£880 top for stirk at Christmas show and sale

Buyers from as far afield as Norfolk and Carlisle competed with local buyers to create spirited bidding at Gisburn Auction Marts Christmas show and sale of stirks last week.

David Wilcock, Billinge, Wigan picked up both the champion and reserve out of the173 cattle forward, with a pair of 7 month old Limousin heifers which sold for £880 and £800 to AA & E Critchley & Son, Hutton, Preston and John Mellin, Long Preston, Skipton respectively.

Topping the sale was David Capstick, Swinden Moor, Hellifield, Skipton with an eleven month old Limousin steer, sired by Haltcliffe Dougie, which sold for £1000 to JR & B Webster of Taylors Farm shop, Latham, Ormskirk. Next lot from the same vendor sold at £930 was another Limousin steer by the same sire, this time selling to WMS (Norfolk) Ltd.

Averages Bulls: BB £717; Sim £632; BB £599. Heifers BB £544; Blonde £530; Lim £488.

PHOTO Left to right

The champion stirk which sold for £880, with Martin Wilcock and Geordie Parker, pre-sale show judge.