CHAROLAIS MEET SOLID TRADE TO 8,500GNS

Charolais bulls met a solid trade throughout at the breed society's official spring show and sale at Carlisle on Saturday May 11 where bidding peaked at 8,500gns and 123 head sold to average £2,830.

Killadeas Ryan

The 8,500gns top call came half way through the day from D Ferguson and Sons, Bewcastle, Carlisle for Corrie Rocket, a 17 month old paraded by Duncan MacGregor, Kilsyth, Glasgow. Rocket who was accompanied by a Beef Value within the breed's top 25 per cent at CH19 was one of the MacGregor's first bulls by their 10,500gns Gretnahouse Noel to come under the hammer sold.

The same breeder also sold to 5,200gns Corrie Ross, this time an 18 month old Moyness Lincoln son and he went to DA Ralston, Torrance, Glasgow.

The event's senior male and supreme champion, Killadeas Ryan CH24 from Stuart and David Bothwell, Ballina Mallard, County Fermanagh commanded the second leading bid of 8,000gns in a two way deal between the breed society's chairman, Peter Donger and his wife, Sheelagh, Foxley, Towcester and Paul Clements, Darshams Farm, Stowmarket. The 21 month old Ryan, who was the sole entry from Northern Ireland, was by Oldstone Egbert and out of a homebred cow bred by Brampton Embark.

The Dongers were again in the money when they went to 7,000gns for Maerdy Special, one of a string of 15 bulls entered by Welsh vet, Esmor Evans Mold. Special was a January 2001 born bull, by the full French Maerdy Grimaldi and out of a Maerdy Gabriel sired home bred cow.

Other leading lots from Maerdy included the intermediate champion, Maerdy Rhodes (November 2000), a Rosanna Magic son, and he went to L Forster and Son, Hexham for 6,200gns. Another Oldstone Egbert son, this time from Peter Vasey, Carlisle was set to make a 450 mile trip after selling for 6,600gns to join Will Palmer's Trenestrall herd based near Truro. The 17 month old Edenhurst Regal had a Beef Value within the breed's top 1% at CH34 and was out of a homebred cow going back to Fleets Vibrant. Edenhurst Randy CH20, a 22 month old Genus Houblon son from the same breeder was knocked down for 5,500gns to Berwickshire producers, WH Sharp and Son, Lauder.

The Barker family, of Royston, made a highly worthwhile 550 mile round trip to Carlisle with a couple of Killadeas Lloyd sons. They collected the reserve junior title with their 15 month old Caylers Supreme who later sold for 6,200gns to the Baron Cross Charolais Stud, Aymestry, Leominster; while Caylers Shamrock CH15 (March 2001) was secured by Dick Clark, Mossermains Farm, Cockermouth for 5,000gns.

Penfold Seashore CH32, another 15 month old this time from Richard Hassell, Lower Brailes, Banbury made 6,000gns to the Stanton Partners, Alnwick. Sired by the noted Seawell Offshore, he was out of a dam going back to Maerdy Impeccable.

A second 6,000gns price tag secured Gower Schwarzenegger for the RSPB for its Loch Gruinart based unit, on the Isle of Islay. This Welsh bred 14 month old was by the Paris Show champion, Major and out of a homebred cow from Richard and Alison Tucker, Gower, Swansea.

A couple more entries made 5,500gns apiece. First to go was Mortimers Robroy CH25, a 20 month old by the 11,500gns Gretnahouse Napolean from Hampshire based Mortimers Farms, Eastleigh. He was purchased by Napolean's breeder, Alasdair Houston, Gretna who is currently restocking.

The event's reserve supreme award went to Derek and Gillian Young's (Wigton) Waverlea Ruler who commanded the final 5,500gns call. This September 2000 born bull was by Kersknowe Lyle and out of a Criffel Vainquer sired homebred cow and he travelled to Devon with Brian Lavis, Okehampton.

Huntershield Rembrandt, a two year old Allanfauld Vagabond son from John Mews, Whitfield, Hexham headed off to the Isle of Man after being knocked down for 5,000gns to WE Parsons, Laxey.

Leading the female trade at 4,000gns on Friday was Fairway Inspiration, a nine year old brood cow sold with her six week old bull calf at foot by Blelack Prince. The pair was one of 25 head from Messrs Curry, Thropton, Morpeth who were reducing their herd, and they sold to AR Lawson and Son, Hallington, Newcastle.

Top lot from Mike and Margaret Atkinson's draft of heifers from their Mowbraypark herd based near Ripon was Mowbraypark Rainbow CH30 at 3,600gns. Sired by their Royal winner, Mowbraypark Napolean, Rainbow went to David and Marjorie Stobart, Brampton who are also reestablishing their pedigree herd post FMD.

Averages: Bulls: 44 senior £2,727.61; 52 intermediate £2,797.65; 27 junior £3,060.56. Females: cows served and/or suckling £1,706.25; six in calf heifers £1,426.25; eight maidens £964.69. Mowbraypark, 13 head £2,402.89; Burradon, 20 head £1,501.50; Keepers, nine head £1,592.78; Bleasdale, six head £1,330.