17th Annual BORDERWAY BLACK & WHITE SALE
Saturday 29th November 2003

A full house at Borderway Mart, Carlisle witnessed one of the most exciting events in the Holstein calendar and experienced an electric atmosphere throughout the whole duration of this 2003 Black & White Sale.

General Picture of the sale - Claire Jones handling Wiltor Outside Carmeleen

Prices soared to 8,500 gns for a prizewinning daughter of TCET Lyster bred from nine generations of VG and Excellent dams including the famous Clovermist Black Peach.

For the second year in succession the sale topper was bred by the Firm of W.W. Neilson of Overside Holsteins, Lanarkshire and their nine month old heifer now joins the Brynhyfryd herd of Messrs. J.W.C. George and Sons, Pembrokeshire.

This flashy calf had been Champion at the Scottish Calf Show three months ago and won third in the February Calf Class at the All-Britain Calf Show October 2003.

Top Price - L-R Rob George (Purchaser), Hugh Neilson (Consignor), Alan Neilson, David Jones & Edward Brown (Auctioneers), Craig Neilson, Liz Neilson & Micheal George (Purchaser).

Following close behind the sale headliner was the two year old in-calf heifer Mikali Durham Tartina ET. This powerful daughter of Regancrest Elton Durham was sold due in January to Summershade Inquirer and had made the 350 mile trip to Carlisle from Messrs. D.M. & P. Coombes’ herd in Hampshire. Bred from a famous American family her dam is an Excellent daughter of Astre Starbuck and her grand-dam the show winning Alanvale Inspiration Tina EX 95. After her overnight stay in Cumbria she headed back south, this time to Monmouthshire and Messrs. F.A. Williams & Son’s Twilight herd for 8,400 gns.

Third top price of the day was Drointon Jordan Hope, a prizewinning June 2002 heifer bred from four successive generations of Excellent dams belonging to Drointon Holsteins, Staffordshire. Having completed a successful show season, she finished third at the recent All-Britain Calf Show. The buyer at 7,800 gns was Messrs. J. & A.M. Myatt, Rugeley, Staffs for their Whitegrove herd.

At 7,000 gns was the highest priced Comestar Stormatic daughter in the sale from Mark Towers, Ulverston, Cumbria. Born in April 2003, this Aldingham heifer is bred from their noted Clarisa family. This tall heifer descends from four generations of VG and Excellent dams and now joins Smiddiehill Holsteins at Wolverhampton.

2nd Top Price Lot 5 Mikali Durham Tartina L-R Ken Onion, buyer for Mr Fred Williams, & Dave Coombes (consignor).

Two heifers made 6,200 gns apiece. The first being Overside Capri Dellia, again from Messrs. Neilson and a daughter of their prizewinning Overside Fatal Dellia EX 93. In-fact the three heifers consigned from the Overside herd averaged over 6,000 gns each. This particular daughter of Riglio Juror Capri sold with a conditional Genus bull contract and was purchased by Robert, Elaine and Sandra Butterfield for their Ingleview herd at Lancaster. At the same price was Witherslack Igniter Vall, a stylish yearling bred from Gavin Inman’s recent EX second calver, Dalegarth Spirit Vall. She completes five generations of high production VG and Excellent dams. This sought after heifer was one of a number of purchases made by Messrs. B. & L. Whitfield & Son for their Alderbarrow herd in Wem, Shropshire

Also included in a group of six heifers heading to the Brynhyfryd herd was the 5,400 gns Excel Lee Roxy. Consigned by Messrs. Pocock & Seaton from Shropshire this potential tenth generation of VG and Excellent females from the heart of the famous Roxy family had been a first prizewinner at the Shropshire Calf Show together with the Western Club and Nantwich Shows.

Making the long journey to the sale from Northern Ireland was first time consignor Louise Lilburn with her much admired December 2002 heifer Moyrah Stormatic Marny. This big black heifer had been highly successful at the recent All-Britain Calf Show after winning Champion Calf at the N.Ireland Calf Show. Bred from a VG 87 Bellwood dam, she was purchased by Messrs. A Greenhaulgh & C. Swale for Enchanted Holsteins, Preston, Lancs., at 5,200 gns.

Third Top Price Lot 10 Andrew Smith handling Drointon Jordan Hope for Andrew McKellar

Also at 5,200 gns was Denmire Skychief Pamela bred from six generations of females classified in the top two grades and a daughter of the legendary Donnandale Skychief. Her 15,000 kgs Maughlin Storm dam is one of the best cows in Messrs. J.W. & M. Dennison’s, Denmire herd based at Ulverston in Cumbria. The lucky buyers were Messrs. A. Calvert & Sons, Gisburn, Lancs., for their Manor House herd.

Tenth highest price of the day was 4,800 gns achieved by D.W. & C.E. Jones, Monmouthshire for their ten month old Wiltor Outside Carmeleen. A descendant from Gillette Blackstar Christiane VG88 this show heifer was another astute purchase by Messrs. J.W.C. George & Sons for their Brynhyfryd herd.

The final average of just over £3,000.00 was testimony to the calibre of stock on offer and it is further assurance that quality cattle continue to demand a premium in the market place.