THERE was a small but quality offering of Charolais bulls sold at Welshpool, where 16 bulls cashed in to average £3622.50 (compared to £3675 for 18 last year) and sold to an improved clearance rate.

They peaked at 5800gns for the reserve champion, as judged by Peter Heath, of Hartfield, East Sussex. That was Gareth Jones' May, 2016-born Esgob Morgan, an Alwent Goldbar son from Cwmtirmynach, Bala. He's bred from a daughter of the 26,000gns Anside Excalibur in the shape of Esgob Glain, and sold to Edward Bros, Oswestry, Shropshire.

Following on at 4800gns when sold to RW Owen, Garn Solbenmaen, Gwynedd, was Trefaldwyn Magnus from local breeder, Arwel Owen, Welshool. This 17-month-old is by the 28,000gns Perth Bull Sales supreme champion, Brampton Nacodar, and out of the 11,000gns Royal Welsh Show female champion Trefaldwyn Fancygirl, a daughter of the 30,000gns Dingle Hofmeister.

Mr Owen received a further 4500gns for Caenest Morgan as well as for Trefaldwyn Max. The former, a 14-month-old bred by J and E Evans, is by the easy calving sire Blelack Digger, and out of the Balmyle Bollinger-sired Trefaldwyn Eternity. Morgan heads to work at Llanbrynmair, Powys, for TT Jones and Co.

Forking out the cash for Trefaldwyn Max, another Blelack Digger son this time out of the Goldies Eddy-sired Trefaldwyn Ice, was the NPTC Group, Newtown, Powys.

Hitting 4600gns was Mrs Ann Orr-Ewing's Wesley Forceful son, Foxacre Miletus, from Purton, Wiltshire. He is out of Foxacre Galante and sold to RP Morgan and Son, Knighton, Poweys.

Auctioneers: Welshpool Livestock Sales