Females attracted the best of the bidding at the Highland Cattle Society's English Premier show and sale at Beeston, where trade peaked at 1200gns for the two-year-old bull, Ardbeg of Hellifield.

The bull, from Robert Phillip’s Hellifield fold near Skipton, is by Uallach Ruadh 2 of Pollock, had been shown successfully last year and went home with DM Thorp, Baslow, Derbyshire.

Next at 1000gns was the lead yearling heifer, Morag of Marrick Park, from Julia Carr, Richmond, Yorkshire. This January 2016-born heifer by Emperor Ruadh of Knockendon, sold to N Goodwin, Belper, Derbyshire, who also bought the second prize yearling, Kaitlin of Marrick Park, another Emperor and from the same home at the same price.

Two cow and calf outfits made 1000gns, with the first being Diorbhail 1 of West Edmondsley a six-year-old from Edward Halford, Co Durham with heifer calf purchased by G and M Mault, Denbighshire. Also selling at the same money was Seonag 3 of Bien Esk, a four-year-old from Arthur and Suzanne Hill, Much Wenlock, which sold with bull calf to Simon and Emma Hayley, Eggleston, Co Durham.

Averages: Two-year-old bulls, £1234; yearling bulls, £431; cows and calves, £1008; two and three-year-old heifers, £546; yearling heifers, £724.50

Auctioneers: Wright Marshall