Druk Blonde brio…

24 July 1998

Druk Blonde brio…

DAVID Knight has brought some good bulls to the Blonde dAquitaine sales at Carlisle over the years – and the trip north to last weeks fixture once again proved a successful one.

Bred on the Druk lines that have provided much of the foundation stock of his Doncombe herd at Chippenham, Wilts, Mr Knight achieved the highest price of 3200gns with Doncombe Nautilus, a son of Druk Leo.

This April 1997-bred bull, which had stood first in his class under Scottish judge T Hope, Strathaven, is bred out of an Abricot dam and was bought by R Gaston, Co Antrim.

Leading west country stockbreeders Bill Quick and Sons from Devon maintain an interest in Blonde dAquitaine cattle and piloted their Connington Indigo son, Loosebeare Norman, to the supreme championship. He made 2000gns to G Hamilton, Grantown-on-Spey.

Scottish buyers dominated the bidding. R Neill and Sons, Coldstream, Berwickshire gave 2300gns for Garngour Nicky from J and &#42 Clarks herd in Lanarkshire and Sharplaw Farms, Kelso paid the same money for Cumbria breeder A J Stotts Hilltop Norman, a son of Totteridge Drummond.

Fresh from a second placing at the Royal Highland Show was J W Frames Gala Mistress from his herd at Biggar, Lanarkshire. This fourth generation home-bred heifer stood female champion and realised 2000gns to M Wilson, Co Antrim.

Averages: 13 bulls £1817; seven cows served and/or suckling £918; four served heifers £1365 and 12 maiden heifers £778. (Harrison and Hetherington)

Supreme champion at the Blonde dAquitaine event was Loosebeare Norman.