Records were broken at the Early Spring British Blonde Society Sale, on Friday 9th March 2007, with a new record price for a Bull.

Blackwater Ainsley - 8,500gns

Demand for Bulls was high with the trade underpinned with a high demand from Commercial buyers from throughout the UK. Overall sale average was up £451 from the corresponding sale last year.

Breaking the record was the reserve Junior bull Blackwater Ainsley from Mr and Mrs I R Calderbank from Maldon, Essex. A much admired, classy and stylish young bull he was sold for a record price of 8,500gns to the new Blonde Society Chairman - Mr James Weightman of P Weightman and Sons' Hallfield herd based at Easington, Co. Durham. A June 2005 son of Druk Genesis he tipped the scales at just over a tonne - 1005kg. His dam, Blackwater Maisie is a daughter of the French Bull Yogi who is out of an imported dam Daisie. Maisie is a consistent breeder of quality stock. Ainsley boasted an EBV of BA+20.

Senior and Overall champion as judged by Mr David Grant of the Ardmore herd, Aberdeenshire was Stubbswalden Aaron, bred and shown by Messrs K & AC Jackson & Son, a January 2005 son of Hallmark Tornado out of a homebred dam Stubbswalden Nectarine a Feoffee Henry daughter. His attractive pedigree had a double cross of Whistley Dollar and also the consistently breeding Ballygowan Noble. He weighed in at 1057kg.. Aaron heads far north to Messrs A G Flaws, Ringesta, Quendale, Shetland, Scotland who purchased him for 3,800gns. Aaron was very successful during the 2006 Summer show circuit cumulating in him being awarded the Junior Male Champion at the Great Yorkshire Show

Reserve Senior Champion and first prize winner was Rayneside Ali from L & P A Haygarth of Kelleth Rigg, Penrith, Cumbria who sold for the second top price of 4,000gns. He was sold to Messrs G Johnstone & Son, Orton Hall, Great Orton, Carlisle. He is sired by Easterton Rowan and out of Grayrigg Elvira. The Haygarth's had a very successful day and also sold a three quarters brother to Ali, Rayneside Arnold - sired by Easterton Rowan and out of a homebred heifer Rayneside Uxor who is a daughter of Grayrigg Elvira. He was sold for 3,000gns to volume buyer Messrs P Morris, Chilton Park Farm, Brill, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire and joining him on the lorry downwards were two other Blonde bulls.

It was another good day's trading for Bristol's David Knight who was awarded Junior Champion for Doncombe Awesome. Awesome was the heaviest bull forward weighing in at a massive 1075kg. Druk Lance features in the breeding again. Awesome is sired by Druk Thor and out of a Druk Lance daughter Doncombe Organza. He boasted some impressive figures of BA27 and tempted Mr F M J Forster of Girrick Farm, Nenthorn, Kelso to pay 3,800gns for him. Druk Thor was also the sire of the Doncombe Anapurna a May 05 bull who's mother Doncombe Tatiana was sired by Knight's successful senior herd sire Druk Lance. Giving 3,300 gns for him was Messrs GS & SE Wilson, High House, Marwood, Barnard Castle, Co Durham.

Mike Harrison from Shap, Penrith was awarded the best turned out animal by Mr Mac Jamieson of Hexham for Shapfell Agolddigger, he stood second in his class to the record breaker. Making the final bid at 3,500gns was Paragon Blondes, Teasdale Cottage, Hexham, Northumberland who was purchasing on behalf of a client. Agolddigger boasted an impressive pedigree, being a Forthview Rosco son out of the tremendous breeding cow Glenvale Rusty. Rusty has bred sons to 3,500 and 4,000gns and is a Ballygrainey Jack daughter with yet again a double cross of Whistley Dollar in her.

Helping to pay for the record breaker for P Weightman and Sons was Hallfield Alcatraz and Hallfield Alex both sired by the Weightman's successful senior herd sire Ballygowan Noble.Hallfield Alex is out a Ramo daughter, Hallfield Jasmine and was purchased for 3,400 gns by Mr W & M Linton & Son, Waterlands Farm, Carluke, Lanarkshire. Hallfield Alcatraz is out of a homebred dam Hallfield Linnet a Whistle Dollar daughter and was knocked down for 3,000gns to Mr JR Boon, North Farm, Beamish, Stanley, Co Durham.

The Blonde Babe champion was the second youngest heifer forward Penyghent Alison from Messrs E Telfer & Son. Alison was bred by Mr and Mrs J Bradley, Penyghent Farm, Litton, Skipton and purchased privately by the Telfers. Sired by Elmhirst O-aye and out of Penyghent Millie a Newlands Fortescue daughter this impressive young lady caught the eye of many breeders round the ring but placing the final bid of 6,500gns was Mr Richard Mowbray of Newton Stewart, Northern Ireland. Mr Mowbray also paid 2,600gns for Alison’s half sister from the Telfer’s, the second prize winner Penyghent Avrura who was also bred by Mr & Mrs Bradley.

David Knight continued his impressive form with his sole entry in the Blonde Babes - Doncombe Aconite, a Doncombe Rangatira daughter out of a Druk Lance daughter, Doncombe Rannunculus. Aconite tempted new Blonde council member Mr N Roberts, Heckingham Hall, Heckingham, Norwich to pay 2,100gns for her. Joining her on the trip home was a half sister to the day’s Champion bull, Stubbswalden Amber, from Messrs K & AC Jackson & Son who was sold for 2,000gns. She was sired by Hallmark Tornado and out of a Feoffee Henry daughter Stubbswalden Simone. The first prize in-calf heifer Thornship Vimto caught the eye of another pedigree breeder who invested 2,000gns in some quality genetics and she heads for the noted Shapfell herd of Mr MK Harrison. Vimto is a daughter of the noted Whistley Dollar and out of a Shapfell Lazerbeam cow, Droit Rouge.

Averages

12 Senior Bulls £2,655.63

11 Junior Bulls £3,264.55

23 Bulls £2,946.85 (plus £451.85)

1 Served heifer £2100.00

4 Senior unserved heifers £2021.25

4 Junior unserved heifers £2336.25

Blondes sell to a top of 6,000gns at Carlisle
Improved Genetics, Management and Nutrition for Beef Efficiency
Herd Notebook for Beef Producers - EBLEX