MORE than 50 calves were forward for judging at a special show and sale of 723 spring-born calves at Middleton in Teesdale, which were all in tremendous bloom and met a brisk trade to average £863.48, a rise of £18.23 on the year.

Leading the entry when she secured the overall championship before selling for the top price of £3500, was an 11-month-old British Blue cross heifer from John, Joanne and Robert White, of Rigg Farm, Lunedale. Backing his decision, she was bought by the judge, David Jarman, Brown Top, Branthwaite.

Mr Jarman also paid £1700 for his reserve champion, an eight-month-old Limousin cross heifer from Messrs Thompson, East Unthank, Haltwhistle.

Claiming the bullock championship was a 10-month-old Blue cross from Richard Tiplady, Red House, Langleydale, which realised £1140 when bought by Messrs Smith, Carnforth, but it was the reserve bullock that topped this section at £1650. That was a Limousin cross from Tom and Kay Hutchinson, Bail Hill, Forest in Teesdale, which sold to Louise Todd, Wragby.

Best of the pens of three or more was a quad of Limousin cross bullocks from the Whites, of Rigg, which sold for £985, while the best pen of heifers came from John and Mark Emerson, Haggate, Eastgate, which realised £900.

Heifers met the best of the trade to average £847.55 (+£26.47 on the year) while bullocks cashed in at £879.85 (-10.17).

LEADING awards:

Bullock – Lim – 1 and reserve bullock, TW Hutchinson, Bail Hill £1650; 2, BR Lawson and Son, Buddle House £1220; 3, JC and J White, Rigg £935.

BB – 1 and bullock champion, RJ Tiplady, Red House £1140; 2 and 3, Rigg £1200 and £1340.

AOB – 1 and 2, MB and HD Fletcher, Friar House £940 and £855; 3, DG Collinson, Woodside £840.

Heifer – Lim – 1, reserve heifer, Limousin champion and reserve supreme, WD and B Thompson, East Unthank £1700; 2, S Hardisty and Son, How Hall £2400; 3, Bail Hill £2200. BB – 1, heifer champion and supreme champion, Rigg £3500; 2, Rigg £2350; 3, Red House £1540. AOB – 1, Rigg £1240; 2, DG Collinson, Woodside £710.

Pens of three or more – Bullocks – 1, Rigg £985; 2, East Park Farms £865. Heifers – 1, Hag Gate £900; 2, JE and J Mitchell, Parrick House £900; 3, Rigg £875.

LEADING prices:

Bullocks – Lim – Bail Hill £1650; Rigg Farm £1230, £1030, £995; Buddle House £1220, £1200; Step Ends Farm £1115, £1060; Friar House Farm £1095; Bank Top £1080, £1000; Ash Dub £1050; East Unthank £1045; Crag Farm £1040, £1035; Palletstone Farm £1040; Low House £1020; East Park Farm £1020; Arla Burn Farm £1020; High Birk Hatt £1010; High Beck Head £1000; East Friar House £1000; Parrick House Farm £1000; Step Ends Farm £995. Blonde – Friar House Farm £940; £855, £850; High Beck Head £870; Valance Lodge £870. BB – Rigg Farm £1340, £1200; East Unthank Farm £1150; Red House Farm £1140, £880; How Hall £1120; Pallet Crag Farm £1090, £975, £935, £870; East Unthank £1070, £1000, £990; Parrick House Farm £1000, £995; The Pry £945, £940; Low House £935; Littleburn Farm £910; Hag Gate Farm £885; High Birk Hatt £875; Valance Lodge £870. Char – Low House £965; Sunnybrae £880. £810; Woodside Farm £840, £820, £800, £790.

Heifers – BB – Rigg Farm £3500, £2350, £1300, £860; Red House Farm £1540; Buddle House £1120, £1100, £990, £920, £895; Pallet Crag Farm £1100; East Unthank £1040; The Pry £1000; Hag Gate Farm £1000, £860; High Birk Hatt £1000, £980 £880; Littleburn Farm £1000 (x2); Red House Farm £980; The Pry £940; Intake Farm £860. Lim – How Hall £2400; Bail Hill £2200; Parrick House Farm £2000, £1150; Unthank Farm £1700; West Biggins Farm £1400; Bank Top £1280; Hag Gate Farm £1250; South Wellhope £1200; Allotment Farm £1180; Crookdake Mill £1160; Rigg Farm £1150, £1110 (x2); Ash Dub £1120, £1090 Laneside £1110; East Friar House Farm £1100; Arla Burn Farm £1080; Littleburn Farm £1070; Wythes Hill £1070; High Birk Hatt £1050; Buddle House £1050. Blo – Rigg Farm £1240; Friar House Farm £805; Vallance Lodge £800. Char – Low House £920; Sunnybrae £780, £710; Woodside Farm £750, £710.