November 2009 Archives

PRICES of 25,000gns and 17,000gns led a tremendous sale trade of maiden and yearling heifers from the noted Sarkley Limousin Herd of Glyn Pennie and his sons - Chris and Nigel - Montgomery, Powys at Borderway Mart, Carlisle last Saturday.

Leading the sale at 25,000gns was the February 2008 born Sarkley Dalola. This heifer is by the 37,000gns sire Fieldson Alfy and is out of Sarkley Ola, the Royal Welsh Show Champion in 2000. Sarkley Ola is the granddam of Sarkley Bellola which sold for 24,000gns to the Wilodge herd and subsequently bred the 30,000gns Wilodge Dallaglio sold at Carlisle in October this year.

Sarkley Dalola was knocked down to a new Limousin buyer Malcolm Reid, Kelso, Roxburghshire who bought the day's top two prices. Mr Reid, who will base a new Limousin pedigree herd around his purchases, runs the Kelso flock of around 150 pedigree Texel ewes.

His second purchase, at 17,000gns, was Sarkley Damarianne, a 15-month-old heifer. Got by AI, she is a daughter of Salomon and is out of the Ronick Gains-sired Sarkley Marianne.

In addition to the top two lots, a further eight animals made 4,000gns or more. The 25,000gns paid is the top price in 2009 for a Limousin female to date.

At 8,000gns was the Rocky-sired Sarkley Dominica. Born in June 2008, Sarkley Dominica is out of the Uplands Batman-sired Sarkley Oneycomb. Purchaser for his Garyvaughan pedigree herd of 85 breeding females was C.V. Lewis and Sons, Welshpool, Powys.

Later in the day, Mr Lewis also purchased the Rocky-sired Sarkley Daroux, April 2008-born, for 3,500gns.

The Rodgers Family, Dromara, Co Down, purchased Sarkley Divine for 7,000gns. This June 2008-born heifer was another by Salomon and is out of the Haltcliffe Egidius-sired Sarkley Vine.

The first lot in the ring, Sarkley Carola, sold for 6,000gns to pedigree breeders Messrs Bowe, Wigton, Cumbria, for their Wiggonby pedigree herd. This November 2007-born heifer is by Ronick Hawk.

Sarkley Davorella, an April 2008-born heifer made 5,500gns selling to an undisclosed buyer. This animal is by the Balnacraig Supreme son Homebyres Visitor and is out of Sarkley Vorella.

At 5,000gns was Sarkley Didi, an April 2008-born calf is by the 24,000gns Glenrock Ventura. This heifer also went to an undisclosed buyer.

Realising 4,500gns was Sarkley Dream going to Mr and Mrs D Hill, Appleby, Cumbria. Dream is an April 2008-born heifer by the Cloughhead Jurassic son Saunders Stallone.

Averages: 47 maiden and yearling heifers, £3,429.26.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.

It was double celebrations for Ann Laird of West Linton, Peebleshire, as she brought out the AgriScot 'super cow' supreme champion on the same day as celebrating her 23^rd birthday. The winner, Barr Ranger Lottie, is owned jointly by Ann and her grandfather, Colin, who recently bought the fifth calver at the Barr herd dispersal sale for 7,000gns.

She already has a string of show successes to her name including All-Britain titles and is the beginnings of a new venture for the Lairds who hope to flush her. She's giving 37 litres and her lifetime yield stands at around 45,000 litres.

In other breeds the Holstein champion was proven show winner Saxelby Goldwyn Rose from R. and E. Butterfield of Bentham, Lancaster.

The Red and White cow title winner was Cheviotview Beckham Kitty Red exhibited by Brieryside and Sandyford Farms of Prestwick, Ayrshire.

In the Jersey section the winner was S. and S. Murray Farms with Whiteoakes Julian Flower.

The first championship of the day has been decided here at AgriScot with the'super heifer champion' title going to Drointon Jordan Brenda.

