IT was a good day at Skipton for Gerald Turton and his Upsall herd of Beef Shorthorns when he not only secured the championship at the pre-sale show, but also achieved several of the top prices and set a new centre record of 6500gns. 

Shorthorn females met a strong demand throughout which resulted in a 97% clearance, with the sale leader being Clipper X1152 of Upsall, a 20-month-old brought out by Upsall stockman, George  McCulloch, and son John. Sired by the home-bred Fortress of Upsall and out of a Broughton Park Thunder daughter from the Clipper line, Clipper sold scanned in calf to Firefox of Upsall and was snapped up by Messrs Sloane and Hayton, Biggar Village, Barrow in Furness. 

Next in the trade stakes at 6000gns was another Fortress of Upsall daughter, Tessa X1106 of Upsall, a 2015-born heifer due to in January to Grenadier of Upsall. Tessa was knocked down to father and son team, Peter and Paul Coates, and joins the Barwood herd at Barrock End, Armathwaite. 

With 10 Upsall heifers cashing in to average £3806, two sold to Leazes Farm, Wolsingham, County Durham, for 5000gns apiece. First was Jilt X1097 of Upsall, another March, 2015-born heifer by Dingo of Upsall which also changed hands in calf to Grenadier of Upsall. 

Next was the champion, Victoria X1170 of Upsall, another by Fortress and out of a Broughton Park Thunder daughter. She was also in calf to Firefox of Upsall. 

Selling to W and M Hebron, Bradford, West Yorkshire, for 3900gns was the Glengoy Frigate-sired Nonpareil X1142 of Upsall.

RG Thompson, Whitby, North Yorkshire, paid 4500gns for the reserve champion, Beautry Kooky Rose, from Stuart and Gail Currie, Rathmell. Backed by show-winning genetics, she is by Beautry Hagrid and Bradshaw Classic Rose 2, and sold scanned in calf to Poyntington Himself. 

The Podehole herd from Charles, Sally and Harry Horrell, Peterborough, received a top bid of 4100gns for Podehole Phantasy Jessamine, an October, 2015-born daughter of Podehole Fandango. She was secured by A and C Farms, Langham, Rutland, who secured a further three lots for 3500gns, 3000gns and 2900gns. Dearest of these was Podehole Gypsy Kiva, by the 10,500gns Millerston Fine Ideal, with another by the same sire, Podehole Rita Jaimee, at 3000gns. Then 2900gns was paid for the Podehole Fandango-sired Podehole Genoa Kim. 

averages: Four cows in calf or with calves at foot, £2021.50; 30 maiden heifers, £2052.50; 22 in calf heifers, £2883.00. 

Auctioneers: CCM