Blondes sell to 9,000gns at Carlisle

Bidders may have only been prepared to pay for quality at last week’s British Blonde sale at Carlisle, but they certainly dug in to their pockets for the sale leader Hilltop Hector which sold for 9,000gns.

Leading trade was an entry from Andrew Stott, Canonbie which was greatly admired in the lines prior to the sale and was snapped up by well-known breeder James Weightman, County Durham for the Hallfield Herd. Hector is the first bull to be offered for sale sired by Ark Diego, who was purchased as a stock sire for the Hilltop Herd for 8,000gns in 2010 and is also proving an in-demand artificial insemination sire.

Going through the ring at 7,000gns was the day’s overall male and supreme champion, Shanvalley Hustler from the Savage Brothers, Co.Down, Northern Ireland. From one of the most decorated families in the Blonde breed, he and his siblings have shared more than 50 first prize rosettes on the Northern Irish show circuit. Sired by Seaview Barney, from the Landais daughter Applecroft Breeze, Hustler is also a full brother to the 11,000gn Shanvalley Fighter. He now joins the Brisbane Herd of the Brisbane Glen Estate, Ayrshire.

Trade for the small number of females forward topped at 2,400gns for Hilltop Helen, the pre-sale show female champion, again from Mr Stott. Having just witnessed what Ark Diego was capable of as a sire, this very stylish daughter captured the attention of the ringside, eventually being knocked down to W Hall, Stranraer.

From the same stable was Hilltop Henrietta, owned and exhibited by Kelly and Robert Scott. This time a Whitefield Leader daughter, from a Shapfell Bongo dam, she had earlier been selected as the reserve female champion. She sold for 2,150gns to AS and G Donaldson, Northallerton who run the Donaldson herd.

Averages four bulls, £5,775.00; two females , £2, 388.75