AN eight-month-old British Blue cross heifer calf from Keith Stones and family, Nun Cote Nook, Marrick, proved the star attraction at a show and sale of suckled calves at Darlington, securing the pre-sale championship and top price of £1600.

Reserve was a 10-month-old Limousin steer from Nigel Swinbank, Cold Comfort, Neasham, that made £1100.

The sale of 605 cast, store and breeding cattle met a 'flyer' of a trade with a 99% clearance, with cast cattle averaging 106p per kg with a lead bid of 188p and £1479 paid for a 31-month-old Limousin heifer from JR and M Richardson of Etherley House, Winston.

Store lambs (1457) peaked at £77 for a pen of 22 Texel cross from Hall Bros, Barracks Farm, Tow Law.

LEADING prices

Breeding cattle – Cows and calves – £1180 AS Chapman; £1100, £900 F Davison and Sons.

Bulling heifers – £1070 x2, £1055 x2, £960, £950, £910, £900 x4 JH Johnson; £800 A Rickaby.

Store cattle – Bulls – £1140, £1035, £1030, £905, £835, C Binks and Son; £1000, £855 S and A Greaves; £950 T and R Quinn and Son; £940 x3, £910 D Dixon; £865 x2, C Peckitt and Son; £830 A Wilson; £825 PK and HCC Dowson.

Steers – £1170, £1010, £990, £965 WB Rutter and Sons; £1120, £1070, £960 G and EM Nixon; £1100, £925 N Swinbank; £1090 JE Holliday; £1070, £930, £900 WO Grix and Partners; £1070 D and PH Brown; £1050, £955 R Potts; £1040, £985, £950, NG Beveridge; £940, £930 KO Stones; £940 W and C Iceton and AS and G Donaldson.

Heifers – £1600, £975 KO Stones; £1190 x2, £1100 x2, £1090 x2, £1070 x2, £1020, £945 x2, £920 RL Walker; £1050, £1010, £980, D and PH Brown; £1040 £950 x2, £910 RA Patterson and Son; £1030 AS and G Donaldson; £1000 J Clark and Son; £1000, £955 x2, £930 J Peacock; £975 x2, £925 WH Brown; £970 JE Holliday and Son; £960 N Swinbank; £950 Barker Farming Partnership; £945 JJM Lonsdale; £940 WO Grix and& Partners.

Store lambs – Tex – £77 Hall Bros; £76.50, B Lowson; £73.50 Hagg Farm; £71.50 SR Plumb; £70.50 WD Richardson; £70.50 TT Hall and Son; £70.50, £70 JD and MS Mortimer. Suff – £70.50, JH Johnson; £69.50 J Walshaw and Son; £67.50, £65.50 SR Plumb; £66 K Sayer; £69 JM and M and C Wise; £69 R Worthy; £69 GE Raw. Cont – £69, JM and M and C Wise; £69 Worthy; £69 GE Raw. Che – £63 WD Richardson.

Feeding ewes – £76, £60 HT Davies and Partners; £61 WD Richardson.