Annual Bellingham Calf Show & Sale
Hexham Auction Mart
23.10.2025
Hexham & Northern Marts held their traditional and now nationally renowned ‘Bellingham’ prize show and sale of spring born suckled calves and offered for sale a super catalogued entry of 847 calves, all of which had been born after the 1st of January this year.
Consisting of over fifty consignments of top quality cattle from noted upland suckler cow herdmasters from across Northumberland, County Durham, Cumbria and The Scottish Borders this important sale continues to set the benchmark for the sale of such springborn calves across the North of England.
Prior to the sale the prize show was conducted and once again kindly sponsored by Carrs-Billington and Zoetis Animal Health and this year the show classes were presided over by master judge and noted County Durham finisher of note Mr Andrew Moralee, Blackburn, Langley Park. Presented with an entry of over thirty exceptional calves Mr Moralee made his awards as follows;
Best Pen of 4 Calves;
1st West Wharmley (Charx Strs); 2nd Willimoteswick (Limx Strs)
Best Limx Steer;
1st Heatheridge; 2nd Wanwood Hill
Best Limx Heifer;
1st Glower-oer-Him; 2nd Penpeugh
Best Other Contx Steer;
1st Penpeugh (BBx); 2nd Flotterton (Charx)
Best Other Contx Heifer;
1st Willimoteswick (BBx); 2nd Willimoteswick (BBx)
Best Native Breed;
1st Flotterton (Angusx)
From a sterling line up of first prize calves that many ringside commented was the best entry of quality to be seen at this sale for a great many years the judge worked diligently to arrive at his Overall Champion which was tapped out as the tremendously correct Black British Blue cross heifer calf from Messrs Storrow, Willimoteswick, Bardon Mill. Long-time consignors to this sale and the Hexham ring The Storrow family were delighted to win as were Arthur and Francesca to receive The Michael Walton Perpetual Silver Challenge Cup for their efforts which was doubly special as it is the last year in which the South Tyne producers of note will present calves for sale with the entire Willimoteswick herd set to be dispersed at Hexham next week on Wednesday 29th October.
With the British Blue breed to the fore it was another that scooped the Reserve Champion award, this time the first prize bullock from near neighbours to the Champion; Messrs Walton, Penpeugh. Fitting then that the two best calves in the show had both been bred in the parish of Bardon Mill, less than a mile from each other on the South side of The South Tyne Valley. Both calves were shining examples of the benefits of crossing the shapely Blue bull with the ever popular Limmy cross cow – a hybrid that had long since been popular in the Hexham catchment area and a regular recipient of championship trophies in countless prize shows.
The jet black heifer with length, style and shape would be equally suited to fulfil her breeding potential as she would be to make an exceptional butchers heifer and sold at midday for the top price of the day of £2900 to another noted Bardon Mill cattle farming family The Moralees of Hardriding. The bullock of a more traditional Blue and White colouring also carried great shape coupled with a desirable depth that would, in time doubtless culminate in a super finished carcass weight that went on to tally £2250 to the judge, Andrew Moralee.
The formalities of the prize show dispensed with the sale proper began and a crowd had gathered at ringside which other marketeers could only envy with buyers assembled ‘en masse’ from all corners of the UK – Scotland to the North and Wales and Norfolk to the South.
The trade that then ensued was quite simply the greatest to be seen on Tyne Green in the thirty years since the construction of the new market premises back in 1995.
The tone was set with the very first lot into the ring from Messrs Walton, Flotterton who peaked at £2300 for their second prize Charolais cross steer and went on to sell six calves at an average of £2183 – a lift of £760 per head on the year!
A simply blistering pace was present from the first lot to the last, for all breeds of steers and heifers and for all levels of quality which highlights the demand and appetite within the industry. Vendors throughout were in rapture with increases on the year of five, six and in most extreme cases seven hundred pounds per head on what was deemed a great sale in 2024. It would be foolhardy to list the highlights in their entirety as the whole sale was without exception a highlight in itself suffice to say that the entire entry averaged a massive £1643, up a whopping £582 on the year with steers averaging a mighty £1674 and heifers levelling at £1595 per head.
