Mr Mole tops Carlisle Blonde sale

A small but select show and sale of British Blonde cattle at Carlisle, saw the champion, Drumraymond Mr Mole, top the trade selling at 5500gns.
This bull, a January 2016-born son of Ballygowan Noble, from Northern Ireland breeders, H and S Griffin, Toomebridge, Co Antrim, was supreme Blonde at the NI Beef Expo Calf Fair, last year and sold to TH Harrison and Sons, Sleddale Hall, Shap, Penrith. He is bred from the top show cow, Drumraymond Grace, a Blackwater Ainsley daughter and former reserve champion winner at Balmoral.
On the other side of the coin, Sleddale Hall sold the lead priced female from their Shapfell herd. This was Shapfell La Kinkyboots, a 22-month-old heifer by Applecroft Earl out of Barningham Delilah. Female champion and reserve overall at the pre-sale show, she made 3000gns to Orkney breeders, DD and JA Scott, Grutha, St Margarets Hope.
Second top price amongst the males was also 3000gns paid for the second prize, Silverwood Luke, a 19-month-old bull from fellow Northern Ireland breeder, Norman McKnight, Newry, Co Down. Local beef producers, D and SM Bradley, Northrigg Hill, Banks, Brampton, forked out the cash for this Ardmore Gargoyle son.