The heifer is jointly owned by Quim Serrabbasa from Spain, Erica Rijnetddweft from Holland and Harrison and Hetherington auctioneer Glyn Lucas who was on the halter. Brenda is by Roylane Jordan and out of the All Britain nominated cow - Drointon Leduc Brenda. She was bought by the partnership for 4,000gns at the Black and White sale at Carlisle in 2007 and is housed and looked after by her breeder - Andrew Mackellar of Drointon Holsteins.

Being shown for the first time she is giving 45kg. Her owners plan to flush her and hope to sell a first choice heifer off her at an Italian sale next September.

A 16-month-old Aberdeen-Angus heifer was sold privately for £15,000 just minutes before winning the yearling heifer championship at the Black Beauty Bonanza show of Aberdeen-Angus yearlings and calves at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie, on Saturday.

The heifer, exhibited by Forfar butcher, Tom Rennie, Mosston Muir, Guthrie, Forfar, was bought jointly by John Elliot, Roxburgh Mains, Kelso, and Jim Logan, Pirntaton, Galashiels, and will be used in their embryo programmes to establish a new breeding line in both herds. The price is believed to be the highest paid for an Aberdeen-Angus yearling heifer this year.

"I didn't want to sell but you can't turn down an offer like that," said Mr Rennie.

The show attracted a record entry of 120 head from 29 herds and drew warm praise from the judge, Doug Robertson, owner of the famous Coldstream herd in Alberta, Canada, who said the top cattle could compete with the best Aberdeen-Angus anywhere in the world.

Mr Rennie's heifer, Mosston Muir Eline H205, is a daughter of Rawburn Transformer and is in the top 1 per cent of the breed for both Terminal Index (35) and Self Replacing Index (52).

"Rarely do you see a heifer with such power and performance remaining as feminine and correct at this heifer," said Mr Robertson.

The heifer has been a consistent winner in the showring this year - standing reserve to her championship-winning dam, Mosston Muir Elsie D082, at several shows - and helping the Mosston Muir herd win the Aberdeen-Angus show herd of the ear trophy for 2009.

Joint buyer, John Elliot, Jun, said the heifer was the "complete package" combining looks and structural correctness with some of the most proven genetics in the world."

"We hope she will become the foundation female for a new line in both herds," he added.

Both the yearling bull classes were led by entries from the Blelack herd of N.F. Massie and Sons, Dinnet, Aboyne, with the championship going to the 19-month-old Blelack Lord Hildalgo H972, a powerful son from the first crop by Netherallan Peter Pershore E052. This is the second year running that the Blelack herd was won the yearling bull championship.

The long sea journey from the Shetland Isles proved worthwhile for new breeder, Jamie Leslie, Scholland, Virkie, Shetland, who won the heifer calf championship with the nine-month-old ET calf, Scholland Diana J406, by the Hoff Limited Edition SC594 son, Rawburn Echester D297, and out of Skaill Diana E355. Mr Leslie also won the award for the best small herd.

Enjoying a highly successful day were Hamish and Margaret Sclater whose Deveron herd at Denhead Farm, Dunlugas, Turriff, picked up three firsts, three seconds, two thirds, two fourths, two fifths and a sixth before lifting the championship in the 60-strong bull calf section.

Their winner was the April-born Deveron Jackson Eric J283, by Blackhaugh Easy Papa G733, a sire recently sold to the Blackthorn herd in Cheshire.

For the third year running, Mr and Mrs Sclater also won the trophy for the best pair of calves. Reserve was Mrs McCombie's son, Charles, of Auchincrieve, Rothiemay.

No fewer than 30 youngsters took part in the junior showmanship competition on Friday evening with the leading awards going to Hayley Massie (13 years and under), Gary Morrison (14 - 16 years) and Claire Johnstone (17 - 24 years).

THE first animals went through the ring at Welshpool's new market last week at the Charolais society's show and sale and the all-breeds record for the old mart was smashed three times with a top 8,300gns call and £3,349.50 average for 50 bulls traded.

