March Show & Sale of Store Cattle & Sale of Store Sheep
Hexham & Northern Marts held their Special Annual March prize show and sale of store cattle and offered a sound catalogue of 537 head which included the entry of over twenty outstanding show calves. The show was once again generously sponsored by Armstrong & Watson accountants and The Capon Tree Veterinary Centre.
The prize show was conducted on the Thursday evening and noted Mid-Wales cattleman Mr Mike Rowlands, Llanidloes, Powys presided as master judge over the select entry exhibited by noted producers from across Northumberland, County Durham, Cumbria and The Scottish Borders. From a very high standard of preliminary breed classes Mr Rowlands went on tap out the first prize unhaltered Limousin cross steer and Male Champion from Messrs Rochester & Murray, Glebe Farm, Butsfield, County Durham as The Supreme Overall Champion to scoop the John Davison Millenium Trophy for the fourth time. The family presented another sterling team of show calves and have long since been synonymous with some the very best quality cattle consigned to the ring here at Hexham. This champion was no exception; a sleek, steely blue-black beast the bullock displayed all the traits one would expect from this stable and with bags of style caught the eye of the judge and onlookers alike many of whom commented on the worthy championship award.
Equally fancied around the show ring was the first prize unhaltered Limousin cross heifer and female champion from Messrs Robson, Middle Horsleyhope, Waskerley that was awarded the Reserve Supreme Champion rosette by Mr Rowlands and seal a double triumph for County Durham cattle on the night. Whereas the male classes were dominated by the breeders of the Supreme Champion, the female classes were equally dominated by The Robsons and they too have a long association with the show ring here at Hexham. An exquisite, jet black heifer by Huntershall Nutcracker she displayed all the finesse one would expect from such a well-bred animal and on a day when the judge favoured his male selection this one certainly flew the flag for the female entry and will no doubt be seen again on the circuit in the coming months.
Prize show results;
Supreme Champion – Rochester & Murray, Glebe Farm
Reserve Supreme Champion – Messrs Robson, Middle Horsleyhope
Male Champion – Glebe Farm
Reserve Male Champion – Glebe Farm
Female Champion – Middle Horsleyhope
Reserve Female Champion – Middle Horsleyhope
Unhaltered Limousin cross steer
1st – Glebe Farm
2nd – Harwoodshield
3rd – Longlea
Haltered Limousin cross steer
1st – Glebe Farm
Unhaltered British Blue cross steer
1st – Glebe Farm
Haltered British Blue cross steer
1st – Glebe Farm
2nd – Glebe Farm
Unhaltered Limousin cross heifer
1st – Middle Horsleyhope
2nd – Middle Horseyhope
3rd – High Loveladyshield
Haltered Limousin cross heifer
1st– Middle Horsleyhope
2nd– High Loveladyshield
Our sincere thanks to all those involved with this important event within the sales calendar at Hexham – prize winners, exhibitors, our sponsors and judge without whom the evening simply could not take place.
Sale morning arrived and a strong entry of older cattle were presented in the first half of the sale and these continue to sell at pace through the Hexham ring. Forward steers and heifers both broke the £2000 barrier on the day as cattle now regularly sell with aplomb at levels never seen before topping at £2750 for a shining example of a three-quarter bred Limousin heifer from Frank & Reg Simpson, Square House, Quebec. The brothers, who offered an outstanding run of mainly black females with style, length and shape saw a great penful all exceed £2100 to average £2338 for nine with buyer interest from all over the country and from top herdmasters and high end finishers alike.
Steers topped at £2120 for a fantastic Blonde cross bullock from noted purveyors of the Aquitaine archetype Messrs Walker, Houselope Grange whilst the Limousin breed had to settle for second place in the rankings on the day – another fine example in fine form from Messrs Clark, Paxton Dene that sold at £2000.
