The Irish Charolais Cattle Society held its annual Christmas Cracker in Elphin over the weekend.

This was the first year the society went about having the cracker with solely males, hosting an independent heifer sale three weeks earlier. The female sale was a massive hit, with crowds flocking to Tullamore to see a high of €14,500.

Given the strong demand witnessed for the females, high expectations followed for the male Christmas Cracker. These expectations were met. While it can be said buyers were selective, good bulls made good prices, with 20 of the 63 lots sold making €5,000 or more. One of the biggest crowds ever seen at the cracker packed the mart to see bulls average €4,580.

There were some quiet periods throughout the sale, but all in all a strong list of prices was obtained.

Leading the way at €10,000 and continuing an incredible run in the sales ring was Donegal breeder Pat McClean with Roughan Most. The Newtowncunningham man went on to sell his five bulls for a whopping average of €6,420.

Most, a September 2016-born son of Roughan Dix De Coe, stood second in his class in the pre-sale show.

Securing this exceptionally well made bull were the O’Kane brothers from Carnlough, Co Antrim, after a lively bidding contest.

The sale got off to a flying start when the fourth bull into the ring, Kiltananlae Martin ET, flew under the hammer at €9,100. This well-muscled son of Enfield Plexus set the sale alight early on, attracting bids from every corner of the ring. Bred and exhibited by Noel Galvin from Birdhill, Co Tipperary, the April 2016-born bull sold to Ian Brock from Garrison.

At €8,800 was Roughan Mask for Pat McClean. This first prize winner is a son of the outstanding Roughan Gibraltar, sire of numerous high-priced cattle in recent years. Mask, born in October 2016, sold with a five-star replacement index of €79, a five-star terminal index of €137 and a calving figure of 6.8%. This bull headed north with Dungannon man Brian Quinn.

The Bostonia herd based in Enniscrone, Co Sligo, had a successful day in the show ring, taking home the reserve senior champion and the reserve junior champion of the show titles. Bostonia Mario, a June 2016-born son of the French sire Vosgien VF, stood top of the line in a strong class of bulls before capturing the reserve senior champion title. Mario went on to sell for €8,100 to John McBride from Plumbridge, Co Tyrone.

Bostonia Moses rounded off a great day in the show ring for the Enniscrone men, when he was tapped forward as the reserve junior champion. However, the 14-month-old Thrunton Bonjovi son failed to meet his reserve in the sales ring and was withdrawn unsold.

Sheehills Majestic ET, exhibited by John Searson from Roscrea, Co Tipperary, then traded hands at €7,800. This 14-month-old son of the UK sire Inverlochy Ferdie went up for auction with a string of rosettes under his belt from the summer show season. Snapping this second prize winner up was Claire Ferris from Millisle, Co Antrim.

Catching the eye of Welsh Judge Arwel Owen was Clenagh Maserati. This huge 17-month-old son of Clonoulty Andraemon was named senior champion of the show after fending off some outstanding opposition. Bred and exhibited by the Quin family from Newmarket-on-fergus, Co Clare, Maserati carries a massive five-star terminal index of €152. Securing the senior champion in the sales ring was Terence McGarrigle from Belleek, Co Fermanagh at €7,700.

The Quins continued their prosperous run in the sales ring when they sold Clenagh Mischief 2 ET at €7,500. A 14-month-old son of CF 52, Mischief sold with a five-star terminal index of €143 to the National Cattle Breeding Centre. The Clenagh herd owners went on to sell their four offerings for an average of €6,100.

Derryolam Milliney, exhibited by Niall McNally from Co Monaghan, boasted one of the easiest calving figures in the catalogue at 4.1%. This Pirate son out of a Gin Tonic bred dam was just short of 13 months old. He romped his way to €7,100, selling to John Hurley from Castlerea, Co Roscommon.

Cathal Duignan from Eslin, Co Leitrim, then sold Laheens Master, a catchy son of the NCBC sire Derryolam Impeccable, for €7,000. Once again, this bull was just short of 13 months old. The buyer here was Nigel Matchett from Portadown, Co.Armagh.

Also hitting the €7,000 mark was Noble Maher exhibited by Harry Noble from Co Longford. This Pirate-bred son, carried one of the best sets of indices in the catalogue, with a five-star terminal index of €179, a five-star replacement index of €102 and a calving figure of 8.6%. Wrapping up this second prize winner was Tony Kenny from Skreenmore, Co Sligo.

Tonroe Marshall kickstarted the sale when he received a call of €6,800. Exhibited by Vincent Callaghan from Swinford, Co Mayo, this April 2016 born bull is a son of the homebred Tonroe Eminem. He headed North with Peter Tiernan from Co Down.

Lisnanean Milo ET

Local man James Mulrennan from Elphin in Co Roscommon then received €6,800 for Lisnanean Milo ET, a September 2016-born son of the French sire Tombapik. This much-fancied bull sold with an attractive set of indices, which included a five-star terminal index of €147, a five-star replacement index of €84 and a calving figure of 7.7%. Buyers here were Dovea Genetics, Co Tipperary.

Hitting the €6,400 mark was Islandview Mario 2 for Tommy McLauglin from Malin Head in Co Donegal. This Lisnagre Elite son was just short of 14 months old on the day of sale and sold to Co Roscommon suckler farmer Kitty Dolan.

Galway breeder William Flynn from Newbridge sold one of the early lots into the ring, Tullyvillage Miller, for €6,200. A son of the popular Fiston, this bull carries both Pirate and Indurain in his back pedigree. He also went North with Claire Ferris from Millisle, Co Antrim.

It wasn’t long before the Roughan herd and Pat McClean were back in the action, when the first prize winner, Roughan Magic, received a call of €6,200. This 15-month-old bull is another son of the aforementioned, Roughan Dix De Coe. This bull sold to a suckler farmer from Co Cavan.

Judge Arwel Owen awarded the Junior Champion of the show title to Garracloon Mighty Mac, exhibited by Aidan Mc Hale from Ballina, Co Mayo. This October 2016 born bull, a son of Lyonsdemesne Tzar, carries both Jupiter and Doonally New on his dam’s side. He was knocked down at €5,800 to Michael McKenna from Maghera, Co Derry.

The Nobles from Co Longford where back in the business end of things once again when they traded Noble Messi at €5,500. This September 2016-born son of the Dovea AI sire Crossmolina Euro sold with a five-star terminal index of €163 to Christopher Connon, Scotland.

Co Mayo breeder Alan Wood clinched the last class of the day with Crossmolina Maxwell ET, a 12-month-old bull sired by Harestone Hercules. This impressive calf is a son of the herd’s prolific Doonally New daughter, Crossmolina Bertie. Maxwell found his new home with Mark Gillespie from Killyleagh, Co Down, for a sum of €5,400.