Era ends with Darsham dispersal

Awestruck silence greeted one of the most noted Simmental show cows in recent years, Darsham Kit Kat, into the Newark sale ring.

Sired by Sterling Flint, out of Revlex Desire and with five championship titles at royal shows, Kit Kat looked as stylish and powerful as ever as she was led round the ring by stockman Jimmy Macmillan.

As anticipation and bids soared, the hammer fell at 18,000gns – top price on the day – to Strutt & Parker consultant Charles Ireland.

He was bidding on behalf of Mary Clements, whose late husband Albert founded the herd.

“She couldn’t bear to see Kit Kat leave the farm,” said son Paul Clements.

And it was Kit Kat’s daughter, Darsham Real Treasure, who took the second highest price for the Simmentals.

At 13,000gns she joins Herts-based Minsden Pedigree Herds.

Also topping the 10,000gns mark and continuing the Kit Kat family success was her full sister Parasol.

As a first prize heifer at both the Royal Highland and Royal Shows last year, she joins Mark Webster of Whiteacres Barn, Skipton.

Next to cause a stir was Darsham Loleta.

This five-year-old cow with a heifer calf at foot by the Kit Kat-sired Darsham Playboy, sold to Joey Peters of the Southampton-based Treetops herd for 10,000gns.

“She’s the best cow I have ever seen,” said Mr Peters, who brought her to show this year with Glenturk Rolex, the 18,000gns bull he bought at Perth in October.

Topping the served and maiden heifers was Darsham Rebecca, who sold for 7200gns to Charles and Sally Horrell, Peterborough.

Charolais

An April 2000-born daughter of leading Irish sire Doonally New topped this breed at 10,000gns.

Bred in Ireland, this was the second time Mountjoy Rhapsody has commanded a five-figure price, having been bought by the Clements family for 10,000gns after a successful Irish show career.

This time it was Colchester-based vegetable grower John Rix, who claimed a total of 11 lots for his new herd.

They join cows bought from the Clements family last summer.

Second highest was an 8000gns call for the herd’s leading show cow Darsham Sacha. Sold in calf to Cader Regal, Sacha joins the Rushfield herd of James Webb.

(United Auctions with Newark Livestock Market)