Show & Sale of Store Cattle & Store Sheep
Hexham Auction Mart
06.03.2026
Store Cattle
Hexham & Northern Marts held their Special March Prize Show & Sale of Store Cattle and Suckled Calves incorporating the culmination of the Eighteenth Young Farmers Calf Wintering Competition and offered for sale a large and impressive catalogue of 955 cattle drawn from the noted stock producing regions of Northumberland, Cumbria, County Durham, Yorkshire & The Scottish Borders.
(YFC REPORT TO FOLLOW)
The March Prize show was once again kindly sponsored by Capontree Veterinary Centre and Thomas Sherriff & Co and saw a small but highly select entry of continental cross bred calves put before the lady judge Miss Katrina Donaldson, Huby, North Yorkshire who carried out the first of two tasks on the evening with due consideration of all cattle presented and made her awards as follows;
Limousin cross steer;
1st – Messrs Lee, Agars Hill.
2nd – Messrs Charlton, Whiteside.
3rd – Messrs Rochester & Murray, Glebe Farm.
Blue cross steer;
1st – Messrs Lee, Agars Hill.
Charolais cross steer;
1st – Walker Bros, Satley.
2nd – Walker Bros, Satley.
Male Champion – Agars Hill (Limx)
Male Res. Champ – Agars Hill (BBx)
Limousin cross heifer;
1st – Messrs Armstrong, Harlow Bower.
2nd – Messrs Rochester & Murray, Glebe Farm.
3rd – Messrs Sparke, Little Swinburne.
Blue cross heifer;
1st – Messrs Rochester & Murray, Glebe Farm.
2nd – Messrs Dixon, Chirdon.
Female Champion – Harlow Bower
Female Res. Champ – Glebe Farm (Limx)
Overall Champion – Messrs Armstrong, Harlow Bower, Limx Hfr.
Reserve Champion – Messrs Lee, Agars Hill, Limx Str.
From an exceptional line-up of class winners Miss Donaldson tapped out the sensational red Limousin cross-bred heifer from long-standing and noted producers at this centre Eric & Mark Armstrong, Harlow Bower, Whitfield as her Overall Champion and recipient of the John Davison Millenium Trophy which was presented by Mr Davison and the assembled sponsors in the sale ring the next day. The heifer looked every inch the champion on the day with trademark Harlow Bower style from a Blue-cross dam put to the tried-and-tested Limousin sire which had previously provided the winning formula on many occasions in the Hexham show ring.
Standing as a thoroughly deserved Reserve Champion was the earlier Male Champion from Messrs Lee, Agars Hill another Whitfield family synonymous with success in the show ring on Tyne Green. The long, sleek and shapely bullock certainly caught the eye and gained a deal of attention round both the show and sale rings and headed up yet another great run from Messrs Lee sold on the day.
With almost one thousand head offered for sale the sizeable catalogue represented the largest show of numbers at this special sale for several years and a crowd of buyers were drawn to match from across the UK.
The day began with a useful offering of older forward type store cattle and these in the main proved a steadier trade than seen during the latter weeks of February. The pick of these were the cracking pen of well-bred Limmy types from Messrs Walton, Ogle Castle that peaked at £2920 for an outstanding bullock and with their lead heifer changing hands at £2600 they went on to average a noteworthy £2670 for eight steers and four heifers sold on the day.
At such a special sale that is renowned for top quality cattle a number of high-end herdmasters now look to source heifer replacements from these ranks and this was certainly the case on this day. Messrs Pearson, High Plaskett, Maryport, Cumbria followed last weeks great trade with a sublime pen of four superb black Limmy heifers that caught many such an eye and sold to a roaring trade, the best two both levelling at a worthy £3200 and adding to an average of £2867 for four great females brought East along the A69 for great reward.
