Bellingham Sale of Suckled Calves
Hexham Auction Mart
22.10.2026
Bellingham Calf Sale
Hexham & Northern Marts held its annual Bellingham Suckled Calf Sale, attracting a substantially larger entry than the previous year, with 1,015 calves forward from throughout the North of England and Scottish Borders.
The sale was once again kindly sponsored by Carrs Billington and Zoetis, with judging undertaken by Mr B Owen of Anglesey. A tremendous show of calves came before the judge, and following the completion of the preliminary classes, the Overall Championship and the Michael Walton Perpetual Silver Challenge Cup were awarded to the outstanding British Blue steer exhibited by T C E Armstrong, Harlow Bower.
Reserve Champion honours went to returning supporters Messrs Dent, Beamwham, with a very stylish Limousin-cross heifer.
Full Prize List:
Best Four Continental Cross Steer Calves
1st – Wanwood Partners, Wanwood Hill
2nd – J R G Johnson, West Wharmley
Best Four Continental Cross Heifer Calves
1st – J G Clarkson & Partners, Elrington Hall
2nd – J R G Johnson, West Wharmley
Best Single Limousin Cross Steer Calf
1st – T C E Armstrong, Harlow Bower
2nd – J H Craggs, Glower-Oer-Him
Best Single Limousin Cross Heifer Calf
1st – Messrs Dent, Beamwham
2nd – R E Williamson,Littleburn
Best Single Other Continental Cross Steer Calf
1st – T C E Armstrong, Harlow Bower
2nd – R E Williamson,Littleburn
Best Single Other Continental Cross Heifer Calf
1st – J R G Johnson, West Wharmley
Overall Champion – T C E Armstrong, Harlow Bower
Reserve Champion – Messrs Dent, Beamwham
The increased entry attracted buyers from far and wide, all keen to secure quality suckled calves. Trade faced a difficult comparison with last year’s exceptional “once in a generation” sale. Whilst the very best steers and heifers met a slightly easier trade than twelve months ago with plenty of competition ringside for the best of calves, but it was the middle draws of cattle that met more resistance. These sold in line with the reduction in finished beef prices over the past year, with cattle generally seeing a reduction of £150 to £200 on the 2025 levels.
The overall average was exactly £150 down on the previous year, in line with pre-sale expectations. However, this year’s sale saw over 200 additional cattle sold compared with 2025. Much of this increase could be attributed to the larger number of traditional “hairy hill-type” calves forward.
Leading the heifer section were three exceptional lots. The day’s top price of £2,750 was achieved by an outstanding black Limousin-cross heifer from relatively new Bellingham vendors Wanwood Partners.
Fierce bidding from all corners of the ring culminated in the remarkable price. The same vendors went on to sell another black heifer for £2,500, while T C E Armstrong, Harlow Bower also sold an impressive black heifer at the same level.
The steer trade was headed by a tremendous Limousin-cross steer from J G Clarkson & Partners, Elrington Hall, which realised £2,400. The Champion British Blue steer from T C E Armstrong, Harlow Bower sold well at £2,300, while R Thornton & Sons, Cornhills marketed steers to £2,240.
A large entry of native-bred calves met keen demand, topping at £1,900 for a pen of five Angus-cross steers from T Hall, The Raw. W & P F Walton, Penpeugh also offered a selection of native-bred calves alongside their usual British Blue and Limousin-bred cattle, with an Angus steer selling to £1,800.
B W S Verrill, Sundaysight made a welcome return to the Bellingham sale with a quality run of Blue Grey and Angus-cross cattle. Their Blue Grey steers sold to £1,500 and £1,400 respectively.
A strong show of Galloway steers attracted considerable attention from buyers, with a top call of £1,200 for an impressive seven-month-old steer from J R F Pattinson & Son, Hotbank. The animal heads to Cornwall as part of a sizeable consignment of Blue Grey and Galloway steers purchased on the day.
Overall, the sale demonstrated the continuing strength of demand for quality suckled calves, with increased numbers of all classes, with a solid trade throughout for the better, stronger calves, albeit easier throughout compared to last years extreme rates.