It was Messrs Clark, or more precisely the father and son duo of Chris & Andrew Johnson of this family firm that very generously donated a tremendous Blue cross heifer in memory of Anne Johnson (nee Clark) that suddenly and sadly passed away late last year. The cracking red and white heifer was sold in aid of Cancer Research and The Childrens Heart Unit Fund and received a great deal of attention and bidding finally settled at £2100 with the hammer falling in favour of Messrs Foley Bros, Mirlaw House, Capheaton.
Worthy and essential of mention was the outstanding Limousin cross heifer from Andrew Proctor, Swarland Old Hall that at just 13 months of age exceeded all expectations and soared to a whopping £2350 for the pedigree Limousin bull breeder of renown that had hope for £1600-£1700 on the day, such is the strength of the auction system at this centre and right across the industry at the present time. No doubt the next Swarland bull to reach the marketplace will be viewed with added interest and attention following this accolade.
The younger age class was indeed the focus of this day and following two very lucrative months trading for consignors since the new year the auctioneers are pleased to report March shows no sign of easing. A great many noted consignments from the aforementioned counties were presented and sold with great return – too many to mention in their entirety but highlights included those from Messrs Thompson, East Unthank that sold steers to £1560 and heifers to £1450 to average £1466 for five sold form the Haltwhistle parish.
Messrs Athey, Loveladyshield followed their appearance in the show ring with a resounding spell through the sale ring topping at £2300 for their pen leading heifer. With another selling to £1980 and steers peaking at £1490 the family farming firm enjoyed a fanfare average of £1544 for seven calves sold from the high hillside above Alston.
The Supreme champion breeders brought forward their show team and saw prize winners sell to £1800 with the champion following closely behind at £1750 and an tight average of £1740 for five smashing steers complete another great days trading at Hexham for Ashley & John Murray and family.
The high fells above whitfield gave rise to another great run of calves from Messrs Lee, Agars Hill and once again these were highly sought after. Both steers and heifers peaked at £1380 and with many lots selling to return purchasers from both sides of the border The Lee family left happy with an average of £1259 for 11 calves sold on the day representing a lift of £140 per head on the year.
On only their third appearance in the store cattle ring at Hexham Messrs Fawcett, Well House have now cemented their reputation as both breeders and rearers of cattle of great quality. The home-bred run of Coquet Valley calves sold to £1350 for Blue cross; £1320 for Limmys and £1300 for Charolais (all steers) with heifers peaking at £1200. Their dairy bred reared cattle also garnered worthy attention and these peaked at £1055 for a pair of Blue cross yearling heifers to complete a happy day at Hexham for the herdsmen from Harbottle.
Many more cattle would undoubtedly be worthy of mention but highlights were indeed simply to numerous to mention. To take advantage of the trade attainable through the Hexham ring each week please contact store cattle auctioneers Chris Armstrong (07808 721957) or Drew Patrick (07854 361967) of the mart offices on 01434 605444 to discuss your entry. The auctioneers now look forward to the annual YFC calf competition which will take place next week.
