The Northern Ireland Charolais club moved to Ballymena Mart this year to host the first of its spring sales. Hosted last Saturday, the sale was moved from midweek in Dungannon in a bid to reach more part-time suckler farmers.

Overall trade was mixed enough throughout, but the sale did reach highs of 6,000gns in both the male and female sections.

While COVID-19 restrictions are still in place in Northern Ireland, some ringside bidders are still allowed there, unlike in the south. This resulted in animals being sold online, by phone and through ringside bids on the day.

Topping the male trade was Woodpark Presley from Will Short, Omagh, Co Tyrone. Sired by Deeside Gulliver, this 19-month-old bull is out of a homebred cow that goes back to Major. Back and forth bidding brought Presley to his resting place of 6,000gns, with W J Fraser and son the successful bidder.

Woodpark Presley who sold for 6,000gns. \ Tricia Kennedy

Matching the price in the female section was Birches Prettylady from the well-known Matchett family, Portadown, Co Armagh.

Born February 2019, this stylish heifer is a daughter of Elgin Jackman. Dam was Tawny Jasmine, a heifer the Matchett family purchased at the Irish Charolais premier in 2015 for the top female price of €6,000.

Securing Prettylady for their newly established Rockvalley herd were southern breeders Niall Maguire and Simone McCabe.

It was a nice way back for the second-top price of the day at 3,400gns, which was again hit twice, once in the male section and again in the female section.

The bull to hit the price was Pinehill Ronaldo from Mr C Todd, based outside Lisburn. This bull’s pedigree has easy calving on both sides, with the sire being Mornity Nero, while the dam was out of Blelack Digger.

Ronaldo will return to the same county as the breeder, with A McMullan from Castlewellan securing the January 2020-born bull.

The female second-top price was the final female to sell, Brogher Omygirl. Bred and exhibited by Enniskillen-based Mr T Phair, the 28-month-old heifer is sired by the 26,000gns Balbithan Vespasian.

Brogher OMyGirl who sold 3,400gns. \ Tricia Kennedy

Dam of Omygirl is the homebred Brogher Fancygirl, herself a Lyonsdemesne Tzar daughter. Newry-based Mr K Murphy secured this lot.

Just behind this at 3,300gns was Mountjoy Pagan. Brought out by Mr McCaskie from Omagh, this July 2019-born bull is sired by 2014 Royal Welsh reserve male champion Mountgomery Ianto.

Out of a Corrie Alan bred dam, he was the choice of S J Mcilmurray based outside Dungannon.

Taking home a price of 3,000gns was the 23-month-old Royaldowns Pablo. Bred by M McKeown, this powerful bull is sired by Hideal, with Doonally Ducdenever also in the lineage. Pablo heads to Limavady in Co Derry with Mr N Blair.

The O’Kane brothers from Dungiven sold their top lot, Ovill Prime, at 2,900gns. This 17-month-old bull is homebred on both sides, with Ovil Lancelot the sire and Doonally Nicefor daughter Ovill Jessica the dam. This one was the choice of local farmer H Small.

Two bulls hit the 2,800gns mark. First at the money was Royaldowns Patrol from the previously mentioned McKeown. Sired by the 18,000gns Thrunton Fairfax, this 20-month-old bull is out of an Allanfauld Velocity-bred dam.

Matching the money was Drumacritten Paul from Mr G Nelson, Rosslea, Co Fermanagh. This 17-month-old bull’s pedigree features Whitecliffe James and Maerdy Dublin.

Overall, 11 bulls sold for an average of £3,081.

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