Averages slipped back to nearer 2016 levels at the Border British Blue Club's spring show and sale at Carlisle, where without last year's record breaking 24,000gns high, pedigree bulls levelled at just shy of £5000.

Last year's cracking trade not only witnessed a new breed high but also a further five figure prices, whereas last weekend's sale saw trade peak at just 10,000gns – twice.

First to hit the big one was the second bull in the catalogue, Almeley Kendrick ET, a rising three-year-old from Herefordshire breeder, Graham Morgan, The Cider Mill, Tilington. Used at home on pedigree cows, Kendrick is a half brother to the 2017 Royal Welsh champion, Pinnacle Hero, which is also stock bull for the Almeley herd. A son of Drybarrows Cawdale – a 12,500gns purchase here in 2009 that has bred numerous high priced lots for the herd to include a 20,000gns high – out of the Giga Du Bois De Remont daughter, Rosemount Faith, this black and white bull was knocked down to JR Cussons and Son, Morra Head, Harwood Dale, Scarborough.

Another from the same home that had been used on heifers, made 7000gns selling back down to Hereford with EA Davies and Son, Upper Court Farm, Clifford. Almeley Lallana, a rising two-year-old white bull is by Pinnacle Hero, last year's breed champion at the Royal Welsh, and bred from the Cawdale daughter, Almeley Goodlooking.

Later, Kevin Watret's red ticket holder, Solway View Levi ET, a rising two-year-old black and white bull from Annan, equalled the 10,000gns sale high, selling to RA Cadzow, Inland Pasture Farm, Scremerston, Berwick-upon-Tweed. Backed by some of the best genetics in the breed, Levi, which was brought out by stockman Ali Jackson, is by the former Highland Show champion, Solway View Firecracker and bred from the Graphite De Dessous La Ville-sired show cow, Bringlee Evadine. This makes Levi a full brother to the 10,000gns Solway View Kelvin and Solway View Jackpot – the herd's stock bull that was breed champion at the Highland in 2015 – and Solway View Kesha, the reserve winner at last year's Royal Welsh Show.

The senior champion, Top Side Lewis, a June 2016-born bull by Naby Golddust – a bull going strong at seven years of age – from local breeders, Ross and Elaine Pattinson, Temon, Low Row, Brampton, made 8000gns. This white bull is out of Top Side Lexis Hottie, a Boherard Cantona-sired cow, and sold in a two-way split to two Baillie families – A and F Baillie, Low Glasnick, Kirkcowan, Newton Stewart and near neighbours, A and J Baillie, Challochglass, Kirkcowan.

Also making 8000gns was Ben Haigh's Luce Water Lionking ET, from Breckenhill, Low Gate, Hexham. His August 2016-born black and white son of Solway View Firecracker, is bred from the Ochain daughter, Stowbeck Freda, purchased at Carlisle in 2014 after standing female champion. Lionking stood fourth in his class at the pre-sale show and heads out to work at Thorney Gale, Stainmore, Kirkby Stephen, having been purchased by Messrs Raine and Davidson.

Selling up to Ballindalloch, with Michael Robertson, Fodderletter, Tomintoul, at 6000gns was Pendle Lion Heart, a dark blue roan bull from Lancashire breeders, AM and E Hartley, Pendle Valley, Roughlee, Nelson. Placed second in his class, this August 2016-born bull is by Jalon De Martinpre and out of the Greystone Bonzer daughter, Pendle Glitzy.

One of the youngest bulls forward, Goodyhills Maverick, a 16-month-old black and white son of Stonebyres Hartley, made 6000gns for NB and IA Armstrong, High Tarns, Silloth, Wigton. Liam Yewdale, Atkinson's Wood and Drummer, Easby, Great Ayton, Cleveland, forked out the cash for this entry bred from Goodyhills Isabella, a Ballyhossett George-sired cow.

Ryden Lexus, a two-year-old black and white bull by Solway View Inferno, made 5500gns for T Ryder, Holme House, Dale, Ainstable. Appleby-In-Westmorland producers, HR Hayton and Son, Asby Grange, were the final bidders on this entry bred from Annanwater Black Beauty.

Just behind, on 5200gns, N and ME Harrison, Tailbert, Shap, bought the sole entry from Brian Jones' Maes Lionking ET, from Maes Tyddyn, Corwen, Wales. This 17-month-old is a son of Tenace De La Praule, and bred from Ridge Dean Jasmine, a 4500gns purchase at the herd dispersal in 2014, by Kilowatt D'Ochain.

Richard Tiplady, Red House Farm, Barnard Castle, sold the lead priced female at 4500gns to J Crowther, Making Place, Soyland, Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire. His Tipladys Malibu, a June 2016-born mainly black heifer that stood first in her class at the pre-sale show, is by Tweeddale Ironman and bred from the Ochain daughter, Tipladys Jtaime. Malibu is entered for the Highland Show.

Sarah Balfour, Fodderletter, Tomintoul, bought the female champion, Black N Blue Lady Lloyd, from Sally and Neil Lloyd, Stoneycroft, Luston, at 4000gns. Inter-breed champion at the Shropshire and West Midlands Show last year, this blue and white two-year-old is by Jiosco De Focant and bred from Black N Blue Empress ET, by Label De Spy.

Averages: Bulls – 26 senior, £5060.19; 18 junior, £4690.00. Overall, 44 bulls, £4908.95 (-£808.63 for 20 fewer sold). Females – 17 maiden heifers, £2859.70 (+£134.62 for 15 fewer);

four recipients with ET calves, £3491.25

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.