Leading prices;
Cattle 23 – 30 Months
Limousin x steers – £1620 East Uppertown
Charolais x steers – £1700 Tosson Glebe
Angus x steers – £1880 Church Farm
British Blue x steers – £1590 Church Farm
Limousin x heifers – £2750, £2600, £2400, £2300 (x3), £2200 & £2100 Square House
British Blue x heifers – £2100 & £1800 Paxton Dene
Cattle 17 – 22 Months
Limousin x steers – £2000 Paxton Dene, £1770 Miller Hill, £1650 East Uppertown, £1610 Comb Hills
Charolais x steers – £1800 (x2), £1780 & £1660 Satley Farm
British Blue x steers – £1720 Paxton Dene
Angus x steers – £1400 Brackenthwaite, £1360 Broadlea
Simmental x steers – £1680 Satley Farm
Limousin x heifers – £2100 Square House, £1710 East Uppertown, £1610 Camphill, £1590 Lunns House, £1550 Well House
British Blue x heifers – £1420 Camphill
Angus heifers-£1560, £1460 & £1450 Berwick Hill
Angus x heifers – £1520 & £1480 (x2) Berwick Hill
Cattle 11 – 16 Months
Limousin x steers – £1880 Miller Hill, £1800 Glebe Farm, £1780 Swarland Old Hall, £1750 Glebe Farm, £1720 Little Bavington, £1700 Whiteside, £1630 Low Middleton, £1490 Whiteside & High Lovelady Shield, £1480 Low Middleton & Morley Hill, £1460 Wood End Farm & Low Middleton, £1440 Little Swinburne, £1420 Low Middleton, High Lovelady Shield & Heatheridge, £1410 Morley Hill, £1400 Little Swinburne, £1380 Agars Hill, £1370 Little Swinburne, £1360 Little Bavington, £1350 Wood End Farm & Wallend Farm
Charolais x steers – £1390 Low Middleton, £1300 Well House
Angus steers – £1320 Nampara
Angus x steers – £1590 Comb Hills
British Blue steers – £1880 Paxton Dene, £1780 Glebe Farm, £1420 Woodhead
Simmental x steers – £1450 & £1420 Ross Farm, £1380 Kingside, £1370 Kingside & West Shields
Blonde x steers-£1680 Houselope Grange
Limousin x heifers – £2350 Swarland Old Hall, £2300 & £1980 High Lovelady Shield, £1660 Middle Horsleyhope, £1650 Sherburn Tower, £1640 Whiteside, £1620 Sherburn Tower, £1530 Comb Hills, £1470 Whiteside, £1420 Swarland Old Hall & Whiteside, £1380 Agars Hill, £1340 Little Bavington, Little Swinburne, Whiteside & Agars Hill, £1300 Whiteside
Charolais x heifers – £1150 & £1140 Well House, £1120 Wydon
British Blue heifers – £1280 Wydon
Blonde x heifers-£1570 & £1500 Houselope Grange
Cattle 10 months and under
Limousin x steers – £1710 Whiteside, £1680 Harwood Shield, £1660 Woodhead, £1560 Woodhead & East Unthank, £1540 Whiteside, £1440 East Unthank, £1420 Little Swinburne & Harwood Shield, £1410 Wallend, £1380 Harwood Shield, £1370 East Loanend, £1360 Harwood Shield & Wallend Farm, £1350 Harwood Shield
British Blue x steers – £1720 & £1650 Glebe Farm, £1480 Harwood Shield, £1370 Middle Horsleyhope, £1350 & £1320 Well House, £1310 Harwood Shield, £1300 Agars Hill
Charolais x steers-£1220 Wydon
Simmental x steers-£1210 Kingside, £1200 West Shields
Angus x steers – £1150 Hedley West
Limousin x heifers – £1900 Middle Horsleyhope, £1640 Whiteside, £1550 Middle Horsleyhope, £1450 & £1440 (x2) East Unthank, £1430 Harwood Shield, £1400 Whiteside & Longlea, £1380 Middle Horsleyhope, £1350 Agars Hill, £1300 Whiteside & Harwood Shield, £1280 (x2) Harwood Shield, £1240 Glower-Oer-Him, £1220 Ricknall Grange, £1200 Ricknall Grange & Well House
Charolais x heifers-£1090 & £1040 Well House
British Blue x hefiers – £1240 & £1140 Middle Horsleyhope
Cast Ewes
Hexham & Northern Marts sold 1282 Cast Ewes & Rams to an increased trade although leaner Hill ewes still sticky.
A pen of four Texel ewes topped the trade at £228 from Mr J H Emerson, Haggate Farm. Messrs Graham, Stone Hall also tipped over the two hundred pound mark and sold a pen of Texels to £220.
Suffolk ewes sold to £180 from Mr F T Walton, Flotterton. Flotterton also sold a pair of Blueface Leicesters ewes to £152.
