Charolais bulls sold to a top of 22,000gns in Carlisle on Friday 24 November, a record figure for the breed society’s official autumn fixture at the centre.

Ellerton Alberto led the trade at 22,000gns

Sale leader was Ellerton Alberto CH25, a 16 month old youngster by Oldstone Egbert and out of a homebred cow by Allanfauld Vagabond. Alberto who was placed first in his class the previous day, was bred by Andrew Brown, Foggathorpe, Selby and he was knocked down sold to Iain Campbell, herd manager to Swalesmoor Charolais, Eaglesfield, Lockerbie.

Piatroon Anton CH35, another entry carrying Oldstone Egbert blood, commanded the next highest bid of 6,500gns from P Smith and Son, Broughton, Biggar. Bred by Harold Forster and Sons, Bardon Mill, Hexham, this April 2005 born second class winner was by Derryharney Outstanding, an Egbert son and out of a Mowbraypark Saturn who goes back to Mowbraypark Napoleon.

Alasdair Houston, Gretna Green enjoyed his best ever day in Carlisle since restocking, not only among the bulls selling to 6,000gns, but also in the female ring where he topped the day’s Christmas Cracker trade at 7,000gns. First through the ring was his 20 month old bull, Gretnahouse Ability CH38, a Dingle Hofmeister son and out of a heifer from the Anabel family from Balthayock. Ability, a second class prize winner was secured by TJ McLornan, County Antrim.

Next from the same breeder at 4,800gns was Gretnahouse Actionman CH25, a May 2005 born Gretnahouse Noel son and out of Mortimers Rainbow. He went to MPB Ashton, Cefn Coch, Welshpool.

The Barker family made yet another highly worthwhile 530 mile round trip from Nuthampstead, Royston, securing the overall male championship with their Caylers Acorn CH27, an April 2005 born Doonally New son, and out of a homebred cow by Killadeas Lloyd. Acorn changed hands for 5,200gns to G McClanachan and Sons, Torthorwald, Dumfries.

One of the first lots through the ring, Corrie Vanbasten, a rising two year old made 3,250gns to Messrs Finlay, Dalry, Castle Douglas. Bred by Duncan MacGregor, Kilsyth, Glasgow, Vanbasten was sired by the 14,000gns Allanfauld Superscot and his maternal brothers have already sold through Carlisle for up to 8,500gns.

Four lots shared a 3,000gns price tag. First to go was the Goosnargh, Preston based Kelsall and Marsden partnership’s Bleasdale Anthony CH24, a rising two year old by Gretnahouse Noel and out of a cow going back to Tattenhall Impeccable. The buyer was the Landale company, Auldgirth, Dumfries.

Simon and Susanne Frost, Youlgrave, Bakewell paid 3,000gns for Hookcarr Arney CH39, a 20 month old from Richard Garner, Kirkby Fleetham, Northallerton. Another Dingle Hofmeister son, he was out of a cow going back to Loganbar Herdsman. Later in the day, Mr Garner dispersed his four cow Hookcarr herd and sold his best, Keepers Tamar at 4,400gns to DW Clement and Son, Lauriston, Castle Douglas. This Drumlone Messenger daughter who has run with Hookcarr Arney, was offered with her second calf at foot, an eight month old heifer by Mowbraypark Ultimo.

The next bull at 3,000gns was Jan Boomaars’ (Woldingham, Surrey) Vexour Alister CH27, a 19 month old by Maerdy Tally, one of the society’s YBPS sires and out of a Mortimers bred cow going back to Gretnahouse Napoleon. Alister who was placed first in his class and went on to take the reserve male title sold to Culraven Farms, Twynholm, Kirkcudbrightshire.

The final 3,000gns call was made by Oxfordshire producers, SM and CRC Colinswood, Thame for Maerdy Acadian CH30, a May 2005 born Maerdy Padirac son and out of a homebred cow by Maerdy Grimaldi from Flintshire vet, Esmor Evans, Mold.

Females entered for the Christmas Cracker attracted a much improved trade underpinned by the stronger base price for Charolais cows, combined with recent results from SAC trials, which have confirmed the underestimated role of Charolais as an added value functional suckler cow. The top 7,000gns call was commanded by Alasdair Houston’s Gretnahouse Agesse CH31, a rising two year old maiden by Dingle Hofmeister and out of Moyness Sagesse who has bred bulls sold recently to 5,500gns. The buyers were father and daughter team, Tom and Libby Clarke, Lurgan, County Armagh who took home several female entries including the overall Christmas Cracker champion, Gretnahouse Agenta for one of the day’s two 5,000gns bids. This January 2005 born maiden from Alasdair Houston was by Gretnahouse Noel and out of another dam from the same stable, this time Moyness Magenta.

A third entry from Gretnahouse made 3,200gns to J and E Wight, Symington, Biggar. Another rising two year old maiden this time by Dingle Hofmeister, Gretnahouse View CH34 was out of Cargriff Sunshine who goes back to Killadeas Jack, and she came from the same family as 7,000gns Gretnahouse Virtue.

The second 5,000gns price was shelled out by the Boden and Davies partnership, Mellor, Stockport for the first class winner, Esgob Victoria, a June 2004 born Oldstone Egbert daughter and out of Esgob Oyster, claimed the herd’s best cow. Bred by Gareth Jones, Cwmtirmynach, Bala, Victoria was sold in calf to Thrunton Virginian.

The reserve Christmas Cracker title was awarded to Hendy Vixen, a November 2004 born Tullygarley Rollerball daughter from JAW Rees, Llangurig, Llanidloes. She returned to Wales with Alwyn Williams, Pistyll, Pwllheli for 4,000gns.

Tom and Libby Clarke also creamed off the top couple of entries from Thrunton’s Christmas Hamper, a collection of heifers from the Campbell family, Ian, John and their father, Colin, of Thrunton, Alnwick. The Clarkes paid 4,000gns for Thrunton Vivid and 3,300gns for Thrunton Venessa. Both 19 month old heifers were scanned in calf to the 11,000gns Solwayfirth Union, and they were both sired by the 15,000gns Carlisle champion, Burradon Talisman whose first 18 sons have sold to average £12,300.

Esmor Evan’s best from his annual collection of heifers was 3,000gns for his first in ring, Maerdy Unbitt, a December 2003 Maerdy Grimaldi daughter sold served to show ring champion, Maerdy Victorieux. She travelled over the water with BA Mullan and Son, Coleraine, County Down.

Averages: 31 bulls £3,251.61

Christmas Cracker: nine served heifers £1,925.00; 10 maiden heifers £2,920.00

Thrunton, four head £3,333.75
Hookcarr, six head £2,555.00
Bassett, four head £1,890.00
Maredy, 19 head £1,699.34

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington

NI Charolais Breeder to Judge Carlisle bulls
Welshpool Charolais in strong demand peaking at 4,100gns
Dungannon Charolais peak at 8,400gns