The premier Belgian Blue sale took place in Carlisle over the weekend, with the top-priced animal heading to Irish soil. Sale-leader Almeley Lightning ET hit the market at 20,000gns and was knocked down to the Irish-based Oak Grange Estate.

Bred and exhibited by Graham Morgan, the stylish first-prizewinner is sired by the herd’s stock bull Drybarrows Cawdale. The August 2016-born bull’s dam is the Irish-bred Rosemount Faith, making Lightning a maternal brother to the 2017 Royal Welsh champion Pinnacle Hero.

This was the top of an exceptional day for the breed, with 52 bulls selling to represent an 85% clearance at an average price just shy of £6,000.

Selling for 16,000gns was the junior male and reserve overall champion Dragon Blues Mike. This June 2017-born bull is by Phenomene de Martinpre and out of Dragon Blues Hazel. Similar to the champion, this bull was mainly black and was keenly sought after. After back and forth bidding, the junior champion was knocked down to DJ Lloyd & Co.

It was a highly successful day out for the Dragon herd, who also secured the senior and overall male champion with Dragon Blues Mark ET. This May 2017-born bull is sired by Joujou De Petit Brin and is out of the homebred dam Dragon Blues Kelly. Mark was secured by Messrs Fowlie for the third-top price of 15,000gns.

In the female ring, the well-known Solway herd took all the plaudits, securing the two top female prices, as well as the female championship.

Securing the day’s top female price of 8,000gns was Solway View Nancy ET, an April 2018-born daughter of Attribut Du Fond De Bois.

Not far behind and taking home a price of 6,000gns plus the female championship was Solway View Nesha ET. This June 2018-born heifer is a full flush sister to the sale-topper and is entered for next month’s Royal Highland Show.