Strong commercial interest for pedigree Charolais helped to bolster bull averages at the society show and sale at Carlisle, where trade peaked at 12,000gns and a further 27 bulls sold at or above the 5000gns mark.

Sale averages and clearance rates were also up, a point which new society chief executive, Peter Phythian, was keen to highlight.

“This is the fourth consecutive Charolais sale where both averages and clearance rates have increased, driven by the success of Charolais-sired suckler calves which are topping the markets on weight for age.”

Sale leader was the supreme champion, McCaldrick McIntoish from Co Antrim breeders Sean and Martina O’Kane, Dunloy. Their 15-month-old bull is the first calf bred by the O’Kane family and is sired by the 16,000gns Royal Welsh reserve champion male, Anside Foreman and out of the Irish-born Aghafad Hope, by Nelson. He was purchased for 12,000gns by Highfields Park Farm, Hartfield, East Sussex.

Just behind, on 11,000gns, Perthshire breeders David and Nick Walter, Balthayock, bought the October-2015 born yellow ticket winner, Gretnahouse Lunar from Alasdair Houston, Gretna Green, Dumfriesshire, who sold three bulls to average of £7700.

His dearest, a son of the 12,000gns Wesley Equinox, is bred from the polled Gretnahouse Hazel, by the Swedish AI sire, Nynas Viril Av.

Another third prize winner, Caylers Lincoln, an 18-month-old bull from Caylers Charolais, Nuthampstead, Royston, Hertfordshire, made 10,000gns selling to RH Thompson and Son, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham. The breeding behind this transaction includes Balthayock Hamish, onto Caylers Hostess, a Thrunton Dominator daughter.

In all, Caylers Charolais sold five bulls to average £7455, with their next best at 9000gns being Caylers Limerick, another similarly aged bull by Balthayock Hamish. He is out of the Goldies Eddy daughter, Caylers Iona, and headed north with Michael Massie, Mains of Elrick, Ellon and WK and P Drysdale, Smithy Croft, Drimmie, Blairgowrie, Perthshire.

And, at 6500gns Caylers Lysander sold even further north to Orkney, with T and M Seatter, Hammer, Westray. This first prize December 2015-born bull is by the 10,000gns Thrunton Goldeneye.

Dumfriesshire breeder, Hamish Goldie, was another in the money, selling six bulls to average £6877.50, to include one at 9000gns and two at 8000gns.

His dearest, Goldies Limelight, a 19-month-old fifth prize winner, is by Goldies Formidable and sold to Ouston Farms, Trench Hall, Gateshead. A full brother to the 23,000gns Goldies Jasper, Limelight is out of the Goldies Vicechancellor-sired Goldies Collette.

Mr Goldie's 8000gns entries were also November 2015-born with the first, Goldies Lawson, securing the reserve overall male championships at the previous day’s show, before selling to Andrew White, who owns the Balbithan herd from Worth Matravers, Dorset. Lawson is by Goldies Formidable and out of Goldies Violin, a Thrunton Trademark daughter that has bred bulls to 26,000gns.

Goldies Landlord, by the 15,000gns Gretnahouse Heman and out of the 12,000gns Goldies Elation-sired Goldies Hazel, also made 8000gns selling to AH Fisher, Merrick Farm, Portpatrick, Stranraer.

Two other bulls came under the hammer for 8000gns including Roy Milne and Sons' Elgin London, from Llanbryde, Morayshire. This 18-month-old, second prize winner is by the14,000gns Westcarse Houdini and out of Elgin Honey, by the 10,000gns Thrunton Alpha. Rachel Dawson, School Lane, Newton Burgoland, Leicestershire was the purchaser.

Later, Hendi Messi, from Wyn and Diane Rees, Llangurig, Powys, made the same money selling back down to Wales, with GL Davies, Llwyn Llwyd, Brecon. This class winning February-2016 born bull is out of the Tullygarley Rollerball daughter, Hendy Chanel, and is sired by the 19,000gns Corrie Alan.

Helping to finance their 8000gns purchase earlier in the day, Andrew White, Dorset sold his 15-month-old bull, Balbithan Mercedes, for 7500gns to G Jones, Creigiau, Nebo, Llanrwst, Conwy. A son of Goldies Eddy out of Balbithan Faith, a Newhouse Benson-sired show cow, this youngster was male champion at the Royal Berkshire Show and reserve male at the Royal Cornwall.

Four bulls realised 7000gns, with the first being purchased by John Weir, Cortleferry Farm, Stow, Selkirkshire. This was Glenrock Lazerus, an October-2015 born class winner, from Stephen Illingworth, Eaglesfield, Dumfries. A son of Blelack Digger, Lazerus is out of the £15,000 Lowerffrydd Benhurr-sired Glenrock Harriett.

Co Derry breeders, John and Sandra Middleton, Upper Creevagh, sold two at 7000gns with the first being Hollywell Lewis, a red ticket winner at the Northern Ireland Pedigree Calf Fair last November which is also a full brother to the intermediate champion from last year’s sale. Lewis is an 18-month-old son of Elgin Davinci and sold to Gelston Castle Farms, Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire.

Also making the same money for the Middletons was the reserve junior champion, Hollywell Montana, a 13-month-old son of the 25,000gns Goldies Unbeatable, bred from the bought in, Westcarse Honey, by Mortimers Echo. Montana goes out to work in Newton Stewart, having been purchased by A and T Wilson, Baryerrock, Whauphill.

The last of the 7000gns sales came for Tweeddale Marcus, a January 2016-born blue ticket winner, from Jonathan and Jayne Watson, Berwick upon Tweed. Their bull by Blelack Blackberet and out of Goldies Glam, caught the eye of Stan Abel and Co, Hendreaur, Llanidloes, Powys.

The same home also received 6500gns for the yellow ticket winner Tweeddale Lothario, a 17-month-old bull by the 11,000gns Woodpark Elgin. The buyer was RA Davies, Ashbrooke, St Asaph, Denbighshire.

Averages: 72 bulls £5158.13.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.