LEADING Darlington Farmers’ Auction Mart’s ‘growing season’ sale of store cattle at £1700, was a Limousin heifer from CR Raine and Son’s Stanhope Gate herd, from Middleton in Teesdale

This seven-month-old, which is an AI daughter of Glenrock Humdinger, was picked out as champion by judge Ben Cowton, Tow Law, before selling to HS and M Everatt, Oak Tree, Barmby-on-the-Marsh, who hope to show her later in the year. 

Taking the reserve honours was a nine-month-old Lodge Hamlet-sired bullock also from Messrs Raine, which this time sold to M Robinson and Sons, East Alwent, Staindrop, for £1220. This bullock is likely to return to Darlington for the winter prime stock shows. 

Overall, the 206 heifers levelled at £858 (+£34 on the year), with 148 bullocks at £889 (-£8). 

Bullocks peaked at £1480 for a 25-month-old Aberdeen-Angus from P Suddes, Lowlands, Yarm, with young bulls selling to £1210 for a pair of 12-month-old Limousins from DW Humphrey, Capon Hall, Upleatham. 

A large entry of 135 cast cows peaked at 188p per kg for a Limousin from A and R Thompson, Dimmingdale, as well as £1260 and 187p for another from C Gregg, Angram Cote. 

An entry of 323 ewes and lambs met an increased trade and a top of £185 twice – for 10 Mule hoggs with singles by a Texel from W Emerson, Landieu, and again for three continental ewes with twins from W Brass and Sons, Low Broom Flatts. 

LEADING prices:

Bullocks – £1480, £1450 (x2) P Suddes; £1230 (x2), £1170, £1155, £1120, £1110, £1070, £1065 (x2) RO Gilson; £1220 CR Raine and Son; £1165, £1070 L Kidd; £1120, £970 DW Humphrey; £1120 J and F Hartley and Sons; £1100 KO Stones; £1060 (x3), £975 (x3) A and AG Moralee; £1060 J Henderson; £1050, £990, £980 K Cator; £1045 PRE Marwood; £1025 L Bird; £990 JR and M Richardson; £985 A and R Thompson; £980 GW and M Singleton and Sons; £970 CG Graham.
Heifers – £1700 CR Raine and Son; £1300, £1210, £1190, £1090 WA Stephenson; £1220 KO Stones; £1215, £1205 J Henderson; £1165 J and F Hartley and Sons; £1165, £1095, £1000 MH Hodgson; £1120 RO Gilson; £1100 (x2), £1010 J and K Metcalf and Son; £1080, £1000 NG Beveridge; £1050 PRE Marwood; £1025(x3) DW Dresser; £1010 (x2) L Kidd; £1010 (x2), £1005 T Sedgewick and Son; £1000 (x4) JR Fell; £1000 (x2) GW and M Singleton and Sons. 
Young bulls – £1210 (x2), £1125, £1115, £1100 DW Humphrey; £1120 (x2), £1115 (x2), £1040 (x2) JR and M Richardson; £1120, £1090 (x2), £1080 D Dixon; £1120, £1100 (x2) T and DI Allen and Son; £1095 L Bird; £1095 Lintz Green Farms Ltd; £1080 (x2), £1070 J Metcalf and Son; £1080, £1065 (x2) F Bainbridge; £1065 A and A G Moralee; £1050 (x3) M J Hutchinson. 
Ewes with lambs – £185, £175 (x2), £155 W Emerson; £185, £172 (x2) W Brass and Sons; £175, £16,5 £155 (x2) R and D Garth; £175, £172 J A Strong; £170 £168, £165, £162 PE and EJ Clark; £162, £160 (x3) J and K Metcalf and Son; £160, £145 I and RA Watson; £160 W and V Burton; £152 BR and S Fell; £150 CN and P Penk; £148 C and M Burnett; £148 JM and P Makepeace; £145 DG Collinson.