Continental Store Sale Attracts Show Potentials
2010-03-08

Harrison & Hetherington’s two-day show and sale at Borderway, Carlisle, on March 19 and 20 is expected once again to draw one of the biggest entries of quality continental cross store cattle in the country, many with show potential.

Judging the 2009 Supreme Championship

Entries in 2009 topped 2,500, with 1,250 heifers on the first day of the sale and 1300 steers on the second day, attracting buyers - including those looking for cattle with show potential - from all over the country.

The show and sale attracts cattle produced predominantly in Cumbria and South West Scotland and cattle sold in past sales have gone on to be successful in the commercial lines at prestigious national summer shows and winter fairs. There is also a strong following of commercial buyers looking for finishing cattle.

“This is a noted event that reflects the top quality stock that beef producers in this region are renowned for producing,” said Harrison & Hetherington operations director, David Pritchard.

“It is even more pleasing if we see cattle purchased at this sale go on to be exhibited at national events and shows including H&H’s Borderway Agri Expo event to be held this year on Friday October 29 ,” he added.

“H& H also provides a special prize fund for cattle purchased between October 1, 2009 and September 30, 2010 at Borderway or any of Harrison & Hetherington’s other sale centres which go on to pick up the cattle supreme championship at Borderway Agri Expo or any of the other four other winter fairs - Scottish Winter Fair, English Winter Fair, Agrilive Smithfield and the Royal Welsh Winter Fair - are eligible for a special prize of £1,000, provided the exhibitor was the purchaser of the animal”.

This year’s two day show, is being judged by two leading showmen.
day one - heifers will be judged by Michael Alford, from Somerset, and on day two, the steers will be judged by Phillip Sellars, from Derbyshire

Last year, heifers shared the joint top price of £4,500 over the two days, shown by the Trafford family of Bassenthwaite Hall Farm, Keswick, and Messrs Harrison of Grange Hall, Appleby, with the day’s champion and reserve respectively.

In 2008 the special cash prize awarded by Harrison & Hetherington was won at Smithfield by show enthusiasts Alister and Elizabeth Vance, from Bridgehouse Farm, Whithorn, Newton Stewart.

Their Limousin cross heifer Divine Diva was bought at the autumn show and sale at Borderway for £3,000 from noted show calf producers Robert and Michael Scott, of Thirlwall Castle, Greenhead, Carlisle.

“The March and September sales in Carlisle are probably one of the best places to buy good show type cattle and, in fact, any cattle we have bought at the sales have gone on to do well for us - Divine Diva, Eye Candy and Tickety Boo - all heifers we have bought at Carlisle said Elizabeth Vance.

“It is one of the biggest sales that we go to for potential show cattle and there is probably the most to choose from. It’s a good sale to buy other commercial cattle too,” she added.

Both dedicated to commercial cattle showing – Alister and Elizabeth have collected major championships almost every year since 2004 when they lifted the commercial championship at the International Limousin Congress show at Beef Expo that year.

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