Likewise, John Guiry, Glanton Town Farm is also highly-regarded for the quality of cattle from his North Northumberland holding and these also garnered much attention. With the best of a fantastic run of heifers selling to £2880 and two bullocks topping at £2800 Mr Guiry went back home up the A697 a happy man having realised a thoroughly deserved average of £2515 for 23 cattle sold.
The main focus of this day has always been the numerous well-bred offerings of over wintered yearling types that attract interest from all quarters and on Tyne Green, on this day this proved yet again to be the case. With the ring packed to capacity pen after pen of cracking calves were brought forward and sold to great advantage, mirroring and exceeding the levels experienced at the back end of last year.
Unsurprisingly these yearling classes were topped by the earlier show champion which set off at a pace and at just 9 months and 9 days old rattled up to a whopping £5200 – just rewards for The Armstrong men at Harlow Bower, selling over the phone, unseen to a return customer at this centre.
This was then followed at £3200 by the third prize Limousin cross heifer and the first foray into the show ring for Miss Imogen Sparke, ably assisted by father Kevin, Little Swinburne both of whom were delighted with their returns – selling two on the day to average £2790 – doubtless the beginning of a stellar cattle rearing career for the able Miss Sparke.
As always highlights on this day, at this sale, in this centre were too numerous to mention in their entirety however a round up of the day and from across the catalogue outlines the appeal of cattle drawn from the many regions represented;
Robin Macdonald, Low Middleton, Belford sold smart LImmy steers to £2260 with heifer sisters ascending to £2340 and a well-deserved average of £2108 for 17 sold and hauled the relatively short ‘hop’ from their North Northumberland parish – Robin does enjoy his trips down the A1!
Hadrians Wall Country has long since filled the Hexham alleys with top quality cattle and Messrs Charlton, Whiteside are well-known for their great Limmy crosses with shape and outcome. Dennis & Stuart enjoyed another fast trade with return purchasers in abundance. Their lead steer rocketed to £2640 and with the best of the heifers cashing at £2240 eighteen cracking calves levelled at a more than respectable £2111 throughout.
Messrs Wanwood Partners continue to enjoy the benefits of the Hexham ring and a super pen of 11 shapely heifer calves bred high on the Alston fells topped at £2180 and averaged a mighty £2034 for The Walton Family.
Peebleshire is rarely represented at Hexham but Messrs Cockburn, Kingside have long since seen the advantage of a trip South of The Border and, far removed from the dark days of The Reivers brothers Tom & Blair headed home back over the Carter Bar with their purses full after a great days plunder. Their replete run of eighteen sold to £2300 for the best steer and with the lead heifer just ten pounds behind they attained a hefty average of £2068 per head.
The aforementioned Lee’s of Agars Hill came to town with a select packet of eight on this day, all bullocks and their Reserve Champion rang the bell at £2800 – one which will no doubt grace the show circuit this summer for the lady judge. The typically stylish pen went on to average an eye-catching £2322 for the breeders of renown.
Having left the snow-covered Alston tops early on sale morning Thomas Athey once again turned heads with his smart sorts and scaled to £2950 for a sweet red heifer. With bullock brothers topping at £2450 an average of £2141 for 18 sold was a deserved figure attained for the cracking calves from High Lovelady Shield – now readily regarded as some of the best sold through Hexham during the course of the year.
The cream of the Butsfield bred Glebe Farm calves were noticeable in the show ring and a small selection were presented at this sale before the main raft come forward in May. Messrs Rochester & Murray always figure highly in such sale reports and females took top honours on the day selling to £3100 and again at £3000 for a delighted John & Ashley Murray who averaged £2678 for six on the day.
Increasing numbers of County Durham cattle are selling to advantage at Hexham and one such consignment was that of Messrs Robson, High West House who saw their great run of 28 calves bred high on the tops of Tow Law sell to a very level trade. Steers climbed to £2220 and with heifers following closely behind at £2180 Billy & Craig were happy to see a return of £1971 throughout.