  "Charolais has put an immediate stamp on this new state of the art, out of town mart by commanding the best ever trade for the breed in Wales and demonstrating this will be a major centre for future fixtures," said the society's David Benson.

Sale leader at 8,300gns was the 17-month-old Pedr Dougal which earlier in the day had been awarded the supreme championship for Peter Howells, Llanwenog, Llanybyther, who was continuing to keep the silverware in the family; his father, John had secured the Welshpool Charolais title on two previous occasions.

Sired by the 16,000gns Blelack Tycoon, which has so far produced a string of 12 sons to average 8,000gns, Dougal was out of a home-bred dam from the Howell's 50 cow herd. He went to join Wyn Ashton's 200 cow suckler herd at Cefn Coch, Welshpool.

Next at 7,500gns was Dorcas Danzig, an 18-month-old first prize winner from George and Claire Morris. A Blelack Topgun son, he was out of a Maerdy Ozone sired dam from their 260-cow pedigree herd at Easington, Aylesbury. Danzig was knocked down to D.T. Richards, Llangynwyd, Maesteg.

Father and son team, Bob and Rhion Roberts, Abergele, sold their best at 5,800gns to R.J. Roberts, Llanegryn, Tywyn. The 18-month-old Brynffanigl Duke was by the 17,000gns Alsnow Almighty and out of a home-bred dam by Doonally New. The same breeders offered another Almighty son, the April 2008-born Brynfannigl Duranduran at 3,600gns to G.C. Morgan, Mochdre, Newtown.

At 5,400gns was an entry from David and Louise Barker, Nuthampstead, Royston, selling to R.E. Griffiths, Criccieth. This was Caylers Defender, an 18-month-old by Maerdy Uniroyal and out of a home-bred cow by Killadeas Lloyd. Their second entry, Caylers Dollar stood first in his class and sold for 5,200gns to S.D. Powell, Llanyre, Llandrindod Wells. A Doonally New son he was out of a home-bred cow by Killadeas Prunty.

A bid of 5,000gns secured the 20-month-old Midas Dandy for D.A. Jones, Llanidloes. Bred and exhibited by Roger Coppinger and his son, Drew, Edstaton, Wem, Dandy was by the 2006 Royal Welsh junior male champion, Gower Armarni. Midas Drew, an April 2008 born entry by Burradon Talisman, from the Coppingers made 4,000gns to H.P. Thomas, Sennybridge, Brecon.

The female trade was led at 2,700gns by Ribbledon Taboo, a seven-year-old by Ribbledon Porterhouse from M.L. Impey and M. Davis, Ludlow. She was sold with her five-month-old bull calf, Congress Enrico by Balthayock Champion to the Sellick family, Williton, Taunton.

Averages: 50 bulls, £3,349.50; 1 cow and calf, £2,835.00; 6 heifers. £1,960.

Auctioneers: Welshpool Livestock Sales.

ORGANISERS of next week's English Winter Fair have invested £40,000 to provide cattle exhibitors with improved cattle stalls ahead of the weekend event on November 21-22.

The 100 stalls, manufactured by Cheadle-based livestock equipment specialist AIE, arrived at the English Winter Fair site this week on two articulated lorry loads just in time for showground staff to begin the week-long set-up.

Entries are up at this year's event so the extra stalling will definately be needed says show secretary Kate Tomlinson.

"We've around 50 extra cattle this year and have seen higher entries across all cattle and sheep sections for both live competitions and in the carcass section," says Mrs Tomlinson.

While entries for livestock classes have now closed allowing show catalogues to be printed, producers and growers are being encouraged to consider entering produce classes for cereals, fodder and potatoes, and products competitions for pies, pastries, sausage, bacon and gammon made with British Meat.

Entries for produce classes close early on the event's opening day of Saturday 21 November and products classes early on Sunday 22 November.

CENTRE records for Salers were smashed when the top priced bull sold for 8,000gns at the Salers Cattle Society show and sale held at Castle Douglas auction mart and sponsored by Farmers Guardian.

