CELEBRATIONS started early for the Grahams herd when it secured the supreme championship at the Red Ladies Derby show and sale of Limousin females at Carlisle before setting a top price of 25,000gns, followed up with another sale at 10,000gns. 

The show stopper from the Grahams herd was Grahams Malibu, the first female to be offered from the three times Balmoral Show inter-breed champion, Milbrook Gingerspice, a Wilodge Fantastic daughter. Bred by ET and sired by the 32,000gns Ampertaine Elgin, this June, 2016-born heifer is a full sister to the 20,000gns Grahams Michael sold at Carlisle in October, and sits in the top 1% of the breed for 200 and 400-day growth rates. Brought out by brother and sister duo, Drew and Jennifer Hyslop, on behalf of Robert and Jean Graham, she sold to the establishing Nugent herd across the water in Northern Ireland at Nugent Estate, Portaferry House, Newtownards, County Down. 

With five Grahams animals selling between the Red Ladies and the weaned calf sale to average £20,580, the team also received 10,000gns for another red ticket holder, this time 15-month-old Grahams Marjorie. Selling to the White family for the Ladybowers herd at Two Thorns Fields Farm, Snake Road, Bamford, she was also bred by ET but offers some different breeding to her herd mate, being by Ampertaine Foreman and out of the Haltcliffe Ben-sired Poolehall Isabelle. Like Malibu, Marjorie sits in the top 1% for 200 and 400-day weights, as well as for muscle depth and beef value. 

Returning home to Keith in style was Garry Patterson who sold his Aultside Mystique for 18,000gns to the Harris family, who run the Saltbrook herd at Swallows Barn, Alkmonton, Ashbourne. This Wilodge Cerberus daughter, which was bred by ET, is a full sister to the 55,000gns Aultside Hulk sold back in 2014, being out of Spittalton Flush, a Hargill Blaze daughter bought for just 2000gns when she stood champion at Stirling, and also gone on to breed the 9800gns Aultside Lambrini sold at just 10 months. Shown just lightly from Garry's herd of select females at Upper Forgie, Aultmore Keith, she was reserve senior champion at the Stars of the Future Show. 

With four heifers breaking the five-figure barrier, the other to do so was Millbrow Misty from George and Pat Long, who now run just a few pedigrees and commercials at Mill Brow, Skelwith Bridge, Ambleside. Their leader, which placed second in her class to the champion, is by Wilodge Vantastic and the last to be offered for sale from Millbrow Tricia, a Highcross Pete daughter whose sons have sold to 13,000gns. Forking out the cash was Welsh breeder Sion Wyn Jones, who takes Misty home to join his Perth herd at Pencefn, Pentir, Bangor. 

Another red ticket holder was in the money when Damien Maher paid 8500gns to take Melbreak Mambo home to Camblin, Roscrea, County Tipperary. Consigned by Stephen and Keith Williamson, and brought out by Keith's fiancee Tina O'brien, Mambo was bought as a calf here last year and nearly tripled her money for the father and son duo from Milltown Road, Benburb, County Tyrone. Her breeding includes Lodge Hamlet on to the Nenuphar-sired Melbreak Jive. 

Two from Danny Sawrij's Swalesmoor herd from Kedzlie, Blainslie, Lauderdale, were in the money and, notably, both were out of the same cow, the Vantastic-sired Nebo Favourite, that bred the 30,000gns Swalesmoor Liam sold in February. First up was the dearest of the served heifers in the shape of Swalesmoor Lioness, which is a full sister to the aforementioned Liam, being sired by Cloughhead Umpire. Selling north to Caithness with T Sinclair to join the Reaster herd near Lyth, Wick, the 22-month-old Lioness was pd'd in calf to Foxhillfarm Louisvuitton. 

Harry and Lynwen Emslie paid 4500gns for the other Nebo Favourite daughter from Swalesmoor, and take Swalesmoor Mim home to Kinknockie, Peterhead, to join their Emslies herd. The sire of this 17-month-old, which was brought out by freelancers, Alistair and Fraser Cormack, is Dinmore Goldeneye. 

Also heading north to Aberdeenshire, this time for 5000gns to Drumforber, Laurencekirk, with Andrew Gammie for his Westpit herd, was Larkhill Moneypenny from B McAuley, Seven Mile Straight, Antrim. Another bred by embryo, she is the first heifer offered from the herd's top cow, Larkhill Countess, a Vantastic daughter out of the noted Carmorn Penny, while her sire is Millgate Fame. 

McInnes Limelight, a yearling by Corridan Hakka from Ashley McInnes, Cowick Farm, Thorne Road, near Goole, achieved a 4500gns price tag when snapped up by S Moor and Son, Little Coop House, Hawthorn, County Durham. She is out of Greenwell Fabulous, by Casimir.