Charolais spring sale sees 13,000gns high

Charolais bulls met a solid demand at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, peaking at 13,000gns on the weekend.

The sale leader was the 18-month-old Dingle Hofmeister son Goldies Iceman TI +62 SRI +57. Exhibited by Hamish Goldie, Ruthwell, Dumfries-shire, and out of a homebred dam going back to Goldies Uppermost, he was purchased by W and J Causey, Cookstown, Co Tyrone.

The Next top price of 11,000gns was paid for the reserve junior male champion Balmyle Jasper TI +64 SRI +64 from WP Bruce, Meigle, Perthshire. This 15-month-old Gwenog Banjo son was jointly purchased by Messrs Brown, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire and A MacGregor Allanfauld, Kilsyth, Glasgow.

The intermediate male champion Ratoary Icebreaker ET TI +49 SRI +48 was the first of two lots to sell for 10,000gns. The 19 month old Oldstone Egbert son was purchased by Gilbert Crawford, Maghera, Co Derry from exhibitor Sean McGovern, Clogher, Co Tyrone.

AG Houston, Gretna Green, Dumfries-shire was the other exhibitor to receive 10,000gns for his 17 month old reserve intermediate champion Gretnahouse Ivory TI +56 SRI +53. This Wesley Equinox son was purchased by Graeme Leggat, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenhire, and was the first of six bulls to sell for Mr Houston to average £6,650.

Sean McGovern also sold the reserve supreme champion Ratoary Irishman ET TI +53 SRI +48 for 9,500gns. This 20 month old had previously gained accolades in the show ring including RUAS reserve junior champion and Bank of Ireland Interbreed Bull Derby Champion. Irishman who is sired by the 13,000gns Conval Frank was purchased by SI and LJ Evans, Swansea, West Glamorgan.

JW Millar, Port of Menteith, Stirlingshire, sold their class winner Lochend Jura TI +40 SRI +34 for 8,000gns. The 15 month old who was previously crowned junior male champion at the Stars of the Future show is sired by the Royal Show male champion Gretnahouse Archangel and was purchased by A and J McIlwrick, Newton Stewart, Dumfries and Galloway.

The supreme champion a 23 month old Marwood Flyer son, Marwood Intrepid TI +43 SRI +39 who is out of a homebred dam going back to Coolnaslee Advocate, was bought by WA Stephenson Bishop Auckland, County Durham for 7,800gns from exhibitors RA and J Blyth, Hartlepool, Cleveland.

Females

Charolais females met with a ready trade with the sale leader and female champion secured for 8,200gns by Boden and Davies Ltd, Stockport, Cheshire. Alsnow Isla TI +41 SRI +44, a two year old in calf heifer sired by Goldies Eddy and out of a homebred dam going back to Burradon Talisman was purchased from exhibitor Alan R Lawson, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear.

Hamish Goldie, Ruthwell, Dumfries-shire sold five heifers to a top price of 5,200gns for Goldies Interflora TI +39 SRI +40 who was purchased by GJ & CD Smith, Liskeard, Cornwall, then MR McCornick, Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire paid 3,500gns for Goldies Itsybitsy TI +41 SRI +43. Both were 22 month old and sired by the 12,000gns Blelack Edition.

Averages: 73 bulls £5085, eight heifers £4620

(Harrison and Hetherington).