A strong turnout of 27 junior farmers presented 46 cattle for their overwintering competition at Darlington Farmers auction mart held in conjunction with their weekly sale of store and breeding stock.
The judge, Philip Parkin, Howden, found his champion in a Limousin heifer from 19-year-old, Harry Askwith of Low Mown Meadows, Crook.
Having been purchased in December from TH Mace and Sons, Hill Top, this heifer went on to realise £1420 when selling to the judge.
The reserve ticket went to a British Blue heifer from eight-year-old, Ava Wilson, Throstlenest Farm, Lanchester, in her first year competing, this sold for £1500 J Dods, Darlington. Ava picked her heifer out at the November suckled calf show from the Stones family of Nun Cote Nook.
Michael Brannen, Scar Top, Temple Sowerby, picked up the top award for showmanship and presentation on the day.
Winning the biggest profit of £710 was a Beef Shorthorn steer from Elliot Grieves of Oakdene, Whinney Hill, with am average of £373.15 per beast achieved.
Tied at the top of the heifers gaining £590 profits were Elliot Grieves and Ava Wilson, Throstlenest.
Bullocks and heifers averaged £1283 and £1124 respectively.
A British Blue heifer from N Wilson, Hill House, led the store cattle at £1740, whist steers peaked at £1690 for a Limousin from JS Foster and Son, West End.
Texel hoggs from KO Stones, Nun Cote Nook, topped the sale at £187.
Ewes and lambs averaged £99.55 per life, having reached £135 per life for a Beltex ewe and a single lamb from Francesca Stobbs, Killerby Hall.
Leading Awards
Showmanship and presentation – 1, Michael Brannen, Scar Top; 2, Emma Watson, East Thorn; 3, Ava Wilson, Throstlenest.
Overall greatest profit – Elliot Greaves, Oakdene – Beef Shorthorn £710.
Steers – Age 25-28 years – 1, Georgina Laws, High Village; 2, Tom Barley, Alston House; 3, Tom Barley, Alston House.
Steers – Age 13-24 years – 1, Michael Brannen, Scar Top; 2, Jake Farrington, Whitelass Close; 3, Abi Hill, Knavesmire.
Steers – Age 8-12 years – 1, Ted Rooke, Rye House; 2, Mindi Dawson, Blue House; 3, Mindi Dawson, Blue House.
Heifers – Age 27-29 years – 1, Emma Watson, East Thorn; 2, Emma Watson, East Thorn; 3, James Burns, Coquet Close.
Heifers – Age 25-26 years – 1, Robert McAneney, Scow Hall; 2, Robert McAneney, Scow Hall; 3, Nicola Terry, Scow Hall.
Heifers – Age 19-23 years – 1 and champion, Harry Askwith, Low Mown Meadows; 2, Harry Askwith, Low Mown Meadows; 3, Elliott Grieves, Oakdene.
Heifers – Age 11-16 years – 1, Michael Brannen, Scar Top; 2, Jack Sewell, Knavesmire; 3, Imogen Davies, Lough House.
Heifers – Age 8-10 years – 1 and reserve, Ava Wilson, Throstlenest; 2, Thomas Foster Birch Bush; 3, Flynn Winspear, Overton.
Leading Prices
Store bulls – £1080, £1040 (x2), £1010 (x2), £1000 CN Whitaker.
Steers – £1690, £1510 JS Foster and Son; £1670, £1630, £1560 GW and L Marsay; £1630, £1590 Mindii Dawson; £1620, £1300 JD Teasdale; £1595, £1590 AE Barker; £1560 AG Laws; £1560 Elliot Grieves; £1540 Tom Barley; £1515 T Barker; £1500 Michael Brannen; £1500, £1470 Ted Rooke; £1480 George Wearmouth; £1445 (x2) GW and M Singleton and Sons; £1370 (x2) William Swinbank; £1370, £1345 Jake Farrington; £1350 Tom Barley; £1345 Abi Hill; £1160, £1110, £960 WJ Love; £1125, £1110 Northfield Farms; £1040 N Wilson.
Heifers – £1740 N Wilson; £1720, £1700 Imogen Davies; £1600 Ava Wilson; £1570 Jack Sewell; £1560 Michael Brannen; £1550, £1440 Emma Watson; £1510, £1310, £1290, £1230 RL Walker; £1500, £1420 Harry Askwith; £1500, £1390 C Moffett; £1490 Elliot Grieves; £1470 T Barker; £1470, £1190 R McAnency; £1430, £1320 Edward Swinbank; £1400 Thomas Foster; £1380 AG Laws; £1380 George Wearmouth; £1360, £1310 GW and M Singleton and Sons; £1310 Katie Wall; £1300, £1150 N Terry; £1270, £1210 JS Foster and Son; £1200 James Burns; £1180 (x2) PT Stephenson and Son; £1180 A Tallentire.
Ewes with lambs at foot – £312 (x2), £240 RA Patterson and Son; £300, £248, £215 W Wearmouth and Son; £300, £245 JE Stobbs and Son; £295, £208 CJ and JM Simpson; £270 F Stobbs; £250 PA Evans; £235 J Burbury.
Store hoggs – Tex – £187, £174, £132, £128 KO Stones; £162, £99 JJ Horn; £159 N Gill; £113 Colne Valley Beef. Cont – £171 PJ and AJ Browell; £157, £94 Colne Valley Beef; £128, £110 D and J Coulson; £109, £103 N Gill; £98, £96 GH and RG Stobbs; £86 TB Walton. Belt – £162 D and J Coulson. Suff – £159 P and AR Jopling; £106 D and J Coulson. Chev – £153, £68 KO Stones; £148, £104 N Gill. BL – £128 MW Cook and Son. BFL – £106 MW Cook and Son. Jacob – £114 Colne Valley Beef. Herd – £78 N Gill. Swale – £63 N Gill.
Feeding ewes – £134 J Atkinson; £103, £60 PA Evans; £99 GH and RG Stobbs; £95 S Fenwick; £91 P and AR Jopling; £90 Colne Valley Beef; £84, £75, £72 D Clarke; £64 S Dodsworth.
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