These rewarding returns were maintained throughout the entire days trading and buyers remained keen until the last beast was sold. It has often been mentioned that a ‘later turn’ isn’t a ‘bad turn’ at Hexham and those that choose to take advantage of such a buoyant market more often are justly rewarded. Messrs Brown, Amerside law are another family from North of the county that have enjoyed a great trade in recent weeks and today that trade continued. They presented no fewer than 24 calves towards the end of the sale and when the majority of the catalogue featured Limousin sired cattle their Charolais and Angus breeding followed in the same vein of pricing with bullocks of each breed scaling to £2120 and £2080 respectively at 9-10 months and contributing to an average on the day of £1922 per head.
The auctioneers were delighted with the outcome of this special sale and would like to extend grateful thanks to all consignors, purchasers, sponsors and our judge. Entries for next weeks sale are invited and should be directed to The Mart Offices on 01434 605444.
Leading prices;
Cattle 30 Months +
Limousin x steers – £2560 Sunniside
Angus x heifers – £1980 Catreen
Cattle 22 – 30 Months
Limousin x steers – £2920, £2860 x2 & £2760 Ogle Castle, £2620 Luns House & Glanton Town, £2580 Arnold House, £2520 & £2480 Luns House, £2460 Bilton, £2440 Luns House & Bilton, £2280 Bilton, £2220 Bilton, East Uppertown & Comb Hills
British Blue x steers – £2800 Glanton Town
Charolais x steers – £2680 Satley, £2660 Newlands Haugh, £2580 Satley, £2540 Newlands Haugh, £2520 Satley x2, £2480 Satley & Newlands Haugh, £2340 Newlands Haugh
Angus x steers – £2500 Sunniside, £2480 Arnold House, £2400 Catreen, £2360 Springwell, £2320 Arnold House, £2260 Allendale
Simmental x steers – £2560 & £2400 x2 Newlands Haugh
Limousin x heifers – £3200 High Plaskett, £2600 & £2520 Ogle Castle, £2500 Glanton Town, £2420 High Plaskett, £2400 Ogle Castle, £2320 Glanton Town
British Blue x heifers – £3200 High Plaskett, £2780 Glanton Town
Charolais x heifers – £2060 Arnold House x2, £1900 & £1860 East Fourstones
Angus x heifers – £2640 Springwell, £2260 Catreen, £2240 Rare Dean, £2180 Allendale, £2140 Rare Dean
Hereford x heifers – £1720 Longfield House
Cattle 17-21 Months
Limousin x steers – £2800 x2, £2780 & £2660 Ogle Castle, £24200, £2280 x2, £2260 x2 & £2220 Bilton
Charolais x steers – £2800, £2660, £2560 & £2320 Satley, £2280 & £2200 Arnold House
Angus x steers – £2580 Sunniside & Arnold House, £2480, £2420 & £2340 Springwell
Simmental x steers – £2500 Newlands Haugh
Hereford x steers – £2360 Allendale
Limousin heifers – £2480 & £2350 Glanton Town
Limousin x heifers – £2880, £2780 & £2660 x2 Glanton Town, £2650 High Plaskett, £2620, £2500 x2, £2380, £2360 & £2300 x2 Glanton Town, £2280 Luns House x2 & Glanton Town, £2220 Luns House
British Blue x heifers – £2700 Glanton Town & Temon, £2340 Glanton Town
Cattle 12 – 16 Months
Limousin steers – £2190 Baal Hill, £2070 Wood End, £2000 Low Middleton
Limousin x steers – £2620 Glebe, £2450 & £2420 High Lovelady Shield, £2350 & £2320 Glebe, £2280 Farnbury, £2250 Ross Farm, £2220 Low Middleton, £2200 High Lovelady Shield, £2180 High Lovelady Shield & Lee Hall, £2160 Low Middleton x2, £2150, £2120 & £2100 Lee Hall
