A Blonde bull from Tom and John Hope's Brownhill herd from Strathaven, led the way at an early spring show and sale of pedigree beef cattle at Carlisle, selling for the top price of 3200gns.

The bull, Brownhill Noel, a rising two-year-old which stood male champion and supreme overall at the pre-sale show, is by Hallfield Homer and out of the Hallfield Albatross-sired Brownhill Etta. He sold to local producer, E Noble, Mill Farm, Beckermet, Cumbria.

Another from the same stable and by the same sire made 2800gns selling to Messrs Whiteford, Arncroach, Anstruther, Fife. This was Brownhill Nevil, bred from an Albatross daughter in the shape of Brownhill Ella.

Matching that 2800gns bid was the reserve male and reserve overall British Blonde, Hilltop Nelson, from A Stott, Longrow Cottage, Canonbie, Dumfriesshire. His dam is Hilltop Jackie, a Ark Diego-sired female. Nelson was knocked down to Appleby in Westmorland producers, Messrs Rogerson, Great Asby.

James Porter's Uppemill herd from Lisburn, Northern Ireland, topped the Beef Shorthorn trade at 2800gns selling to MacGregor Farming Partners, Great Witchingham, Norwich, Norfolk. Their purchase, Uppermill Bart 2, a two-year-old is by Dunsyre Demetri, which also bred the male and female champion here last year for the herd, and out of a home-bred cow by Ardoyne Bombus.

Only two Hereford bulls found new homes, with the dearest at 3000gns, Auckvale Panache, a two-year-old son of Auckvale King-Maker, from W and R Kemp and Sons, Wigdon Walls, St Helens, Bishop Auckland, purchased by West Yorkshire producer, Oxton Farm, Wetherby. Home-bred genetics are also behind the dam, Auckvale Pansy which is a daughter of Auckvale Gladiator.

Lead priced female at 2000gns was the May 2017-born Beef Shorthorn heifer, Gonder Sararose Louisa, from J and P Miller, Hole House Farm, Claughton on Brock. Reserve female champion at the pre-sale show, she is by Meonhill Eastern Star and sold in calf to Highlee Ludo. Sararose Louisa headed home with Messrs Molloy, Fordru, Athlone, Co Westmeath, Eire.

Averages: Beef Shorthorn – Four bulls, £2572.50. British Blonde – Five bulls, £2866.50.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.