A good example of the trade on the day would be the fifteen fine calves sent down from the banks of The River Tweed at Berwick by James McGregor, East Loanend who attained a top of £2220 for a smashing ¾ bred Limmy bullock and averaged a commendable £2013 throughout for his Blue Tongue vaccinated calves.
Long-standing purveyors of hill sheep at this centre Messrs Wanwood Partners, Wanwood Hill brought their first ever consignment of calves to Tyne Green on this day and were handsomely rewarded for their trip down from the Alston Fells. As well as success in the show ring Dan and father Philip were delighted when their run of nine peaked at £2100 and returned at £1957 throughout for some well-bred calves that will doubtless thrive when treated to a change in altitude.
The aforementioned Storrow family will be a great miss on the catalogue at this sale next year however their swansong at this special sale was one made extra sweet with the Championship Trophy and a trade to match. Their lead heifer scaled to £2900 and with their best bullock selling at £2200 to the judge the super run of 21 calves that sold like the proverbial ‘hot cakes’ settled at an eye-watering £2097 – the second lift seen on the day of £760 per head on the year.
The Johnsons of West Wharmley were one of only three consignors that calved to the Charolais bull in the spring and this paid dividends once again as did their Rispoval and Blue Tongue vaccine policy. Their conscientious approach resulted in a trade that peaked at £2120 for square bullocks and at £1860 for sweet heifers summered on the lush banks of the South Tyne to return an average increased by some £688 on the year at £1672.
Within this sale each year there continues a hardcore of true upland producers that follow the time-honoured traditions of producing hardy calves from hill suckler mothers and the auctioneers were pleased to see an increase amongst these ranks. Angus cross calves sold to £1750 for bullocks and £1520 for heifers from Messrs Hall, The Raw whilst an influx of Blue Grey cattle traded well with steers to £1400 from High Thorneyburn and £1320 from Birkey Glen.
Messrs Pattinson, Hot Bank brought their trademark cattle from the Roman Wall countryside an attained at level trade at £1260 and £1250 for Whitebred Shorthorn Steers, £1260 for Blue Greys and great Galloways at £1200 to complete another good day at Hexham for the father and son team.
Another annual feature of this catalogue is the one hundred head strong run of calves from Whitfield Estates, Mainsrigg and this year was no exception. Manager Bevis Jordan and stockman Craig Stewarts efforts were well-rewarded with Limmy cross steers hitting £1690 and heifer sisters scaling to £1620 to realise an average of £1523, up £646 on the same sale twelve months ago.
Inevitably, on such a day later turns are unavoidable however on this day, in this centre catalogued turn, whether early, middle or late made not a jot of difference. Three vendors were sceptical however their fears were unfounded and their efforts well rewarded. Eric & Mark Armstrong, Harlow Bower topped with steers at £2340 and heifers at £1960 and their sought after calves levelled at £2068, just £2 short of a seven hundred pound lift.
Likewise The Robsons of The Hole Farm brought an original run of ‘Bellingham’ calves to Hexham and despite standing all day these well-bred cattle benefitted from a lift in trade as buyers looked to fill lorries. Graham & Graham Jnr sold steers to £2060, twice but these were topped by a heifer at £2140 and their well-presented run of thirty smart Limmys hit home at £1747, another great lift, this time of £607 on the year.
Michael Murray, Dene House, Butsfield, has consigned to this sale for many years and he stood his late turn with great aplomb. Regular, return buyers were steadfast at the ringside and with new interest from Wales and Norfolk Michaels steers rallied to £2000 whilst females topped at £1780 to average £1746 and a well-earned lift of £612 per head for the corresponding run of calves sold in 2024.
The auctioneers wish to extend their grateful thanks to all that contributed on this day to make it the resounding success it so obviously was and the envy of the suckled calf sector for many miles around. The second ‘Bellingham’ sale of calves will take place on Friday 14th November and entries are invited.
