Just shy of 600 cattle were forward for Darlington Farmers Auction Mart's Stars of the Future Show and Sale of suckled calves and store cattle, staged in conjunction with their weekly sale of cast, store and breeding cattle, on Monday.

Judge Matthew Maw of SM Donaldson, Bridge Grange, Bedale, found his champion in an 11-month-old British Blue steer from the Stones family of Nun Cote Nook, Marrick, Richmond. It made £1120 when purchased by M Robinson and Sons, East Alwent Farm, Staindrop.

Reserve was a 23-month-old British Blue heifer from G and A Gibson, High Etherley, which topped the section at £1480 selling to Messrs Freemen of Newcastle, Moor Bank Lodge.

A flying trade for all classes of cattle saw smaller grazing animals in particular 'off the clock' at times.

Overall averages held up well too. Last year's record average for steers of £971 was equalled with young bulls rising £4 per head on the year to £925 and heifers up £25 to £891.

Top priced steer was an 18-month-old Beef Shorthorn from DSM and AS Gibson, Cut Thorn, Gibside, which made £1370 to AS Chapman, Theakston Grange.

LEADINGprices

Breeding cattle – Cows and calves – £1550, £1350, T and G Lee; £1400, W and V Burton. In-calf cows – £1250, £880, JM Greensit and Son Ltd.

Young bulls – £1180, £1070 A and AG Moralee; £1120 P Baker; £1100, £1070 x2, £1050, JR and M Richardson; £1095, T Nesbitt and Son; £1040 x2 £1030 x2 £1040 x2, JA and UM Fawcett.

Steers – £1370, £1160, DSM and AJ Gibson; £1295, £1200 P Suddes; £1270, £1185, RE Dickson; £1265, £1260 x2; £1225; £1165, P Baker; £1200, £1170 x2, RW Shann; £1185 T Coulthard and Son. £1180 G Corner; £1180, £1155 GA Gibson and Son.

Heifers – £1480 G and A Gibson and Son; £1250, P Tindale; £1205, £1110 x2, DR Smith; £1195 £1190, P Coupland; £1190 L Kidd; £1180, £1140, M Gascoigne; £1170 J Gilson; £1160, JM Greensit and Son Ltd; £1125 x2 M and P Stead; £1115 E Wilson.

Cast cows – P per kg – 193p, 179p B Watson; 191p PJ Tindale; 190p J and EM Lawson; 176p, 166p, P Tindale; 171p, 166p, WJ and A Bowes and Sons; 169p P Foster; 169p NG Beveridge; 165p KBS and AL Roche; 165p W and OM Jackson and Son.