A cracking show of suckled calves forward for Darlington Farmers Auction Mart's annual show and sale on Monday, saw the champion, from the Tindale Family, Paradise Farm, Shadforth, sell for £1200.

Judge Janet Sheard of Low Common Farm, Almondbury, found her champion in a nine-month-old red Limousin steer calf, which later sold to Matthew Keel, Thirsk.

On the other side of the balance sheet, the Tindales purchased the top priced lot at £1240. This was the first prize Aberdeen Angus heifer, a yearling from Ivanhoe Livestock, Hunton.

Another Limousin cross scooped the reserve honours for the Beveridge Family, Low West House, Tow Law, who sold their lead heifer, an 11-month-old, to Ricky Alder of MF Hall, Ponteland.

Overall, heifers saw a rise of £43 on the previous year to level at £811 while the steer calves fell £41 to £884.

The bull show was a whitewash for Stuart Beeforth, Low Crookleith Farm, Chop Gate, who took the top awards with a run of six-month-old continentals.

LEADINGawards

Heifers – Lim – 1 and reserve, NG Beveridge, Low West House, £1040 to MF Hall, Woodhill Farm; 2, KO Stones, Nuncote Nook, £890 to E Watson, East Thorn Farm; 3, N Swinbank, Cold Comfort, to £1005 to B Cowton, Low West House. BB – 1, Low West House, £1050 to D Robson, Church Lane; 2, Nuncote Nook, £1120 to MF Hall, Woodhill Farm; 3, Low West House, £1045 to J and R Waind River House. Any other breed – 1, Ivanhoe Livestock Partners, Wyvill Grange, £1260 to P Tindale, Paradise Farm; 2, Low West House – £960 to D Robson, Church Lane; 3, Low West House to £860 Lawson Farms, Barton Grange.

Steers – Lim – 1 and champion, P Tindale, Paradise Farm, £1200 to MT Keel, Griffin Farm; 2, G W Dent, The Bungalow, £1100 to A Graham, Tamdragee;3, Cold Comfort, £990 to B Cowton, Low West House. BB – 1, Nuncote Nook, £980 to C and J Donnelly, Bank Flow Farm; 2, Nuncote Nook, £1080 to RS Hall and Sons, Ivy House; 3, Low West House, £1030 to RS Hall and Sons, Ivy House. Any other breed – 1, Low West House, £1005 to A Graham, Tamdragee; 2, Low West House, £980 to TN Callender, Ox Eye Farm; 3, Low West House, £1005 to A Graham, Tramdragee.

Young bulls – 1, S Beeforth, Low Crookleith, £915 to ER Hyde and Sons, Heybeck Farm; 2, Low Crookleith, £855 to K Seymour, Dromonby Farm; 3, Low Crookleith, £860 to K Seymour, Dromonby Farm.

LEADINGprices

Young bulls – £1180, £1170, £1130, £1080 x2, C Binks and Son; £1050 x3, £940, £935, J Bartram and Son; £1050, £1030, £950, £895, J Musgrave; £1030, £990, £985 x2, £960, £900 x2 JA and UM Fawcett; £1030 Castlewood Farms; £1000 x2, PF and JM Littlefair; £1000, £920 x2 JE and B Morgen and Sons; £960 x2 B Williamson; £915 x5, £910 x8, C Peckitt and Son. £915, S Beeforth.

Steers – £1200 P Tindale; £1140, £1125, £1110 x4, £1030 x3, £1090, £1080 x3, £1030 x2, £1025 x3, £990 x2, D Blake. £1100, £1050, £1030, GW Dent; £1080, £1000, £990, KO Stones; £1050, DR Smith; £1045, £1000 x3 F Ward; £1040, £990 x3 N Swinbank; £1030, M and P Stead; £1030 x2, £1020 D C Dent; £1030 x2, £1005 x3, £1000 x3, NG Beveridge; £1000 x2, £990 JL Marks.

Heifers – £1260 Ivanhoe Livestock Partnership; £1120, £985, KO Stones; £1110, D Blake; £1075, £1065, £1000, £950, RA Wearmouth; £1075 x2, £1040 x3, £1020 x2, £1015 x3, £995 x3, £960 x3, JH Johnson; £1050, £1045 x2, £1040 x2, £960, NG Beveridge; £1005, £990, N Swinbank; £1000, £970 GW Dent; £970, £965x3, DR Smith; £950 G Sedgewick.