Bidding for Blues
A packed ring side at Friday’s evening show of Belgian Blues was a taster for the huge crowds that gathered for the Saturday morning sale at Chelford. The sale quickly assumed a multi-national dimension, selling cattle to Southern and Northern Ireland, Spain, Italy, Holland, as well as parts of Scotland, England and Wales, proving one of the best the society has seen in recent years.
The day’s top call of 8600gns was paid for the May 2005 born, Arcanna Alfie, a well muscled black and white bull by the renowned AI sire Twyning Ash Troy, out of a homebred cow, Arcanna Vida. One of the first bulls to be offered for sale by Messrs Deverall, he sold to Orkney-based David Eunson.
Herefordshire breeder Nigel Pritchard, a regular consigner to the Chelford sales, acheived 7300gns for Norton Allnight Raver, by the Visconti-sired Almeley Persy and out of Bannister Naive. This bull, also black and white, heads to County Antrim with Andrew Alexander.
Regular customers Ian and Andrew Wilson, Staffordshire, saw the first bull to be sold from their recently established New Close herd, for 6100gns to Messrs Sims, Derbyshire. Born in July 2005, New Close Amos is by the Royal Show winning Three Ways Superstar.
Breed stalwart Ted Haste, Devon, took first place in the intermediate bull class with Black Moor Ally, from a natural calving line and sold for 5600gns to Matt Townsend, Lancashire.
At 5500gns, Messrs Hartley, Lancashire, saw the leading bull from their Pendle herd, the March 2005 born, Archibald, by Blue Stone Union Jack, go home to Malton, North Yorkshire, with Messrs Beal.
Peter Bodily, who has been involved in the breed for many years, saw his bull, Quinbury Adverturer, one of the first bulls to be sold under his own prefix and sired by the Inexes bred Ridge Dean Razz, out of Ridge Dean Tashia, a cow by the great Ridge Dean Mahogany, make 5000gns to The Little Farming Company, Sandringham, Norfolk.
The supreme champion on the day, Springfield Asher, a January 2005 born bull by the noted Dafydd D’Ochain, out of the Inexes sired Springfield Pepsi, was put forward by Alan and Diedre Wilkinson, Lancashire, sold to Messrs Garside, Huddersfield for 4000gns.
Topping trade for females was Andrew and Jonathan Bellas, Cumbria, with their stylish January 2006 born black heifer Croftends Bonnie, again by Dafydd D’Ochain and out of the Phillipper sired Lismannan Sally. She came first in the junior heifer class and sold for 8500gns to Anita Padfield and Paul Barwood, Norfolk, who plan to show her this year.
First in the Intermediate heifer class was Richard Aston’s Astricks Ash, an April 2005 born heifer by Baron Du Bois and out of the Ridge Dean Mahogany sired Vanilla. Displaying tremendous style, she made 5000gns to Messrs Driver & Son, West Yorkshire.
Also heading to Yorkshire, this time with Alan Wheelwright of Cragg Vale, Halifax, was Annanwater Valerie, a December 2003 born heifer by Affute, warranted in-calf to Gitan in September, from David and Kevin Watret of Annan, Dumfries. She made 4800gns.
Having had such an excellent trade with his bulls, Nigel Pritchard was again celebrating when his February 2005 born heifer, Norton Almeley, by Park U Panda and warranted three months in calf to their multi show winning bull, made 3100gns to The Little Farming Company.
The Female Champion, Oxcroft Upsy Daisy from Messrs John and Janet Green from Ellon, Aberdeen, made 2300gns, travelling back to the north of Scotland with Messrs Innes, Aberdeenshire.
Having taken the crossbred championship, Andy Ryder of the Annanwater herd sold his smart nine month old steer to Messrs D and K Watret, Dumfries for £1800.
Taking the reserve crossbred title was a sweet heifer from Paul Dawes’ Dinmore Estate, Herefordshire. She made £1750 selling to Little Farming Company of the Sandringham Estate.
Top call in the commercial rings came from T H Talbot, Stafford, who bought John Cope’s Blue x Bazadaise heifer for £1950.