Leading the trade was Cleuchhead Xerox, a 19-month-old bull from Rob and Keith Livesey, Lilliesleaf, Melrose, and selling to pedigree breeders - Graham and Colin McClymont, Cuil, Newton Stewart.

This April 2008-born bull is by the French-bred sired, Valentin, which has bred many good females for the Livevsey's 80-cow pedigree herd. Xerox, which took the junior championship title, is out of a Campsmount Nairn sired dam - Cleuchhead Hope 4.

Another 19-month-old from the same herd, Cleuchhead Xpert, took the reserve junior title and realised 7,200gns.

Xpert, also by Valentin, is out of Cleuchhead Mhairi, which the Livesey's said was one of the best cows in their herd. The hammer fell to A. Jones, Talsarnau, Gwynedd.

The male championship title went to Seamore Dandare, a 21-month-old from James and Sophie Manners, Denholm, Hawick, which sold for 5,800gns. Dandare is by Ultra and out of Vagabonde, which was imported from France four years ago. The Manners have a herd of 45 pedigree Salers and sold the bull to their neighbours G.W. and M. Richardson and Son, Denholm.

At 5,000gns was the overall show champion, Rigel Alicia, from Messrs Pye, Yarm, Yorkshire. This 20-month-old heifer sold to the show judge - Patrick Boyd for his 20-strong pedigree herd at Drumaglea, Isle of Tiree. Mr Boyd praised the maiden heifer for her 'great topline, width and clean brisket'.

Alicia, sired by Sagitaire, is no stranger to show ring success having taken the junior female and reserve female titles at this year's Royal show and junior female champion at the Royal Welsh.

A 17-month-old maiden heifer, Cuil Becky, from Graham and Colin McClymont made 4,000gns selling to H.G. and S.G. Pritchard, Llangybi, Gwynedd. Becky, a maiden heifer is by Sacha and out of Cuil Ukay, which was junior female champion at the Royal Highland in 2006.

In the commercial section all classes sold well with bulling heifers topping at £1,060 a head for the champion pen from Jonathan Wright, Pinmore Mains, Pinwherry, and averaging £867.83, a rise of £237.43 on the year.

The 116 heifer stirks on offer sold to £1,080 a head for a pen from the Cuil herd and averaged £897.07, a rise of £252.96 on last year.

A feature of the sale was the reduction of the Coland Rise herd on behalf of Denis and Hilda Rogers, Haverfordwest. They topped at £3,000 for Coland Wolsley, a March 2008 heifer with her heifer calf at foot.

Averages: 22 bulls, £3,730.80 (£3,360 for 13 bulls last year); 8 heifers, £2,438.75 (7 heifers, £2,347.50); 100 commercial bulling heifers, £867.83 (+£237.43); 116 heifer stirks, £897.07 (+£252.96); Coland Rise - 7 cows and heifers with calves at foot, £2,185.71; 3 in-calf heifers, £1,883.33.

Auctioneers: Wallets Marts.

AUCTIONEERS reported an 'indifferent' trade at this year's Western Holstein Club's Wexham Cup show and sale of bulls at Beeston.

With 74 of the 85 catalogued bulls forward a total of 47 found new homes with auctioneers adding fewer buyers than normal were present.

Top price was 4,000gns paid for the show champion, Woodmarsh Lantern, a son of Dudoc Mr Burns from M. and J.C. Gould family of Bomere Heath, Shrewsbury

Lantern is bred from six generations of dams scored in the top two grades from the Goulds noted Lyme family, the dam being a EX92 daughter of Silky Cousteau which has already produced 60 tonnes of milk and three VG daughters. The buyer was John Dugdale, Giggleswick, Yorkshire.

Next best was 3,100gns for another from the Goulds - Woodmarsh Lexicon, a son of Advent and out of a fifth generation EXdam from the Farnear Luxor family. He sold to the Davies family, Abergele, Denbighshire.
Sterndale Ladino from Bill Nadin, Buxton, Derbyshire, realised 2,700gns going to Glyn Davies for his Rhydygors herd, Carmarthen. Ladino is a son of Talent and of Savage-Leigh Licorice.

