for 7,600gns to Glenpark Farms, Balerno, Midlothian. This second prize class winner was bred by homebred stock and both sire and dam lines went back to Killadeas Jack.

Corrie Ursus

Another Yorkshire man in the money was David Fattorini, of Tockwith, York selling his first prize winner, Fairway Vandieman CH33 for 7,000gns to fellow breeder, Sandy Innes, Auldern, Nairn. This 15 month old’s sire was bred from Paris Show winning lines and out of a homebred cow by Gower Javelin. Sandy Innes virtually recouped his investment when he sold Moyness Volcane CH33 to C Bell, Portadown, County Armagh, for one of the day’s four 6,000gns bids.

Two lots shared a 6,200gns price tag. First to go was Ugie Vince CH24, a 16 month old Maerdy Oxytone son from the British Charolais Cattle Society’s vice chairman, Jimmy Wilson, Mintlaw, Peterhead to A and T Wilson, Whauphill, Newtown Stewart. Minutes later, the same vendor offered another January 2004 born Oxytone son, this time Ugie Vandal CH22 to R Leiper, Ponteland, Newcastle for 6,000gns.

The second 6,200gns bid was made in a three way bid between the breed society’s chairman, Murray Lyle, Mid Cambushinnie, Dunblane, Neil Caul and Friar Thomson, Balnuith, Dundee, for Balmyle Victor CH36, a January 2004 born Maerdy Othello son within the Charolais’ top 1% both on Beef Value and muscle depth and offered by Bill Bruce, Meigle, Perthshire.

The intermediate championship was awarded to Caylers Uranium CH31 from the Nuthampstead, Royston based Barker family. A 17 month old by Doonally New and out of a homebred dam going back to Killadeas Lloyd, he sold to T Douglas, Hawick for the day’s first 6,000gns call.

The final 6,000gns was made for another Doonally New son, this time Hendy Viagra CH34 (February 2004) from Powys breeder, JAW Rees, Llangurig, Llanidloes to D and J Thomson, Aberfeldy, Perthshire.

Making a worthwhile 600 mile round trip from Capel Iwan, Newcastle Emlyn was Kevin Thomas whose Moelfre Victory CH40 made 5,800gns to Messrs Jones and Son, Llandrindod Wells. Victory was a 14 month old by Major and out of a Brampton Chopper sired dam.

Richard and Alison Tucker of Gower, near Swansea made a similar lengthy journey with their Gower Voice CH27 who came from homebred and was knocked down sold for 5,700gns to Howard and Edward Morgan, Pencelli, Brecon.

Local breeder, Peter Vasey, of Wetheral, Carlisle offered his second class prize winner, Edenhurst Viceroy CH34 at 5,600gns to D Ferguson and Sons, Bewcastle, Carlisle. Viceroy was a 15 month old Dingle Hofmeister son and out of an Oldstone Egbert sired cow.

Forking out 5,000gns for Harold Forster and Sons (Bardon Mill, Hexham) 18 month old Doonally New son, Piatroon Uno CH33 was A and J McIlwrick, New Luce, Newtown Stewart, while the same 5,000gns price tag went to the reserve intermediate champion, Wigginton Uplander CH27, a December 2003 born Maerdy Sundance son from ME and M Askin, Wiggington, York. The buyers were JH Strawhorn and Son, Lockerbie.

The sale’s buoyant trade continued throughout the day and spilled in to the female section where both cows and heifers were in hot demand. Two lots were bid to 2,000gns each. First to go was Bishopton Theodora, a March 2002 born heifer bred by Fiona Hopper and offered by Cumbria breeders, JS and CS Wrigley, St Bees to Messrs Nisbet, Jedburgh. Theodora was sold in calf to Newhouse Talent and accompanied by her eight month old twin bull calves by Maerdy Naser. The second 2,000gns call came from Tom and Rodney Owen, Bold, Widnes for the female champion, Corrie Ultima CH32, a maiden heifer by Gretnahouse Noel from Duncan MacGregor.

Averages:
Bulls: 36 senior £3,565; 31 intermediate £3,330; 32 junior £3776.
Females: 10 cows and heifers served and or suckling £1,932; 5 served heifers £1,020; 6 maidens £1,016.
Burradon draft: 8 head £1,458.

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