British Blue x steers – £1870 Morley Hill, £1840 High Lovelady Shield
Angus x steers – £2380 & £2280 Springwell
Beef Shorthorn x steers – £1870 Morley Hill, £1840 High Lovelady Shield
Limousin heifers – £2340 Low Middleton, £2300 Hoyle Bottom, £2200 & £2070 Wood End
Limousin x heifers – £2950 High Lovelady Shield, £2290 Kingside, £2250 Low Middleton, £2180 Allenshields, £2170 High Lovelady Shield, £2140 Low Middleton
British Blue x heifers – £3000 Glebe
Angus x heifers – £2020 & £1820 Linacres
Cattle 6-11 Months
Limousin steers – £2640 Whiteside, £2110, £2040 & £2010 Throstle Nest
Limousin x steers – £2800 Agars Hill, £2380 Whiteside, £2300 Kingside, £2280 Woodhead, £2260 Low Middleton & Agars Hill, £2220 High West House, £2210 Ross Farm, £2200 Town Farm, East Unthank & Allenshields x2, £2180 Agars Hill, £2160 Embleton Mill, Agars Hill, Allenshields x2 & Highside, £2150 Kingside & High West House, £2140 Woodhead x3, Whiteside, Embleton Mill x2, East Unthank & Glower-Oer-Him, £2130 Ross Farm, £2120 Farnbury, Kingside x2, Agars Hill, Burradon Mains, Round Meadows, High West House, Pinfold House & Morley Hill, £2110 Town Farm, Embleton Mill & Low Stokoe, £2100 Low Middleton, East Loanend, Whiteside, Kingside x2, Embleton Mill x2, Burradon Mains, High West House, Pinfold House & East Murton
British Blue x steers – £2400 & £2380 Agars Hill, £2280 Woodhead & Agars Hill, £2220 Morley Hill, £2080 East Loanend, £2070 & £2020 Morley Hill
Charolais x steers – £2120 & £2040 Amerside Law, £2020, £1940 & £1860 Woodhall
Angus x steers – £2080 & £2040 Amerside Law, £1980 Littleburn, £1880 Broome Hill
South Devon steers – £1860 & £1850 Hareshaw
Beef Shorthorn x steers – £1640 Holystone
Hereford x steers – £1310 Whitehouse Farm Centre
Limousin heifers – £2180 Harlow Bower, £2090 East Unthank, £1910 Wood End, £1860 Allergill
Limousin x heifers – £5200 Harlow Bower, £3200 Little Swinburne, £3100 Glebe, £2400 Chirdon, £2380 Little Swinburne, £2300 & £2280 East Unthank, £2240 Woodhall, Whiteside & High Lovelady Shield, £2220 West Moorhouses, £2200 Woodhead & East Murton, £2180 Wanwood Hill, High West House & West Moorhouses, £2170 Whiteside & East Unthank, £2160 Woodhead, Whiteside & High West House, £2140 Whiteside & Burradon Mains, £2130 West Moorhouses, £2120 Hareshaw, £2100 Farnbury, Woodhall, Wanwood Hill x2 & High Lovelady Shield, £2080 Wanwood Hill, £2040 Embleton Mill x2, £2020 Wanwood Hill & High West House, £2000 Whiteside, Burn House, Burradon Mains & Ross Farm
British Blue x heifers – £2160 Chirdon, £2150 Whiteside, £2120 East Loanend, £2020, £1980 & £1920 Morley Hill
Charolais x heifers – £1840 Amerside Law, £1780 Woodhall, £1770 Amerside Law, £1760 Woodhall x2 & Amerside Law
Angus x heifers – £1880 Amerside Law
Hereford x heifers – £1440 Whitehouse Farm Centre
South Devon x heifers – £1250 Hareshaw
Cast Ewes
Hexham & Northern Marts sold 827 Cast Ewes & Tups to a much stronger trade with a very competitive ring of buyers.
Topping the sale at £315 was a Texel ewe from West Stobswood.
