Angus bulls kick off with £22,000 top

This average for the 61 bulls that changed hands is a rise of £674 on the year for 24 more sold, with females from the Moncur and Schivas dispersals proving equally as popular, with top prices of 22,000gns and 18,000gns, respectively (see individual reports for both dispersals).

“There was a definite demand for top quality bulls that were well bred,” commented the society’s chief executive officer, Barrie Turner, after the sale, pointing out the 80% clearance rate.

“There was also a chase for bulls with good calving ease figures. The dispersals went well and I was taken with the number of young people buying.”

With several bulls having already hit the five-figure mark, it was the second prize winner from the trustees of the late Gordon Brooke that went on to top the sale at 22,000gns. Making that price was Linton Gilbertines Powerhouse, a strapping 18-month-old that set the best price to date for the 100-cow herd at Upper Huntlywood, Earlston, managed by John Elliot jnr alongside stockman, Iain Campbell. This son of Rawburn Dublin had already made his mark in the showring, standing junior native champion in the M and S Beefbreeder championship at the Royal Highland in June, as well as being reserve male at the Great Yorkshire. Bred from the Rawburn Lord Ross-sired Belhaven Pole Star, a private purchase which also bred the 17,000gns Linton Gilbertines President, Powerhouse had the highest terminal sire index of +64 and caught the attention of Chris and Janet Watmore, who will take him to work on their Holystone herd, at Farnham Park, Sharperton, Morpeth.

Earlier in the sale, another second prize winner with a proven show record realised 14,000gns for Donald Rankin, from the Isle of Syke. Kilmaluag Eriskay – brought out by Richard and Carol Rettie – sold to Graeme Massie for his Blelack herd, near Dinnet, Aboyne, who gets for his money the champion from the Summer National held at Westmorland Show after securing the reserve inter-breed ticket at Central and West Fife. He is by the privately purchased Retties JFK, whose first sons averaged £6000 before the Stirling sale, while his dam – one of 25 cows in the herd established a decade ago – is Mosston Muir Etta, a Hallington Walter daughter bought at the Mosston Muir reduction.

It was certainly a Stirling debut to remember for mother and son team, Lorna and Hugh Thomson, as well as Hugh’s wife, Cara, when they not only secured the junior and reserve supreme championships but saw their Tynet Pegasus go under the hammer for 13,000gns. The Thomsons run just 16 cows in their herd at Burnside Cottage, Burnside of Tynet, Clochan, Buckie, which was founded just four years ago and it was one of their foundation cows, Fearn Abbey Poppy, a Balaldie Brutus daughter, that bred their leader. What made it all the sweeter for them was the fact this April, 2017-born son of Warrenho Dalmigavie will go for pedigree use in the Tilson family’s Wedderlie herd, at Gordon, Berwickshire.

Another herd achieving its top price to date of 12,500gns was the Cairnton herd belonging to Ken and Margaret Howie, Cairnton, Lumphanan, Banchory. Their Cairnton Blackbeard, brought out by daughter, Nicola and helper, Katie Meston, is a son of the 14,000gns Haymount Walarlo and stood male champion at Banchory and second in his class to the champion at the Summer National. Bred from a top family in the herd of 27 cows, being out of the Blelack Evangelist-sired Cairnton Blackbird, he was knocked down to David Lindsay, Baldovie, Kingoldrum, Kirriemuir.

Juniors proved popular and it was another red rosette-winner that sold for the next highest price of 11,000gns. That was McCornick Evening Express from father and daughter team, Martin and Gemma McCornick, who run 60 pedigrees at Boreland, Kirkcowan, Newton Stewart. Andrew Elliot, Blackhaugh, Clovenfords, Galashiels, was the last man in on this youngster by Halbeath Pentagon, a bull bought at a dispersal as a calf which also sired the 11,000gns McCornick Destroyer that stood supreme at the same sale last year. His dam is McCornick Evening Star, by McCornick Blockbuster.

Making 10,000gns was the supreme champion, Rulesmains Egbert, which was landing a first supreme title for Andrew Hodge and his daughter, Emma, whose herd numbers 100 pure cows and 60 commercials near Duns. This is a son of the 17,000gns Hallington Edition, a bull which produced one at 15,000gns in February, and is a heifer’s calf out of Rulesmains Evita Samantha, a Rulesmains Just Eternal daughter. Forking out the cash for a bull that was junior male champion at the Highland and male champion at both the Border Union and Duns, was Hamish Sclater, Denhead, Dunlugas, Turriff.

Two made 7500gns apiece. The first was Raddery Esprit, a first prize winner from Ewen and Gill MacGregor’s 20-cow herd from near Fortrose. Setting their best price when sold to J McCorkindale and Son, Macarioch, Southend, Campbeltown, was a son of the privately purchased Deveron Master Banbury, bred from one of the foundation females, Deveron Elize, by Blackhaugh Easy Papa.