A consignment from S.L. and P.S. Bell, and P. Findlay, Penrith, Cumbria, topped at 2,500gns for Holmland Tantalize Red, a true Red son of Talent from Indianhead Durham Roxan. He was purchased by Ben Towers, Carnforth, Lancashire.
John and Ruth Morris, Sontley, Wrexham purchased three bulls; Woodmarsh Lancer, a Mr Burns son from the Gould's of Bomere Heath at 2,400gns; Willsbro Rewind, the Wexham Cup winner at 2,200gns and Willsbro Starglo a Goldwyn son from the 77 tonne producer, Overside Shottle Sunshine, at 2,100gns.

Averages: 47 bulls,  £1,751.90.
Auctioneers: Wright Manley.

TOP price at the Highland Cattle Society's southern show and sale at Worcester was 1,500gns paid for a bull - Ulysses of Hellifield from Robert Philips fold, Skipton, Yorkshire.

The hammer fell to J. and F. Farms, Melbourne, Derby.

A consignment from Michael Poland's Mottistone fold, Upham, Southampton, sold to a top of 1,150gns for a bull, Eoin Mhor 2 of Mottistone, selling to A. Harrison, East Grinstead, Sussex.

Top in the female section 1,000gns twice; the first was an in-calf heifer, again from Michael Poland, selling to R. Travers, Dunsfold, Surrey.

The other was the reserve female champion, Fleur of Eckington, a maiden heifer from Mrs Judy Gardner, Pershore, Worcestershire.

Averages: 1 cow in-calf, £777; 4 heifers in-calf, £792.75; 8 maiden heifers, £739.66; 2 bulls, £1,391.25.

Auctioneers: McCartneys

SUCKLED calves sold to an average of £704 at a show and sale of suckled calves at Kirkby Stephen market on Monday.

The championship went to a British Blue cross heifer consigned by H.R. Hayton and Son, Appleby. It later sold for £1,900 to the judge - Alan Barnett, Shap.

Standing in reserve was the Limousin champion - a heifer consigned by D. and C.E. Marston, Wharton, Kirkby Stephen. The heifer sold for £2,300 to Mrs Blyth, Norwich.

Averages: heifers £649 (+£145); steers £749 (+£192).

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.

THE champion at the Dairy Shorthorns Breeders' sale at Chelford last week sold for 2,150gns.

This was the January 2006-born home-bred cow, Rodway Butterbur 43, from Graham Madeley, Telford, Shropshire. It had calved its second in September and was giving 37kg. The hammer fell to Neil Madeley for his Nejay herd, Bridgnorth, Shropshire.

Graham Madeley also saw his September 2004-born Rodway Rosebud sell for 1,900gns to John Handley, Kendal, Cumbria.

The reserve champion, Amber Barrington Iris 132, J. Hole and Sons, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, made 1,710gns to J.G. Wiliiams, Wrenbury, Cheshire.

Best of the freshly-calved heifers was Dunham Clarissa Messrs Royle, Dunham Massey, Altrincham, which made 1,570gns going to Messrs Kirk, Leicestershire.

In the in-calf heifer section Amber Barrington Iris 145 from Messrs Hole made 1,520gns. Due in January to Amber Classic Prince it sold to Robert Boote, Chester.

The maiden heifers peaked at 820gns for Quarnford Dairymaid 6, a Winbrook King Henry daughter from Geoff Tunnicliffe's Quarnford herd in the Peak District. The hammer fell to G. Davenport, Sandbach, Cheshire.

The 'A' lot heifer calves sold to 400gbs for the 4-week-old daughter of the champion selling to Martin Jackson, Yorkshire.

Averages: calved cows £1,810; calved heifers £1,637; in-calf heifers £1,125; maide heifers £695; heifer calves £382.