At £300 was a Texel ewe from O Harrison, Aimshaugh.
Suffolk x ewes sold to £250 from Cole Hill Farm Ltd, Hartlepool who also sold 5 at £240.
Cheviot x ewes sold to £228 from West Stobswood.
Bluefaced Leicester ewes sold to £185 from P C Charleton, Little Harle.
Mule ewes sold to £180 twice from Messrs Graham, Miller Hill and then a penful of 14 from West Stobswood.
Blackface ewes sold to £161 for 6 from W Walton & Sons, Troughend.
Swale ewes sold to £118 for a pair from W Gibson & Son, West End Farm.
Goats sold to £170 from L Stephenson, Front Street.
Lairage available on Thursday night.
Please continue to enter your ewes.
Jack 07739 440457
Harrison 07895 761102
Andrew 07955 275403
Neil 07955 268459
Leading prices;
Texel – £315 West Stobswood, £300 Aimshaugh, £285 Errington Red House, £280 Linacres, £265 Cornhills, £260 West Stobswood, £235 Birky Glen
Texel x – £226 West End, £216 West Stobswood, £212 Little Harle, £210 West Shaftoe, £208 West Stobswood & Linacres, £200 Errington Red House, £198 West Stobswood & West Shaftoe, £195 West Stobswood, £192 West Stobswood x4, Low Chesterhope & Prospect House, £190 Little Harle & Miller Hill
Suffolk – £250 & £240 Cole Hill Farm, £228 Prospect House, £220 West Stobswood, £218 Luns House, £214 South Farm, £210 West Stobswood, £202 Sunniside & West Stobswood, £200 Comb Hills, £196 Luns House, £195 Quarry House, £192 Saugh House & South Farm, £186 West Stobswood
Beltex x – £220 & £200 West Stobswood
Charollais x – £172 Great Tosson
Cheviot x – £228 West Stobswood, £218 Comb Hills, £204 West Stobswood
Cheviot Mule – £170 Errington Red House & Spenside, £158 Errington Red House
Mule – £182 West End, £180 West Stobswood & Miller Hill, £178 Luns House & Saugh House x2, £176 Holybush & Horncastle, £172 Prospect House, £170 West Shaftoe, £166 Linacres, £165 Luns House, £164 Yew Tree, £158 Dukesfield Hall & Quarry House, £156 Holybush & Tulip Villa, £154 Haredene, £152 Houselope Grange, £150 Sparks Farm
Cheviot – £175 & £158 West Stobswood, £146 North Churchlands, £138 Bingfield Combe, £135 Ridge End, £134 North Churchlands, £132 Aimshaugh
Blackface – £161 Troughend, £148 Rusheylaw, £126 Chirdon x2 & Little Harle, £124 Birky Glen & Greyside, £122 Holybush, £120 Rusheylaw & Davy Shiel
Swaledale – £118 West End
Leicester – £185 Little Harle
Romney x – £164 West Stobswood
Beulah Speckled Face – £134 Comb Hills
Jacob – £100 Blackhill
Goats – £170 & £150 Honey Farm
Cast Tups
Cast Tups sold to £295 for a Bluefaced Leicester tup from F T Walton, Flotterton.
At £280 was a pair of Texels from Messrs Graham, Miller Hill.
Leading prices;
Texel – £280 Miller Hill, £245 Houselope Grange, £210 Cornhills, £200 Aimshaugh
Suffolk – £230 Luns House, £210 Houselope Grange
Beltex – £158 Errington Red House
Blue Texel – £225 Cornhills
Leicester – £295, £265 & £220 Flotterton
Cheviot – £192 Aimshaugh x2
Blackface – £160 Little Harle
Store Hoggs
Hexham & Northern Marts sold a catalogued entry of 1341 Store Hoggs with all classes selling dearer on the week, following the national trend.
Sale top of £188 for a pair of Beltex hoggs from S & M Pickworth, Dotland Park, followed at £182 again for Beltex hoggs from R H Walton, Linacres.