Leading prices;
Cattle 6+ Months
Limousin x steers – £2340, £2320, £2300 & £2280 Harlow Bower, £2220 Heatheridge & East Loanend, £2200 Glower-Oer-Him, £2180 East Loanend, £2160 Morley Hill, £2150 East Loanend, £2120 Harlow Bower & Hole Farm, £2100 East Loanend, Wanwood Hill, Ouston & Harlow Bower x2, £2090 Harlow Bower, £2080 East Loanend, Wanwood Hill & Hole Farm, £2060 East Loanend, Dyke Nook, Harlow Bower & Hole Farm, £2050 East Murton, East Loanend & Harlow Bower, £2020 Glower-Oer-Him, The Laws & Hole Farm, £2000 East Loanend, Wanwood Hill, Willimoteswick x3, Cornhills, Morley Hill, Dene House & Broomhope, £1980 Errington Red House, Dyke Nook & Harlow Bower, £1960 Hole Farm, £1950 Cornhills, £1940 Errington Red House, Willimoteswick & Morley Hill, £1920 Wanwood Hill, £1900 Wanwood Hill, Willimoteswick, Monk Farm, Hole Farm & Dene House
Charolais x steers – £2300 Flotterton x2, £2120 West Wharmley, £2100 Flotterton x2, £2000, £1980, £1900, £1860 & £1780 x2 West Wharmley
Angus steers – £1560 West Edmondsley
Angus x steers – £2200 Flotterton, £1750 The Raw, £1700 Broomhall, £1680 West Edmondsley, £1650 West Wharmley, £1620 The Raw & West Edmondsley, £1610 Cottonshope, £1600 Cottonshope & West Edmondsley, £1570 Cottonshope x2, Nilston Rigg & West Edmondsley
British Blue steers – £2380 Howburn, £2250 & £2120 Penpeugh, £2100 Willimoteswick, £2000 Howburn, £1970 & £1960 Morley Hill, £1900 Penpeugh, £1880 Morley Hill, £1860 Penpeugh
Simmental x steers – £1760 West Edmondsley
Salers x steers – £1610 & £1520 Mains Rigg
Galloway steers – £1200 & £1160 Hotbank
Whitebred Shorthorn steers – £1260 & £1250 Hotbank
Blue Grey steers – £1400 High Thorneyburn, £1320 Birky Glen, £1310 High Thorneyburn, £1260 & £1240 Hotbank
Pure Limousin heifers – £2060 Glower-Oer-Him
Limousin x heifers – £2400 & £2340 Morley Hill, £2240 Errington Red House, £2140 Morley Hill & Hole Farm, £2100 Errington Red House & Ouston, £2080 Dyke Nook, £2060 & £2050 Willimoteswick, £2040 Dyke Nook, £2020 Glower-Oer-Him & Willimoteswick, £2000 Errington Red House & Penpeugh, £1980 East Loanend x2, The Laws & Harlow Bower, £1960 Harlow Bower, £1940 East Loanend, £1880 Morley Hill, £1870 Hole Farm, £1850 Ouston, £1840 Stone Stile, £1820 Burn House & Howburn, £1800 The Laws, £1780 Ouston & Dene House, £1750 Dene House, £1740 Stone Stile, £1720 Rawfoot, £1700 Morley Hill, £1680 Shilmoor, £1660 Monk Farm, £1650 Hole Farm
Charolais x heifers – £1860, £1820, £1660 & £1540 x2 West Wharmley
British Blue heifers – £2900, £2500 & £2300 Willimoteswick, £2180 & £1980 x2 Morley Hill, £1900 Howburn & Morley Hill, £1700 Morley Hill
Angus x heifers – £1560 West Edmondsley, £1520 & £1500 The Raw, £1490 Nilston Rigg, £1480 Penpeugh, £1460 Cottonshope, £1440 The Raw
Cattle 3-5 Months
Limousin x steers – £1990 Dene House, £1500 The Brigg, £1400 Toft House
Charolais x steers – £1600 & £1550 Mirlaw House
Angus x steers – £1500 Mirlaw House
Simmental steers – £1600 Stooprigg
Simmental x steers – £1620 Stooprigg
Blue Grey steers – £1320 & £1240 Hotbank
Galloway steers – £950 High Thorneyburn
Limousin x heifers – £2020 Wanwood Hill, £1550 Dene House, £1520 Mains Rigg