TWO senior bulls have headed up the show of Simmental bulls at the second round of Stirling Bull Sales, and both were from herds from the North-east. 

Claiming the supreme honours was Stewart Stronach's Islavale Hugo, a March, 2016-born son of a home-bred bull, the Curaheen Wakeman-sired Islavale Echo, that has bred well in the herd at Berryleys, Grange, Keith. One of 13 entries forward from Stewart and co, he is out of the Chestermann Varney daughter, Islavale Emblem, and was on his first show outing. 

Judge, Anne MacPherson, of the Blackford and Bel Dhu herds near Croy, Inverness, said he is very correct and the most complete bull on show. 

In reserve supreme was the reserve senior, Auchorachan Hunter from Michael Durno, near Glenlivet, Ballindalloch. A month younger than Hugo, he is also backed by home-bred genetics, being by the Innerwick Boris-sired Auchorachan Elgin, which was used for a couple of years before selling privately to Orkney. Hunter's dam is the Saltire Talent-sired Auchorachan Diamond, which did well on the show circuit as a heifer. 

Heading up the intermediate section was Camus Herold from Northern Irish breeders, Harold Stubbs and Alan Burleigh, Innisrooisk Road, Crummy, Ballindarragh. Originally bred by J Campbell, this July, 2016-born son of Kilbride Farm Newry is out of Camus Easter, a Dirnanean Apostle daughter. Reserve here was Heather Duff's Pitmudie Houston, an Overhill House Eragon son bred from the Omorga Volvo-sired Manor Park Babe. 

Among the juniors, the Green family from Corskie, Garmouth, secured the top ticket with Corskie Harry, a son of the 22,000gns Royal Highland Show champion, Dirnanean Bradley. He was born in September, 2016, out of Corskie Blossom 10, a daughter of Ballinalare Farm Nightrider. In reserve was another from Islavale in the shape of Islavale Heston, this time by Ranfurly confederate and out of Islavale Fran, by Curaheen Bandit. 

The sale of Simmentals will commence at 10.30am tomorrow (Tuesday) with females (31 catalogue entries), including the major reduction of the Woodhall herd (55), followed by bulls (179) at 12.45pm.