Newark Limousins enjoy 100% clearance and 6500gns top

A tremendous trade resulting in a 100% clearance of stock forward and a 6500gns top price at Newark last Saturday should leave Limousin breeders happy.

Auctioneer Paul Gentry of Newark Livestock Market said, with tongue firmly in cheek, that the trade was hard to beat and that breeders may want to reconsider their pilgramages north in search of sales in future.

Leading the sale was Scarliffe Cracker from Ian Wildgoose, Chesterfield, Derbyshire. He is by French sire Objat and out Scarcliffe Victoria, a Jockey daughter and was bought by Messrs Bamforth and Sons. Halifax.

Next best at 6000gns was Coachhouse Caspar from Messrs Heald, Retford, Nottinghamshire. This one is by homebred sire Coachhouse Virgil and out of Coachhouse Victoria, a Haltcliffe Picasso daughter. February 2007-born Caspar was snapped up by Andrew and Tom Arnett, West Leake, Loughborough.

At 5000gns was the day’s overall champion from the pre-sale show, Coachhouse Constable. He is by Haltcliffe Picasso and out of Normande Maggie. Taking this one home was Tony Randall for his Melbourne herd.

And the Heald’s completed a memorable day with their final bull from their string of three taking the next best call of 4700gns. This one was Coachhouse Busby, a December 2006-born Sympa son out of another Picasso daughter. He sold to Edward Hull, Southminster, Essex.

Then, at 4500gns was the best from Limousin Society president Roger Hazard when he sold Mereside Dallas, a January 2008-born sone of Vagabond and out of imported French cow Unique. The youngest bull in the yard, Dallas sold to Richard Ellis, Cubbington, Warwickshire.

Best call among the females was also a 4500gns sale when Nigel Matthews, Ludlow, sold seven year old Jencralodge Topaz. Bred by Malcolm Smith, this one is by Gaulois out of Jencra Hope and sold with a Tunnelby Scallywag bull calf at foot and six months in calf again to Haltcliffe Ben to Meadowell Farm, Bakewell.

At the same money Peter and Ian Pilcher sold January 2004-born Cockleshell Vicky to Judith Fountaine, Bucks. By Jockey and out of Cockleshell Madonna, this one sold with a Winnington Trumps bull calf at foot and in calf again.

And a third 4500gns sale came when Stephen Timms sold Roseycombe Betty. By Lasso and out of Jockey daughter Roseycombe Tamarin, she sold to John Carroll, Somerset.

Following that at 3800gns was the best from Millington Grange Estate, Yorkshire, Towthorpe Ulara. A December 2003-born daughter of Rio, she is out of Lara and sold to Frank Page, Northants.

Adding additional interest to the sale was an embryo from 2007 Royal Show interbreed winner Newstart Upsydaisy. Offered with a choice of sire  – Haltcliffe Vermount of Waindale UFO – the bidding was strong and the hammer eventually fell at 1000gns with D Wright, Ashbourne, the lucky purchaser.

Averages; Bulls £4600, cows and calves £2988.70, served heifers £2482.60, maiden heifers £1909.88 (Newark Livestock Market).