Leading prices;
Steers
Limousin Cross
£2,400 Elrington Hall, £2,240 Cornhills, £2,220 Harlow Bower, £2,200 East Loanend & Glower-Our-Him & Penpeugh & Cornhills, £2,160 Littleburn Farm, £2,140 Elrington Hall, £2,100 West Edmondsley & Dene House, £2,080 Glower-Our-Him, £2,060 Wanwood Hill, £2,040 Hole Farm & Low Middleton Farmhouse, £2,030 Hole Farm, £2,020 East Loanend, £2,000 Nilston Rigg & West Wharmley & Low Middleton Farmhouse, £1,990 East Loanend, £1,980 East Loanend & Low Middleton Farmhouse & Glower-Our-Him & Elrington Hall & Errington Red House, £1,960 Sweethope & Wanwood Hill x2 & Morley Hill & Glower-Our-Him & Beamwham x2, £1,950 East Loanend, £1,940 Dyke Nook & Elrington Hall, £1,930 Harlow Bower, £1,910 Sweethope & Hopefoot, £1,900 Wanwood Hill & Errington Red House, £1,890 Low Middleton Farmhouse, £1,880 Dyke Nook & Nilston Rigg & Wanwood Hill & Penpeugh, £1,870 Wanwood Hill, £1,860 Cottonshope & Lee Hall, £1,850 Sweethope & Beamwham & Penpeugh, £1,840 Sweethope & Hole Farm & East Loanend & West Wharmley, £1,820 East Loanend & Glower-Our-Him & Hareshaw Allotment, £1,810 East Loanend & Elrington Hall, £1,800 Morley Hill & Hole Farm & East Loanend & Dene House & East Murton, £1,790 Morley Hill, £1,780 Dyke Nook & Nilston Rigg & Ouston, £1,770 Morley Hill, £1,760 Nilston Rigg x2 & Elrington Hall & Hareshaw Allotment, £1,740 Hole Farm, £1,720 Dyke Nook & Elrington Hall & East Murton, £1,710 Nilston Rigg, £1,700 Wanwood Hill & The Laws
Limousin Cross, British Blue Cross
£1,660 Morley Hill
British Blue Cross
£2,300 Harlow Bower, £2,200 Penpeugh, £2,160 Penpeugh, £2,120 Penpeugh, £2,100 Morley Hill, £2,040 Morley Hill, £2,020 Morley Hill, £2,000 Littleburn Farm, £1,930 Penpeugh, £1,780 West Wharmley, £1,760 Morley Hill x2
British Blue Cross, Limousin Cross
£1,980 Morley Hill
Charolais Cross
£2,050 Mirlaw House, £2,040 West Wharmley, £2,020 West Wharmley, £1,980 Mirlaw House & Castlehills, £1,970 West Wharmley, £1,920 West Wharmley, £1,840 Mirlaw House, £1,830 7 Flotterton Cottages & Craigsford Mains, £1,740 West Wharmley, £1,620 Whintingstown & West Wharmley
Aberdeen Angus Cross
£1,900 Raw, £1,800 Penpeugh, £1,760 Mount St John, £1,620 Mount St John x2, £1,600 Mount St John, £1,580 Mount St John & Raw, £1,560 Mount St John, £1,520 Drinkstone & Mount St John & Raw, £1,500 Raw, £1,440 Drinkstone, £1,430 Drinkstone, £1,420 Drinkstone x2, £1,400 Mount St John & Sundaysight x2 & Raw
Aberdeen Angus
£1,480 Castlehills
Simmental Cross
£1,660 St Oswalds, £1,640 St Oswalds, £1,620 St Oswalds, £1,550 St Oswalds
Parthenais Cross, Limousin Cross
£1,540 The Laws
Whitebred Shorthorn Cross
£1,500 Sundaysight, £1,400 Sundaysight, £1,030 High Thorneyburn, £960 Whintingstown
Whitebred Shorthorn
£1,000 Hotbank
Salers Cross
£1,220 Mains Rigg, £1,160 Mains Rigg
Galloway
£1,200 Hotbank, £1,140 Hotbank, £940 Hotbank
Galloway Cross
£1,120 Penpeugh
Galloway, Belted Galloway
£820 High Thorneyburn
Blue Grey
£1,120 Hotbank x2
Heifers
Limousin Cross
£2,750 Wanwood Hill, £2,500 Harlow Bower & Wanwood Hill, £2,350 Wanwood Hill, £2,300 Wanwood Hill, £2,250 The Laws & Beamwham, £2,200 Littleburn Farm & Wanwood Hill & Beamwham, £2,060 Harlow Bower & Elrington Hall, £2,040 Harlow Bower, £1,920 East Loanend & Elrington Hall & Penpeugh, £1,910 Harlow Bower, £1,900 Morley Hill & Dene House & Errington Red House x2, £1,890 Harlow Bower & East Loanend, £1,880 Dene House & Glower-Our-Him & Elrington Hall, £1,870 Glower-Our-Him, £1,860 West Wharmley & Low Middleton Farmhouse, £1,850 Nilston Rigg & Sweethope, £1,840 Harlow Bower x2 & Mirlaw House & East Loanend & Hareshaw Allotment & The Laws, £1,810 Hole Farm & Dene House, £1,800 Dyke Nook & Wanwood Hill & East Loanend, £1,790 Lee Hall, £1,780 East Loanend & Glower-Our-Him, £1,770 East Loanend & Penpeugh & Lee Hall, £1,760 Cornhills & Monk, £1,750 East Loanend & Dene House
Limousin, Limousin Cross
£1,960 Glower-Our-Him
Limousin
£1,160 West Edmondsley
Charolais Cross
£1,810 West Wharmley, £1,780 Flotterton, £1,600 Mirlaw House, £1,560 West Wharmley, £1,550 West Wharmley, £1,500 Mirlaw House x2 & Castlehills, £1,420 West Wharmley x2
British Blue Cross, Limousin Cross
£1,730 Morley Hill
British Blue Cross
£1,520 Morley Hill
Salers, Charolais Cross
£1,400 Craigsford Mains
Aberdeen Angus Cross
£1,360 Mount St John, £1,340 Mirlaw House, £1,200 Raw x2, £1,180 Drinkstone & Sundaysight, £1,140 Mount St John & Sundaysight & Cottonshope
Aberdeen Angus
£1,300 Castlehills
Galloway Cross
£1,040 Penpeugh