Even though last Friday’s Limousin bull trade at Carlisle was slow to get going, buyers were still prepared to pay big for some of the noted prefixes.

Topping the day’s trade - which saw 342 bulls entered, but about 75 not forward due to bluetongue movement restrictions – at 30,000gns (186) were the Ridley Bros, with yet another powerful Sympa son forward.

Haltcliffe Banker sold with a host of breeding figures behind him. With one of the top EBVs in the book at +40 and out of Cloughead Rowan, a dam the brothers have had Igenity tested with top marks for carcass, fat, red meat yield and carcass weight, this bull was sure to cause a stir.

Digging deep with the top bid of 30,000gns were Messrs E H Pennie and Sons where he will join their Sarkley herd, Powys.

Sympa sons continued to cause a stir when the intermediate and overall champion from Co Londonderry breeder James McKay stepped in to the ring. Having taken the male champion title at the Royal Ulster show in May this year and the All Ireland male championship, Ampertaine Bravo (89) then went on to take the Carlisle title the night before under judge Andrew Ewing.

Out of Kype Ultra and selling with a more than impressive +43 EBV, he went to a joint buy between Bruce Goldie, Dumfires and Messrs Fisher, Castle Douglas for 24,000gns.

At 19,000gns Keith Redpath secured Hudscales Bigboy (270), the reserve overall champion from A and W Cowx, Wigton, Cumbria. Bought on behalf of Drew Adam, Newhouse, this Gunnerfleet Talker son is out of Hudscales Pansy and sold with an EBV of +39.