Belgian Blue buyers rally to 4800gns high point

Wintry conditions at Chelford in Cheshire last week failed to deter Belgian Blue buyers from the breed society’s spring fixture where a bull from the Bellas family’s Croftends herd led the trade at 4800gns.

It was Somerset suckler producer Keith Barrow who dug deepest to make the 4800gns winning bid for Cumbria breeders Andrew and Jonathan Bellas’ bull Croftends Winston.

This black and white son of As de Trefle du Vanova is out of the Irmin-sired Clonberton Petrina.

He has a carcass yield index of +9 and stood first in his class under judge Peter Taylor, the breed society’s treasurer.

Putting one of the breed’s most successful sires onto one of its most well known cows looked a sure-fire bet for Geraint Williams of Anglesey – and it was.

The blue and white Henlli Van Dame is by Philipper de Remichampagne and out of Ovatie van de Wolvendreef.

Van Dame took the championship – a repeat win following his victory here last September when he went home unsold.

This time he also returned to Anglesey but with new owner David Owen at 4400gns.

Bucks breeder Michelle Wilde, last year’s winner of the society’s Premier Breeder award, sold her first prize winner Ridge Dean Wesley – by Brutal de St Fontaine – at 4100gns to Peter Morris, Aylesbury.

Topping the females at 4100gns was the impressive June 2005-bred heifer Lukeroyal Azure from Northern Ireland breeders Mel and Diane Lucas.

This blue and white daughter of Bringlee Talbot heads for Halifax with Alan Wheelwright.

The female championship went to Bringlee Orange, a 1997-bred cow by Bringlee Freeman who realised 3600gns to J and S Mason, Clapham, Lancaster.

Averages: 82 bulls 2295, 34 females £1833 and four cows and calves 2052 (Marshalls).