NO fewer than 27 haltered beef calves were forward for Hexham and Northern Marts’ YFC calf wintering competition at Hexham, where a British Blue from Whalton-based Cambo YFC member, James Grix, Hill Head Farm, was crowned supreme.

The event, at Hexham Auction Mart, was judged by Miss Rachel Mudd, Kepwick, Thirsk, who awarded the championship ticket to a steer from Mr Grix, who purchased the calf from Roly and Melanie Carr, Homilton Farm, last October. It later sold for £1390.

Reserve overall and best opposite sex was a Limousin cross heifer from previous competition winner, Mark Statton, a Tritlington YFC member from High Highlaws. This was a blue and white mottled heifer purchased from The Cockburns at Kingside, Leadburn, Peebleshire, which later went on to sell for the top price of £1600.

Best turned out calf was a black heifer from Coquetdale YFC member, Grant Cummings.

Highest margin fell to local lad, James Mitchell, Thistlerigg, a Whitley Chapel YFC member, who bought a British Blue cross heifer at the Bellingham sale of suckled calves for £710, from Beamwham. This black heifer stood first in her class at the show and sold for £1210 to Les Bainbridge, Seamer, Stokesley, leaving a margin from purchase to re-sale of exactly £500.

In second place with a margin of £430 was last year’s winner, Mark Statton with his Limousin cross heifer. She went home with Willie Weatherson, Edges Green for that top price of £1600. Third place fell to Alice Cheesebrough of Stamfordham Young Farmers who invested in a Blue cross heifer from Warksfieldhead which cost £845 and went on to sell Les Bainbridge for £1210.
 

See this week's issue of The Scottish Farmer, out March 25, for a full report, results and leading prices from the Hexham sale.