Blackface ewes sold to £117 for a pen of 4 from Messrs W & J A Longlands, Rusheylaw.
A pair of Mules sold to £133 from Messrs J Hunter & Sons, The Steel.
Please enter your ewes with Jack on 07739 440457
Texel – £228 Haggate Farm, £220 Stone Hall
Texel x – £190 Haggate Farm, £180 Flotterton Cottage, £170 Chesters, £160 Willimoteswick & Fell Lane Farm, £155 Hard Riding, £152 Midbank, £148 Haggate Farm, £147 Thornley Hall, £140 Willimoteswick, £138 Willimoteswick, New Dotland & Chesters, £136 Burntongues, £135 Rosebrough, £132 Haggate Farm, East Greenridge & Corneyside, £130 Little Bavington
Suffolk – £180 Flotterton
Suffolk x – £152 Flotterton, £150 Morrowfield, £140 Steel Hall
Beltex x – £130 Well House
Dutch Texel x-£120 Willimoteswick
North Country Cheviot-£127 Flotterton
Cheviot – £115 South Farm
Mule – £133 The Steel, £129 Midbank, £126 Snabdough, £123 Morrowfield, £122 Dyke Nook & Burntongues, £120 Flotterton, £119 Well House Farm, £118 New Dotland, Butsfield Burn & Low Leam
Half Bred-£121 Berry Hill
Leicester-£152 Flotterton, £132 Glebe Farm & Low Leam
Cross-£128 Steel Hall
Blackface – £117 Rusheylaw, £110 New Dotland
Swaledale – £85 Stotsfold, £84 Dyke Nook, Nookton & Lords Lot Farm
Cast Tups
Cast Tups sold to £185 for a pair of Texels from popular mart man Mr Dave Brodie, Chesters.
Texel – £185 Chesters, £155 Stotsfold, £152 Newton Farm & The Steel, £150 Haggate Farm
Suffolk – £140 Ravensworth Grange
Charollais – £172 Ravensworth Grange
Beltex – £172 Burntongues
Leicester – £152 The Steel
Blackface – £145 Carrick, £120 Tone Hall
Swaledale – £100 Allenheads
Store Hoggs
Hexham & Northern Marts sold a catalogued entry of 2131 Store Hoggs to another pleasing trade.
Topping the trade was a huge Suffolk cross hoggs at £138 from Mrs H E Jewitt, Lodge House Farm.
Texels topped at £115 from Mr J R Thompson, The Fawns.
Blackface hoggs sold to £109 from Dudlees Partners.
Cheviot hoggs topped at £105 for a penful from Mr J A Rogerson, Bellshiel.
Mules sold to £104 for a trio from Mr K Lumley, Newbiggen Farm.
Entries to Jack on 07739 440457 or Harrison on 07895 761102
Texel x –£115 The Fawns, £113 High Castle Dene, £112 Dukesfied Hall, £109 Newbiggin Farm & High Warden Farm, £108 (x2) High Baulk, £107 Riding Farm, £106 Matfen Home Farm, £105 High Baulk & Ochrelands, £102 High Castle Dene, £101 Moss Barns & Well House Farm, £100 (x2) Bankfoot
Suffolk-£138 Lodge House Farm
Suffolk x –£114 Brixter Hill, £113 Flotterton, £109 Sunniside, £102 Newbiggin Farm, £100 Morrowfield, £98 Whittonstone Farm & Brixter Hill, £97 Milkup Bank Farm, £96 Morrowfield
Cheviot x – £105 Bellshiel, £100 Flotterton, £98 Bankfoot
Mule – £104 Newbiggin Farm, £90 Stoop Rigg, £85 Flotterton, £84 Todhillwood
Beltex x-£92 (x2) The Fawns
Dutch Texel x – £97 Fell Lane
Blackface – £109 Dudlees, £90 Stoop Rigg
Swaledale – £83 Haggate Farm