HE champion of this year’s show of feeding bulls, store cattle and show potential cattle sold for a Barnard Castle Auction Mart record of £6,600.
The price was paid by judger Nigel Leighton, of Goole, for Bowes farmer Robert Hutchinson’s Limousin heifer “Limited Edition”.
It was one of 18 haltered calves put before Mr Leighton.
The event was sponsored by Brian Robinson Machinery, Simpsons Fuel, Barclays Bank, Hendersons Insurance, George F White, Jardine Motors, Simpsons Family Butchers, Cockfield & Gainford, Roy Ashley (Ford) Motors, Appleby, Linda Scott Associates, Newline ASP, Warrens Group, McGarry & Co, Solicitors, and AWSM Farming Ltd.
The reserve championship also went to a Limousin heifer presented by JW Dent & Sons, Naby View, Lartington, which later sold for £3,000 to Messrs Marsh, Dover.
Results
Haltered
Limousin steer: 1, R Hutchinson & Son, Valley Farm £1500; 2, JW Dent & Sons, Naby View £1400; 3, M Wood, Startforth £1340.
Limousin heifer: 1 & champion R Hutchinson & Son, Valley Farm £6600; 2 & reserve JW Dent & Sons, Naby view £3000; 3, JW Dent & Sons, Naby View £2800.
AOB heifer: 1, D Broadbent, Greenhouse Fm, Midgley £1450; 2, SJ Horsfield, Rough Farm, Hebden Bridge £1550; 3, D Broadbent, Greenhouse Fm, Midgley £1300.
The unhaltered Cattle were judged by David Anderson, Maryport, who awarded the championship to an 11-month-old Limousin steer from JW Dent & Sons, Naby View, Lartington, which was later purchased for £1,380 by R Alder, Ponteland.
The reserve was a Blonde Steer from RW Dalton, West End Farm, Hunderthwaite, which was purchased by the judge for £1,250.
Unhaltered
Limousin steer: 1 & champion, JW Dent & Sons, Naby View £1380; 2, A&J Harrison, High Beck Head £1195; 3, G&EM Nixon, High Broates, Bowes £1105.
British Blue steer: 1, TF&C Robinson & Son, Bog Hall £1085; 2, JW Dent & Sons, Naby View £1175; 3, Dowson & Sartin, Battlehill Farm £975.
Any other breed steer: 1 & reserve, RW Dalton, West End Farm £1250; 2, George Jameson, Riggside £1085; 3, N&P Rutherford, Riggside £1055.
Limousin heifer: 1, JE&E Dobson & Son, White Kirkley £1235; 2, F&MP Allinson, West Briscoe £1065; 3, JE&E Dobson & Son, White Kirkley £1345.
British Blue heifer: 1, JA Butler Ltd, Top’O’ the Hill Fm, Rochdale £1165; 2, SJ Horsfield, Rough Farm, Hebden Bridge £1335; 3, F&MP Allinson, West Briscoe, Baldersdale £1205.
AOB heifer: 1, JW Dent & Sons, Naby View £1480 (Char); 2, Dowson & Sartin, Battlehill Farm £1005 (Char); 3, N&P Rutherford, Riggside £1175 (Blonde).
The Bulls were judged by Keith Metcalfe, Bolam, who gave first prize to a Limousin from T&DI Allen & Son, Chatterley Farm, Wolsingham, which was purchased by L Staley, Marwood for £1,185.
Bulls: 1, T&DI Allen & Son, Chatterley £1185 (Lim); 2, JE&E Dobson & Son, White Kirkley £1185 (Lim); 3, JF&F Hutchinson, Hill House £1145 (Char).
An entry of 31 feeding bulls and 580 store cattle were presented to a packed ringside of purchasers from all parts of the UK, many thanks go to new and regular buyers for their support. This was certainly the busiest day seen for some time and a tremendous atmosphere prevailed throughout the day, resulting in an astounding trade for all classes of cattle, a sale which has not been equalled anywhere in recent weeks.
Credit must be given to the vendors’ for their time, effort and stocksmanship.
Steers averaged £1,078.98 (+£10.31 on 2018). Heifers averaged £1,064.52 (+£9.87 on 2018). Bulls averaged £1,007.14 (-15.86 on 2018) and there were 131 more cattle sold than last year.
