Limousins and Texels top Carlisle Christmas show

Harrison & Hetherington Limited held their annual Christmas Primestock show and sale of cattle and sheep on Monday 1 December at Borderway Mart, Carlisle.

The pre sale judging was kindly carried out by Mr Gavin Little, The Butcher of Penrith who awarded Supreme Champion to a black Limousin cross bullock from Messrs Harryman of Keskadale, Keswick which later sold at 300p, weighing 653kgs £1,959.00 and was purchased by the judge Mr Gavin Little.

The Reserve Champion was awarded to another Limousin cross this time from Mr Len Skelton of Low House Farm which sold at 270p, weighing 675kgs £1,822.50 and was purchased by Mr Jim Mullholland, The Butcher, Great Orton.

Mr Len Skelton, Low House Farm sold a Blonde heifer for 205p, also bought by Mr Jim Mullholland.  Messrs Graham of Miller Hill batch of heifers topped at 198.5p purchased by Mr Geoff Riley.  Messrs Dodd of West View sold a Limousin cross bullock for 193.5p bought by Black Brow Abattoir.  Mr Grainger of Kilnclose Farm sold a Bazadaise heifer for 193p and purchased by Mr Mike Atkinson.

An outstanding show of bulls were forward with the whole sale averaging 161p.  Topping this section at 204p was a British Blue cross bull from Messrs Hunter of Upper Brydekirk and  bought by Mr Mike Atkinson. 

Mr Brian Hall of Ainstable Hall sold 16 outstanding Limousin cross and British Blue cross bulls to average 176.6p and topped at 193.5p for a Limousin cross knocked down to Mr Mike Atkinson.  Messrs Nixon & Sons Ltd of Stotsfold Farm sold a run of bulls which sold to a top of 188.5p to Messrs Story. 

The Christmas show and sale of cast cows and OTM cattle comprised some excellent pure bred animals.  Judge Gavin Little awarded 1^st prize to an excellent Limousin cow from Messrs Cowx of Hudscales which topped the scales at 797kgs realising 128.5p £1,024 to Mr CM Kirkpatrick.  The top price of the day was 133.5p £1,035 for the 2^nd prize winner a British Blue cow consigned by Mrs M Batey of Flimby.

Prime Lambs

3598 prime sheep were forward, and along with the weekly sale of prime sheep, the Annual Christmas show and sale was held. Trade was buoyant for all classes of lambs with Texel and Suffolks being easily £12 to £16 over there weight and Mules regularly £10 over.  An overall average of 130.38p was achieved.

The Christmas show was ably judged by Mr Jim Mullholland of Great Orton who had an outstanding 39 pens forward for show.  The Championship ticket was presented to a tremendous pens of undressed Texel lambs consigned by Messrs T Bell & Son of Mosshill Farm, Hallbankgate. 

These lambs eventually going on to make the top price per head at £140 and were purchased by the judge Mr Mullholland. Mr Bell’s Champion lambs also sold for the top price per kilo at 290.20p.

The reserve champion lambs went to a smart pen of dressed Beltex lambs shown by Mr Tom and James Whiteford of Tercrosset Farm which later sold for £92 a piece and were also purchased by the judge.