A strong year of pedigree Limousin sales closed with a robust trade at the Red Ladies and weaned calf sale at Carlisle, where Robert and Jean Graham's herd from Bridge of Allan produced the lead priced heifer for the third consecutive year and an entry from Garry Patterson's Aultside herd from Keith achieved a new calf record of 16,000gns.

Topping the trade at 20,000gns was an entry from the couple's Grahams herd based at Airthrey Kerse, Bridge of Allan. Their 15-month-old, Grahams Nicki, brought out by brother and sister duo, Drew and Jennifer Hyslop, is the first grand-daughter to be sold from the prolific cow, Grahams Coffee. Champion at the pre-sale show, she is by Ampertaine Gigolo, and out of Grahams Lulu, which is the only daughter from the Grahams Coffee x Claragh Franco mating to be retained by the Grahams herd.

Senior female and reserve overall senior at the Stars of the Future event last month, Nicki was knocked down to Stuart Perkins, Haywood Farm, Radstock, Avon, buying for his growing Hartmoor herd, established earlier in the year and which now numbers 10 females.

Two others from the Grahams herd made big money with the yearling heifer Grahams Naughtyspice, which comes from one of the strongest dam lines in the breed, making 11,000gns. Her dam, Milbrook Gingerspice is the only animal to win the breed championship and inter-breed title at Balmoral Show on three consecutive years. A full sister to the 20,000gns Grahams Michael, the 25,000gns Grahams Malibu, the Red Ladies champion last year and the 2018 show star, Grahams Melody, she was purchased by Neil and Stuart Barclay, buying for the Harestone herd from Banchory.

Just behind, on 10,000gns, Grahams Nightingale, a similarly aged heifer by Goldies Jackpot, bred from Grahams Jemimah, was knocked down to Owen Comer, for his Braydonside Limousin herd at Braydon, Wiltshire.

Second top price amongst the heifers was 17,000gns paid for the pre-sale show reserve champion, Proctors Nellgwyn, from Proctors Farms, Slaidburn, Clitheroe. This 15-month-old heifer is by Ampertaine Foreman, out of the Haltcliffe DJ daughter, Proctors Gwen and again sold to Mr Perkins for his Hartmoor herd.

Two heifers made 12,000gns, to include Huntershall Nebraska from Stephen Nixon, Wigton, Cumbria. This March 2017-born entry is a Ballinloan Jaegerbomb daughter out of Huntershall Hattie, a Homebyres Vanhee daughter and one of the herd's milkiest cows. Neil Barclay was again the last man in.

Matching the 12,000gns bid was the class winner, Wilodge Naturelle from Christine and Paul Tippetts' Wilodge herd from Shifnal, Shropshire. The first female to be offered for sale by Grahams Lorenzo, this 13-month-old is from Wilodge Diamante, thereby combining two of the herd's top maternal lines in Vantastic and Cerberus. Final bidders were Mick and Jean Gould, buying for their Woodmarsh herd from Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

Wilodge also received 10,500gns for a cow and calf unit sold separately. First up and making 4500gns, was Wilodge Heron, a 2012-born cow by the Sympa son, Ampertaine Bravo out of Wilodge Erona, a Rocky daughter. In calf to Grahams Lorenzo, she was bought by Messrs Walker and Son, Driffield, Yorkshire, for their Wilfholme Limousin herd, who also made the winning bid of 6000gns for her eight-month-old Lowerffrydd Empire-sired heifer calf, Wilodge Orona.

Garry Patterson's Aultside Overdrive, a Ronick Hawk son from Keith, topped the calf entry and achieved a new breed record when selling for 16,000gns to Ian Handley of the Gunnerfleet herd based at Ingleton, Lancashire. The eight-month-old, which was tapped out as the best bull calf at the pre-sale show, is an embryo calf bred from Spittalton Flush – the dam of the 65,000gns Aultside Meanmachine, and last year's 18,000gns heifer, Aultside Mystique.

Matt and Craig Ridley's Haltcliffe herd received 11,000gns for for Haltcliffe Ode, an 11-month-old natural born heifer calf by Dinmore Jacot, out of Haltcliffe Jingle, that goes back to Sympa. Best heifer calf at the pre-sale show, she was bought by Gary Morrissey, County Carlow, Eire.

Mike and Melanie Alford's similarly aged heifer, Foxhillfarm Oriel, from Cullompton, Devon, made 10,000gns selling to Chris White, buying for his Frogmore herd from Moreton-in-Marsh, Glocs. This ET calf is bred from the show winner, Foxhillfarm Gracie and sired by Ampertaine Gigolo. She was shown fresh from winning the Limousin female championship at Agrifest, in Exeter.

Back amongst the Red Ladies, Wiggonby Nayday, a 19-month-old heifer by Frewstown Italian, bred by S and EM Bowe, Midtown, made 8000gns. Consigned by K and S Williamson, Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland, she sold back across the Irish Sea with Messrs Fitzgerald, Crumlin, Co Antrim.

Just behind on 7000gns, fellow Irish breeder, JD Rainey, Kilrea, Co Derry, sold Claragh Nina to S Gilleard, Thorne, Doncaster. Nina is a 15-month-old daughter of Trueman Jagger and bred from Haltcliffe Avon.

Weaned calves also sold to 7000gns for Swalesmoor Oben, a January 2018-born heifer from Kedzlie Farms, Lauderdale, purchased by Thomas Clancy, Dungannon, Co Tyrone. The breeding behind this transaction includes Lowerffrydd Empire onto Nebo Favourite.

John and Ben Richardson, Ghyll House, Duffton, and Messrs Warren, Gomersal, Bradford, then forked out 6500gns for the eight-month-old heifer calf, Sarkley Osanna, a Trueman Idol-sired calf, out of the Claragh Franco-sired Sarkley Joanna, from EH Pennie, Montgomery, Powys, Wales.

Averages: Red Ladies – Three heifers with calves, £6370.00; 55 heifers, £4495.91. Weaned calves – 17 bull calves, £3610.15; 49 weaned heifers,£2428.01

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.