Also making 7500gns when knocked down to R and J Johnston, Hewan, Shapinsay, Orkney, was Eilean Extra from the McSporran family, from near Innerleithen. The pedigree behind this April, 2017-born lad features Rawburn Enigmatic on to the Netherallan Peter Pershore daughter, Eilean Emma.

A pair from the Clark boys – Alistair and sons, Brian and Alistair – from Avisyard, Cumnock, sold for 6200gns apiece and both by the private purchase, Rawburn Jester Eric, which has produced sons to 15,000gns and whose first 18 bulls sold at auction to average above the £7300 mark.

First off was Duncanziemere Judge, the reserve intermediate champion, which sold to Mark Haistead, Meadow Brook Farm, Little Melton, Norwich. He is out of Duncanziemere Jody, a daughter of The Moss Mr Eshton.

Matching that was the junior bull, Duncanziemere Empire, which is out of the Auldhouseburn Karlos-sired Duncanziemere Edwina, which sold to T Millar and Son, Ballanan, Ringford, Dumfries.

Similarly, two bulls made 6000gns, with a bought-in bull from Graeme Massie, Firmarron, Aboyne, being the first to go. His Weeton Rogue, which was bought alongside his dam, Flodden Rosie, at the Weeton dispersal, landed the reserve senior title before selling two ways to FT Walton, Flotterton, Thropton, Morpeth, and MJ Dixon, The Stobbs, Rochester. He is by Netherallan Peter Pershore.

Then Moncur Jester Eric, from the Taylor family, Middlebank, Errol, matched that when chapped down to AJR Fasteners, Milton of Collieston, Ellon, before the family dispersed the remainder of the herd (see separate report). He is by Hallington Prince, a private purchase which went on to make 4500gns at the dispersal and out of Moncur Jill Erica, which made 4000gns.

• The McCornick family led the females when their McCornick Kerry S326 sold to I and A Burgess, Maryfield, New Abbey, Dumfries, for 4000gns.

This 22-month-old by Skaill Dino is out of the Idvies Elmonarch-sired Halbeath Kerry, and changed hands scanned in calf.

Next, at 3800gns, was Gretnahouse Karama Lady S906, a 23-month-old from Alasdair Whiteford and Co, Borewell, Scremerston, Berwick, with the proceeds going to the My Name’5 Doddie Fund. She is by the 18,000gns Haymount Precursor.

LEADING awards:

Bulls born Oct 24, 2016 to Jan 15, 2017 – 1, senior champion and supreme, AS Hodge’s Rulesmains Egbert, by Hallington Edition, 10,000gns to HW Sclater, Denhead, Dunlugas, Turriff; 2 and reserve senior, NF Massie and Sons’ Weeton Rogue, by Netherallan Peter Pershore, 6000gns to FT Walton, Flotterton, Morpeth, and MJ Dixon, The Stobbs, Rochester; 3, D Rankin’s Kilmaulag Pokerface, by Retties JFK, unsold; 4, HB and I Hodge and Son’s Wyddial Blackboris, by Haymount Geresso, 3500gns to DC Smith, Cloffrickford, Auchnagatt, Ellon.

Bulls born Jan 16 to March 1, 2017 – 1, AJR Farms’ Logie Benefactor, by Blelack Evril, 5200gns to J Innes and Sons, Dunscroft, Huntly; 2, D Rankin’s Kilmaluag Eriskay, by Retties JFK, 14,000gns to NF Massie and Sons; 3, Mr and Mrs E MacGregor’s Raddery Pozzovivo, by Deveron Master, unsold;4, J and S Montgomery’s Lorabar Mr Barisalman, by Abberton Pope, 3000gns to J Simpson, Mid St Colmac, Isle of Bute; 5, AJR Farms’ Logie Explosion, by Logie Electric, 3500gns to B and J MacKay, Skitten, Wick.

Bulls born March 2 to 15, 2017 – 1, Mr and Mrs E MacGregor’s Raddery Esprit, by Deveron Master Banbury, 7500gns to J McCorkindale and Son, Macharioch, Southend, Campbeltown; 2, AS Hodge’s Rulesmains Pacman, by Blelack Lord Herbert, 5000gns to R Neill and Partners, Upper Nisbet, Jedburgh; 3, PC Stovold and Son’s Rosemead Earl Samson, by Gretnahouse Samson, 3500gns to J Steele and Son, Walston Mill, Carnwath, Lanark; 4, EM Campbell’s Kilmallie Boss Man, by Kilmallie Finlay, 2500gns to B and J MacKay.

