A top price of 21,000gns, a further nine sales at 10,000gns and above and an average just shy of £7500 for 47 bulls ensured most Beef Shorthorn breeders were home in a buoyant mood from United Auctions’ Stirling Bull Sales.

It was one of the youngest breeders – Grant Stephen, Hatton Farm Cottage, Dallas, Forres – who secured the overall championship and the top price when Glendual Sammy sold to Iain Green, Corskie, Garmouth, Fochabers. The show stopper which is out of the foundation cow HW Gorgeous is sired by the AI bull, Fearn Godfather.

Alan Haigh and his daughters Alice and Lois of the Willingham herd now based at Balquhaldy, Brechin, enjoyed their best trade to date too with bulls at 20,000gns and 12,000gns.

Dearest was the third prize winner, Willingham Spitfire, a polled roan by Willingham Lieutenant Commander, out of Willingham Eva Broadhooks. This May 2022-born entry sold over the ‘phone to Mary Cormack, Tambour Manor, Canterbury.

Minutes later, the family’s reserve junior champion, Willingham Salamander by the same sire, but bred from Willingham Eva Broadhooks, made 12,000gns selling in a two-way split to Derek and Cindy Steen of the Coxhill herd, Moffat and George Irving, Mountbenger, Yarrow.

More than financing that half share, the Steens sold two bulls at five figures. Making 11,000gns to Whissendine Farms, Syston, was the mostly red bull, Coxhill Spartacus, an AI son of the Canadian sire Crooked Post Tobias, out of Coxhill Lovely GP83.

Roger Nicolson and sons David, Robert and Richard of Cannonhall Farm TV fame, Barnsley, then went to 10,000gns for Coxhill Sultan, the first son sold by the 27,000gns record priced Meonside Nidavellir, out of Coxhill Wheat.

New breeder, Natalie Hynd, Galston, also had a cracking day selling her first bull for 15,000gns to James Frame, Little Galla, Wiston, Biggar. This was the intermediate and reserve overall champion, Westbroad Scotia, a March 2022-born roan bought privately as a calf from Duncan Welsh and brought out by Allan Jackson who has looked after Natalie’s five Shorthorns from the very start. Scotia is by Shawhill Leroy and out of Westbroad Rusty 15.

Duncanziemere Saltire, matched the 15,000gns price for Alistair Clark and sons Brian and Alistair, Cumnock. Saltire, a roan bull is out of their foundation female Knockenjig Margo, sired by Glenisla Excalibur and sold up to Duffton, Huntly with Glenrinnes Farms.

Sons of the home-bred bull, Nelson of Upsall, a son of the Canadian bull, Crooked Post Drover retained for breeding, proved popular for Thirsk-based breeder Gerald Turton, selling at 11,000gns and 10,500gns.

The former, Sovereign of Upsall, the junior champion brought out by George and Maureen McCulloch, is bred from the Ex92-classified cow, Marigold of Upsall. Sovereign was knocked down to Jamie Biggar, Chapelton, Castle Douglas.

Squadron Leader of Upsall, out of the Ex91 Augusta of Upsall made 10,500gns selling to David and Mairi Wyllie of the Burllie herd from The Gill, Cummertrees, Annan.

On the income side, the Wyllies sold their sole entry for 10,000gns to Laga Farms, Orkney. This was the red ticket holder, Burllie Saltire a June 2022-born roan bull by the AI bull, Napoleon of Upsall out of Oakleigh Linda.

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