A FOURTH prize red bull led the way at a disappointing show and sale of show and sale of Beef Shorthorns at Carlisle, where prices peaked at 7000gns but bull averages dropped by £1000 on the year.

Sale leader was Mrs L Townsend's Coxhill Kirk, a two-year-old son of Glengloy Callum from Coxhill Farm, Moffat, purchased by Whitehall Farms, Chippenham, Wiltshire. He is bred from the VG89-classified Cairnsmore Casey Yvonne, by Eliot Boo Boo.

Second top price was 5500gns paid for Major John Gibb's Glenisla Keystone, a similarly aged roan bull from Glenisla House, Blairgowrie. Backed by home-bred genetics on both sides, he is by the Eionmor Mr Gus son, Glenisla Hornblower and out of Glenisla Foxglove Flake H8, a Glenisla Artic Storm daughter. North Yorkshire breeder, FW Graham, Highfield House, Ilton, Ripon, forked out the cash.

One of the best bred bulls in the catalogue, Millerston Klondyke, a third prize winner from Jack and Grace Ramsay's Millerson herd from Mauchline, made 4600gns selling in a two-way split to Tom Tennant, Gilmanscleugh, Ettrick, Selkirk and Mullholland Contracts, Selkirk. A full brother to last year's champion here, Klondyke is by Meonhill Charlie Chaplin, a bull that has bred sons to 20,000gns for the herd while the dam, Millerston Madeline Caley Ex90, by Glenbrae Yogie, was the dam of the 10,500gns Millerston Fine Ideal, purchased by the Podehole herd.

Michael Cursiter's Lagas Kevin, a two-year-old roan son of Chapelton Adonis, all the way from Laga Farms, Orkney, made 4500gns to MJ Blair, Penrith. A full brother to the 6000gns top priced bull sold at Carlisle, in February 2017, Kevin is bred from the bought in cow, Galla Camilla, by Topper of Craigeassie.

At 3800gns, N and A Hunter, Woodlands Hall, Knitsley, Consett, sold Derwentwood Kinsman, to C and JC Stephenson, Pikestone, Woodland, Bishop Auckland. This 18-month-old red and white which stood first in his class at the pre-sale show, is by Meonhill Fire Fox, out of a home-bred Glenisla Zetor-sired cow and stood second in his class at the Borderway Agri Expo.

* Duncan McDowell's Castlemount herd from Newtonards, Co Down, Northern Ireland, produced the lead priced female at 5300gns in Castlemount Matrix Princess 2. Reserve junior female champion at last year's Stars of the Future, this red and white 16-month-old heifer is by Canadian-bred bull, Elliot Matrix and bred from the Watchman of Upsall daughter, Ballyvaddy Princess B738. The buyers were R Taylor and Sons, Fintry, Stirlingshire.

Selling all the way to T Staunton, Co Galway, Eire, was the second top priced female at the collective sale from P Turnbull's Oakleigh herd from West House Farm, Kildale, Whitby. This was Oakleigh Kerry, a two-year-old roan heifer by Chapelton Bonanza, out of the Blelack Masterpiece-sired Oakleigh Flower

Two lots sold for 3500gns including another from Northern Ireland this time purchased by Welsh breeders, G and E Price, Aberystwyth. Ballyvaddy Princess K851, from T and K Madden, Ballyvaddy, Glencloy, Ballymena, is sired by the Chapelton Typhon son, Hurricane of Ballyvaddy and bred from a home-bred cow by Clansman of Ballyvaddy.

Matching that bid was a cow and calf outfit from AJ and DA Wilkinson's Outrawcliffe herd from Springfield, Out Rawcliffe, Preston, purchased by Perthshire producers, Thistledown Cowford Farms, Bankfoot. Outrawcliffe Jody, a three-year-old red and white daguhter of the AI sire, Glenisla Explorer out of Nithview Miss Chabers, sold with second calf at foot, a March-born heifer by Shadybrook Powerplay.

The same buyers also bought the lead priced lot at 4000gns from FJ Hugill and A Hugill and Eaton's Ballard draft sale from Throstle Nest, Sproxton, Helmsley. Ballard Lovely Katherine, an April 2016-born dark roan heifer is by Chapelton Franciscan and out of the Ballard Loveley Gerrelyn, by Ballard Dueler.

Averages: 19 bulls, £3470.53 (-£998.53 for three fewer); 15 served heifers, £2208.50 (-£764.91 for four more); 18 maiden heifers, £1633.33 (+£49.65 for 11 fewer); 12 cows in calf and/or suckling, £1684.25. Draft herd sales – Ballard – Seven lots, £2205.00. Wells – Nine lots, £1289.17. Fieldhouse – 15 lots, £1216.60.