A STEADY trade for Charolais at the Northern Ireland Charolais Club sale in Dungannon, saw 33 bulls sell to a top of 4900gns to average £2918, with a 77% clearance.

Sale leader was the junior champion and supreme overall, Derryharney Lumberjack, from Harold Stubbs and grandson Alan Burleigh of Crummy, Co Fermanagh. David McIlwaine, Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone, was the man in on this 16-month-old by the 22,000gns Newhouse Bigal and out of the home-bred Derryharney Daffodil, which goes back to Burradon Talisman.

Minutes earlier the same vendors received 4100gns for Derryharney Lanzac. This September 2015-born lad is a son of the AI sire, Goldies Eddy and out of Derryharney Ipad, by Thrunton Bonjovi. He goes out to work for Ian Smyth in Castlewellan, Co Down.

The reserve supreme, Drumlone Landmark, a senior bull from Kenny Veitch, Lisbellaw, Co Fermanagh, was next in the bidding stakes at 4300gns. The breeding here includes the 25,000gns Inverlochy Ferdie and the Oldstone Egbert-sired dam, Drumlone Edwina. Landmark was snapped up by David McFarland, Beragh, Co Tyrone.

Leading the bids for the females at 3500gns was the blue-ticket holder Battleford Lady from Bartley Finnegan, Dungannon, Co Tyrone. The June 2015-born Lady is by the 70,000gns Barnsford Ferny, out of the Scottish-bred Balbithan Vespasian daughter, Blelack Cerise, and was knocked down to Kenny Preston, Omagh, Co Tyrone.

Just behind at 3400gns was the female champion Dartonhall Julie a November-2014-born entry from John Erskine, Killylea, Co Armagh. The man with money on this entry by Corrie Alan was Martin Donaghy, Dungannon, Co Tyrone.

Auctioneers: Dungannon Farmers Mart