Auctioneers: Marshalls.

EXHIBITORS at this month's English Winter Fair will not receive their entry packs by post and instead are asked to collect them when they arrive at the event.

Show secretary, Kate Tomlinson, said the post was 'just too unpredictable currently' to guarantee exhibitors getting the correct documents for livestock entered for the event, which will be held at Stafford Showground on November 21-22.

"Exhibitor packs containing livestock numbers, passes, hospitality tickets and catalogue vouchers will be retained at the showground and we are arranging for producers to collect packs when arriving with livestock at the event on Friday November 20", said Ms Tomlinson.

She also said despite the disruption to entries caused by recent postal strikes numbers in all but one of the livestock sections were up on the previous year.

Beef

(Judge, D. MacPherson, Northumberland)

Supreme and female, T. Jones, Black Beauty (British Blue cross); reserve and reserve fem., G. Jones, Miss Unique (Limousin cross); male, G. Jones, Sooty (British Blue cross); res. male, B.E. Williams, King Kong (Limousin cross).

Sheep

(G. Colegrave, Perthshire)

Sup. and Continental/Down, A.D. Bishop (Beltex); res. and res. Continental/Down, H. Brown (Beltex cross); Hill-bred, Messrs Huddleston (Swaledale); res. Hill-bred, A. Baillie (Blackface).

Aberdeen-Angus English National Calf show

(A. Fraser, Angus)

Sup. and sup. yearling, J.F. Lascelles, Balmachie Black Bear H050; res. and sup calf, A. Walker, Newbiggin Hill Prince J011; res. yearling, J. Elliot, Elliot Dam Buster H852; res. calf, H. Sclater, Deveron Panama J268;

National Hereford calf show

(R. Grierson, Dumfries and Galloway)

Sup. male, J.M. Cant and Partners, Panmure 1 Fred; res. male, D. and B. Ellis, Leos Pride 1 Ellis; sup fem., J.R.B. Wilson and Sons, Romany 1 Lucy; res. fem., H.P. Whittaker, Spurstow 1 Fantasia.

Border British Blue open calf show

(B. Cassart, Belgium)

Sup., and fem., J.E. Bellas and Son, Croftends Emma; res. and res. fem., J. Kennedy, Lyonpark Evelien; male, T.H. Mountford, Hartley Excalibur.

THE championship in the Border British Blue Club's open calf show went to Croftends Emma from Andrew, Jonathan and Sarah Bellas of Appleby, Cumbria.

This was the first show out for the 10-month-old home-bred heifer, which is an ET daughter of Empire D'Ochain and out of the home-bred Croftends Belle. The Bellas' were showing at Agri Expo for the first time.

The judge, Benoit Cassart of Belgium, tapped forward Lyonpark Evelien as his reserve calf champion. Brought out by Jim Kennedy of Maybole, Ayrshire, this February 2009-born heifer is bred from Gitan Du P'Tit Mayeur and out of Woodview April.

The best animal of opposite sex to the champion was the January 2000-born Hartley Excalibur, a Bringlee Blackstar son, from Tim Mountford of Gayton, Staffordshire.

THIS year the National Hereford Calf Show was held in conjunction with Agri-Expo and hosted by the Scottish Hereford BreedersÕ Association.

The Canadian format of the judging meant there was a bull and heifer champion and both were

Scottish bred.

The bull calf championship went to J.M. Cant and Partners of Angus, Tayside, with their 14-month-old, Panmure 1 Fred. Fred, sired by former Royal Highland champion and 2009 reserve sire of the year - Solpoll 1 Brigadier - and is out of Panmure 1 Plum V6. The bull is destined for sale next year.

The heifer calf championship went the 13-month-old Romany 1 Lucy A84 F26, sired by Baybridge 1 Atlas. It was bred and exhibited by J.R.B. Wilson and Sons of Kelso, Roxburghshire. The heifer was later sold privately to Goulding Hereford at Co Kerry, Eire, for £5,000.