Bulls born March 16 to 26, 2017 – 1, JHC Campbell and Sons’ Thrunton Reiver, by Hallington Edition, 5200gns to AJ and T Snaith, Great Tosson, Thropton, Morpeth; 2, NA Wattie’s Tonley Vidal, by Tonley Essien, 4500gns to WSL Muir, Upper Onston, Stromness, Orkney; 3, I and S Graham’s Balgay Glencarse, by Balgay Elevation, unsold.

Bulls born March 27 to April 7, 2017 – 1 and intermediate champion, A Clark and Sons’ Duncanziemere Jason, by Rawburn Jester Eric, 5500gns to DC Moss and Son, Glebe Farm, Gotham, Notts; 2, The late Gordon R Brooke’s Linton Gilbertines Deniro, by Rawburn Black Watch, 3500gns to J Jerman and Co, Rhumbrongelly, Llanidloes, Powys; 3, Schivas Estates’ Schivas Black Pearl, by Weeton Ronan, 2500gns to R and C Rettie, Methven, Perth; 4, J and E Campbell’s Rosebrough Baldemar Man, by Hallington Edition, 3000gns to B and J MacKay; 5, A Cuthbertson and Son’s JAC Black Harry, by JAC Lord Harry, unsold.

Bulls born April 8 to 13, 2017 – 1 and reserve intermediate, A Clark and Sons’ Duncanziemere Judge, by Rawburn Jester Eric, 6200gns to M Haistead, Meadow Brook, Little Melton, Norwich; 2, The Late Gordon R Brooke’s Linton Gilbertines Blackening, by Rawburn Black Watch, 5000gns to Sinclair, Unigarth, Orkney; 3, H and L Thomson’s Tynet Dynamite, by Blelack Duke, 2800gns to J and J Reid, Sevenacres Mains, Kilwinning; 4, D Strachan and Son’s Shawtonhill Ernie, by Glenbuchat Gordon, 4200gns to W Nicol, Westerton, Bankfoot, Perth.

Bulls born April 14 to 16, 2017 – 1, junior champion and reserve supreme, H and L Thomson’s Tynet Pegasus, by Warrenho Dalmigavie, 13,000gns to HM Tilson, Wedderlie, Gordon, Berwickshire; 2, Late Gordon R Brooke’s Linton Gilbertines Felix, by Netherallan Peter Pershore, 5000gns to J Maxwell and Son, Halket Leathes, Castle Douglas; 3, NA Wattie’s Tonley Empire, by Weeton Evolution, 5000gns to J and J Pattullo, Sandyford, Kirriemuir; 4, FJ Fraser and Son’s Idvies Proud Pedro, by Gretnahouse Prince Cool, 3000gns to J Lawrie, Ransfield, Ratho, Midlothian; 5, MAG McSporran’s Eilean Extra, by Rawburn Enigmatic, 7500gns to R and J Johnston, Hewan, Shapinsay, Orkney.

Bulls born April 17 to 30, 2017 – 1 and reserve junior, K and M Howie’s Cairnton Blackbeard, by Haymount Walarlo, 12,500gns to D Lindsay, Baldovie, Kingoldrum, Kirriemuir; 2, The Late Gordon R Brooke’s Linton Gilbertines Powerhouse, by Rawburn Dublin, 22,000gns to Holystone Farms, Sharpeton, Morpeth; 3, MR McCornick’s McCornick Everardo, by Halbeath Kitemark, 4000gns to R and J Kerr, Balegreggan, Campbeltown; 4, K and M Howie’s Cairnton Kinetic, 3000gns to J and J Munn, Wester Auchencarroch, Alexandria.

Bulls born after May 1, 2017 – 1, MR McCornick’s McCornick Evening Express, by Halbeath Pentagon, 11,000gns to T and J Elliot, Blackhaugh, Clovenfords; 2, A Clark and Sons’ Duncanziemere Empire, by Rawburn Jester Eric, 6200gns to T Millar and Son, Ballanan, Ringford, Dumfries; 3, W and EI Brown’s Drumdow Pearlstone, by Retties JFK, 4000gns to J Harkness, Netherhall, Kirkmahoe; 4, D Strachan Son’s Shawtonhill Egor, by Blelack Lord Herod, 5000gns to AG Mellor, Lower House, Sutton; 5, K and M Howie, by Cairnton Elecutionist, by Cairnton Elder Bentley, 5800gns to Rendall and Son, Holland Farm, Papa Westray, Orkney.

Heifers born after May 22, 2016 – 1 and female champion, 1J Gilmour and Co’s Belhaven Elaine, by Retties Lone Ranger, 3000gns to JJ Patterson, Kirktonhill, Oxton; 2 and reserve female, R and C Rettie’s Retties Lady Rose, by Retties JFK, 3500gns to A Mylius and Partners, St Fort Home Farm, Newport on Tay; 3, NA Wattie’s Tonley Ester, by Warrenho Emperor, unsold; 4, NA Wattie’s Tonley Eyrie, by Tonley Essien, unsold.