Hindquarters earn bull top ticket in Cumbria
Hindquarters earn bull top ticket in Cumbria
By Jeremy Hunt
A BULL with probably the biggest hindquarter ever seen on a Limousin in the Carlisle ring and sired by a new import found in a field in France, sailed through to take the championship and make 14,000gns at the breed societys main spring sale.
Bailea Olympian looked a safe bet for the top ticket from the moment he entered the ring with outstanding conformation combining a great top with tremendous fleshing. For a bull with so much width behind he moved freely and with style as ringsiders watching the show classes predicted a big-money bull in the making.
His victory brought yet more accolades to shrewd mid-Wales breeder Brian Jones. "I spotted his sire in a field in France. He was only a year old but he had fantastic shape and I was determined not to leave France without him," said Mr Jones.
He was referring to Marron who he reckons is one of the most exciting breeding prospects to have been imported in recent years. Hes now being used widely in Mr Jones herd at Sennybridge.
The Bailea herds success has been built on Greensons Gigolo. Olympian is out of a Gigolo daughter – there are around 100 in the herd – and includes a line to the great 1980s sire Talent.
The champion heads for Stirlingshire to take up duties in the Ronick herd of David Dick. Bailea bulls also sold to 5400gns and 5100gns.
Northern Ireland judge Alistair Graham, who undertook a six-hour judging marathon, found his junior champion in a powerful youngster from the Ryedale herd of North Yorks breeders Peter and Anne Lang.
The couple have been leading lights in promoting BLUP recording and their latest victor, Ryedale Paragon, currently stands second on performance in the breeds list of most promising young bulls. He is by Ronick Iceman and has a huge Beef Value of 37. Buyers at 13,500gns were north Scotland breeders Gordon and Douglas Cruickshank and Michael Massie.
Top-priced son
Buyers were choosy but the 159 bulls sold averaged £2912 – up £266 on the year. And once again Broadmeadows Cannon breeding had a major influence on many of the best bulls.
His top priced son was Millstone Panache from John Oakes herd at Stoke-on-Trent. He is out of an Igolo dam that weighed 700kg at 22-months. Buyers were L Forster & Son, Hexham.
Cumbria breeders Matt and Craig Ridley enjoyed a handsome pay-off from their 1997 investment of 15,000gns in Greenwell Major when a string of his sons figured prominently throughout the show classes. Haltcliffe Ottowa, the reserve supreme and senior champion, made 6400gns to A Thomas, Knighton, Powys. Another by Major reached 5800gns to S E Jones and Daughters, Dyfed.
The August 1998-bred French import Ocean, from Ed Griffiths and Cos Mynach herd in south Wales, went to Messrs Mulgrew at Barrow-in-Furness at 6200gns.
Goldies Outlaw, a Cannon son out of an Epatant dam from Jim Goldie, stays in Cumbria with J Knight, Seascale at 5400gns.
The Goldies herd dominated the female trade with three daughters of Lascard. The in-calf heifer Goldies Ovine took the female title and topped the section at 4000gns (buyer was G Wilson on behalf of a client) followed by herd-mates at 3400gns, 3250gns and 2500gns.
Averages: 58 senior bulls £2828; 58 intermediate bulls £2834 and 43 junior bulls £3132; 26 served heifers £2184; 13 cows £1216 and 22 un-served heifers £1109. (Harrison and Hetherington) *
Well spotted… Brian Jones keen eye presented Carlisle buyers with Bailea Olympian, a son of his imported French sire, Marron.