A home-bred nine-month-old calf took the reserve bull title. This was Leos Pride 1 Ellis, sired by RLOA Dynasty and exhibited by D. and B. Ellis of Wigan.

Peter Whittaker of Tarporley, Cheshire, tooj the reserve heifer rosette with the eight-month-old Spurstow 1 Fantasia, sired by JSF 60 Marshall 28M. Mr Whittaker who keeps 40 Herefords as a 'hobby' only started showing this year.

In the young handlers competition the under 16s class was won by Sophie Harvey of Harveybros Herefords, Glasgow and the title for over 16s went to Melisa Timmis of Shraden Herefords, Baschurch, Shrewsbury.

THIS year an entry of 117 cattle were forward for the Aberdeen-Angus English National calf show, which last year saw a reduced entry due to bluetongue movement restrictions.

Judge, Alastair Fraser from the Idvies herd, Forfar, Angus, had his work cut out in selecting a champion with the top honours going to John Lascelles of Carnoustie, Angus, with a January 2008-born Balmachie Black Bear.

Having already been placed breed junior champion at this yearÕs Royal Highland Show by Mr Fraser, he commented to ringside spectators that this bull had it all. ÒHe has power, length and great locomotion and will certainly be a bull to watch in the future.Ó

Black Bear is by Rawburn Lord Ross and is out of the Blelack Lord Hornblower daughter Blelack Blackbird, which was bought as a calf at foot.

He came through to take the championship having won the senior bull class and the yearling bull and supreme yearling championship. He will be offered for sale in Stirling in February 2010.

Taking the reserve overall supreme championship was the overall calf champion and bull calf Newbiggin Hill Prince from Alan Walker of Hexham, Northumberland.

This April 2009-born calf, which is by Nightingale Defiance and out of Blelack Prindell, was being shown for the first time.

Standing reserve bull calf and reserve overall calf champion was Turriff, Aberdeenshire-based Hamish Sclater with his March 2009-born Deveron Panama. This son of Blackhaugh Easy Papa is out of Deveron Petronella.

Winning the heifer calf championship was January 2009-born Rull Francis from Edward and Claire Jones of Cullompton, Devon. This heifer took the overall calf championship at the recent Aberdeen-Angus National Show at Newbury. By the herdÕs stock sire Muirhall Top Deal, she is out of Rull Francis.

FOLLOWING their success at Countryside Live the prime sheep championship went to a pair of Beltex lambs from Andrew and Beccy Bishop of Eldersfield, Gloucester.

They took the Agri Expo title with the same pair, which are by Luggsmill Lainey. The Bishop's were showing at the event for the first time and run 200 pedigree Beltex sheep, 500 pure-bred Beltex and 400 Hill sheep. These lambs also took the championship in the Continental and Down section.

Reserve overall and reserve in the Continental and Down category was a pair of Beltex cross lambs from Hannah Brown of Bedale, Yorkshire. This pair won the Young Farmers class before taking the reserve overall title in a strong line-up, which took some splitting by judge Granville Colegrave of Inchture, Perthshire. Hannah, who was assisted in the showing by Pippa Stirk, is a member of Winksley-cum-Grantley YFC.

In the Hill-bred section the championship went to a pair of Swaledale lambs from Claire and Ian Huddleston of Hexham, Northumberland. The pair were by a Ellerbeck-bred ram and out of home-bred dams. They are part of a 1,000-strong flock of Swaledales and will next be in the ring at the Scottish Winter Fair.

Andrew Baillie of Carnwath, Lanark, took reserve in this section with a pair of Blackface lambs.

For the first time this year there was a class for Mules. A huge crowd watched this strong class with judge, John Barker of Moffat, Dumfriesshire, commenting they were some of the best Mules he'd seen. First prize went to Ron and Fran Wilson of Armathwaite, Cumbria.

A packed programme of events and a range of trade stands was laid on for visitors to this year's Agri Expo at Borderway Mart, Carlisle. Katie Lomas reports from the Farmers Guardian supported event.