Hill and light bred hoggs sold again to a ripper with Cheviots topping at £164 for a penful from Quickeningcote Partners. Another highlight was 100 Cheviot hoggs at £150 from F T Walton, Flotterton.
Horned hoggs peaked at £146 for Blackface hoggs from H & H Robson, Townshields.
Entries strongly advised and invited to meet growing buyer demand.
Jack 07739 440457
Harrison 07895 761102
Andrew 07955 275403
Neil 07955 268459
Office 01434 605444
Leading prices;
Texel – £166 Quickeningcote
Texel x – £178 Quarry House, £174 Dotland Park & Hedley Park, £172 Quarry House, £168 Moorlaws & High Baulk, £162 High Baulk, South Dissington, Linacres, Settlingstones & Palm Strothers, £160 Moorlaws, £158 Armstrong Arms & Linacres, £156 Palm Strothers, £154 Little Harle, £152 Bingfield Combe, £151 Palm Strothers, £150 The Peels, £149 Armstrong Arms & Hedley Park, £148 Low Carriteth, £147 Settlingstones, £146 Greyside, £145 Settlingstones, £144 South Dissington, Linacres, Westhouses & Palm Strothers, £142 Hedley Park, £141 Riding Farm, £140 Wadley & Low Carriteth, £139 Hedgeley x2, £138 Little Hartle x2 & Palm Strothers, £137 Settlingstones, £136 Luns House, High Baulk, Waite Farm, Greyside, North Sorrowlessfield, Linacres & Westhouses, £135 Armstrong Arms, £134 Ogle Dene, Woodlands Hall & Settlingstones, £132 Prospect House & Palm Strothers, £131 Haredene & Riding Farm x2, £130 Moorlaws & Prospect House, £129 Ogle Dene, £128 Moorlaws, Greyside & Dene House, £126 Moorlaws & Quarry House x2, £124 Waite Farm, £122 Little Harle, £120 High Baulk, Aimshaugh & Moorlaws
Suffolk x – £168 Bellshiel & Sunniside, £156 Allenheads & Lamberton Lodge, £154 Sunniside, £152 Bellshiel, £149 The Peels, £148 Palm Strothers, £146 Hedley Park x2, Lamberton Lodge, Westhouses & Settlingstones, £145 The Peels & Lamberton Lodge, £144 Greyside & Palm Strothers, £142 North Sorrowlessfield, £141 The Peels & Woodlands Hall, £140 The Peel & Prospect House, £138 Woodlands Hall, £135 Armstrong Arms, £134 Riding Farm, £126 Sunniside, £125 Settlingstones, £124 Wadley & Dene House, £123 Allenheads, £120 Haredene
Beltex x – £188 Dotland Park, £182 Linacres, £166 & £156 Dotland Park
Cheviot – £164 & £160 Quickeningcote, £150 Flotterton & Bingfield Combe, £148 Bellshiel, £140 Aimshaugh, £136 Heatheridge, £132 Bellshiel, £128 Flotterton, £124 Cottonshope, £120 Bellshiel
Cheviot x – £138 Aimshaugh, £134 Bellshiel
Mule – £154 Low Carriteth, £140 Quarry House, £138 Low Carriteth, £137 Settlingstones, £130 Little Harle, £127 Allenheads, £120 Burn House, £118 Hedgeley & Allenheads x2, £117 & £116 Quarry House, £112 Greyside, £110 Burn House & Allenheads
Blackface – £146 Townshields, £129 Edges Green, £128 Chirdon, £127 Quarry House, £122 Bellshiel & Quarry House, £120 Hedgeley, £118 x2 & £116 Greyside, £113 Quarry House
Swaledale – £98 & £92 Allenheads
Leicester – £130 Flotterton
Herdwick x – £134 Aimshaugh
Icelandic – £96 Low Cornriggs
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