The Carlisle May sale was held over the weekend and had a top call of 16,000gns. This bid came for the five-year-old cow Blelack Toplass M847, who was sold as part of the Blelack autumn-calving dispersal sale.

Sired by Blelack Equity J127 and out of Blelack Toplass F552, she sold to RJ and D Loftus of the Weeton herd.

The Loftus family also paid the second-top price of the dispersal, giving 10,000gns for Blelack Pride N114. This daughter of Carrington Park Time on B7 is out of Blelack Pristine K536, herself a Peter Pershore daughter.

The sale hit the 8,000gns price tag twice. The first bid came from the Saville herd of S and S Medley for Blelack Kylie N204. This four-year-old was sired by Blelack Equity J127 and goes back to the noted Fordafourie breeding.

Matching her at the money was Blelack Toplass P423, this one by Hallington Principal M367, and sold to W Foster of the Manorfield herd. In total, 19 Blelack cows and in-calf heifers sold to average £6,128.

Topping the bull side of things over the weekend was the junior and reserve overall Angus champion Gretnahouse Jack Eric R832.

This December 2015-born bull out of former Stirling champion Haymount Precursor M255 who sold for 18,000gns, while the dam is Netherallan Peter Pershore daughter Blelack Jury Erica K395. Jack Eric met his reserve at 12,000gns, selling to Messrs Stewart, Little Balquhomrie, Leslie.

The day’s supreme champion and senior male champion was Cheeklaw Parker R514 from DG and C Lucas of the Cheeklaw Herd in Berwickshire.

Parker was sired by Cardona Proud Punch L752, also sire of this year’s Stirling champion in February, while the dam was homebred Cheeklaw Petrina G284. He sold for 4,500gns to C Edwards, Colwinston.

Thrunton Brigadier Max R906 from Messrs JHC Campbell and Sons claimed the reserve senior championship before selling for 5,000gns.

This son of Blelack Prince Consort A286 found a new home at Upper Chatto Farm, Morebattle.

Finishing off the championships was Blelack Toplass R626 from Messrs NF Massie and Sons, who was awarded the reserve junior championship. Sired by Warrenho Emperor M425, he sold for 7,000gns to G D Herdman, Alnwick.

Altogether, 54 of the Angus bulls forward sold to average £4,153.

Shorthorn

The Shorthorns achieved two new centre breed records. First off were bulls reaching 8,500gns, while females flourished selling to 6,500gns with 100% clearance.

Topping the Shorthorn trade at 8,500gns was the rising two-year-old Gilven Journey.

Sired by Cavans Bourbon and out of a Bilsdale-bred dam, he was bred and exhibited by RS and G Johnson, Huby, York, and sold to S and J Hodgson, Bradford, West Yorkshire, along with four female entries.

The day’s second-highest call of 7,500gns was made by D Nesbitt, Seascale, Cumbria, for the male and overall champion Millerston Juggernaut. Exhibited by Jack P Ramsay, this 21-month-old was sired by Meonhill Charlie Chaplin and out of a homebred dam.

Northern Ireland breeders W and J McAllister, Ballymena, were in the money when they sold their 17-month-old reserve champion Burnside Jack The Lad for 6,200gns. Sired by the 6,000gns Chapelton Yardley, he sold to ME and TD Tailford, Riding Mill, Northumberland.

Out in front of the 100% clearance achieved in the female ring was Oakleigh Justright at 6,500gns. This two-year-old roan heifer by Blelack Masterpiece sold in-calf to Chapleton Bonanza and was obtained by Mr Nesbitt.

Sixteen Shorthorn bulls levelled at £4,469, while the female side saw 11 in-calf heifers average £2,973 and 29 maidens average out at £1,583.

Easycare and Stabilizer walk

Drumleek Farm, run by James and Alison Greer, hosts a farm walk in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, on Saturday 10 June at 11am. Drumleek Farm runs a flock of wool-shedding Easycare sheep which are lambed outdoors.

These are run alongside a herd of Angus-cross cows sired by Stabilizer bulls for ease of management and feed conversion efficiency. A panel of speakers from Sheep Ireland, Easycare and the Stabilizer breed will be present.

For more info call 086 8328318