Prices peaked at 8000gns at the Northern Ireland Charolais club sale at Dungannon, when the champion, Corrick Napoleon, sold to Terence McGarrigle, Belleek, Co Down.

Taking all the plaudits was C and S McIlwaine's Novermber 2017-born entry from Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone, which first won the junior championship. A son of the 25,000gns Inverlochy Ferdie, Napoleon is out of Corrick Hazel, which goes back to the 9000gns Balmoral champion Goldies Carnival,

Second top price was 6000gns paid for the 14 month-old Newline Outstanding, from Andrew Wallace, Gubbacrock, Co Fermanagh. A class winner at the pre-sale show, he is backed by some well-known, albeit old genetics with the sire being the 30,000gns Dingle Hofmeister, onto the Oldstone Egbert daughter, Newline Ivy. The buyer was W Cousins, Omagh, Co Tyrone.

Mr Wallace also received 4100gns for Newline Oliver, a similarly aged bull backed by French bloodlines on both sides. He is by Major and out of Ashleigh Hazel, a Pirate daughter.

Micheal O’Gorman’s senior champion, Bromich Nevel from Mullaghbawn, Co Down, was the first of two to go under the hammer at 4200gns. This June 2017-born lad is by Crossmolina Euro, out of the Blakestown Brion-sired Tullyallen Elaine and took the fancy of T Aiken, Coleraine, Co Derry.

Matching that price tag when purchased by Messrs Boyd, Bushmills, Co Antrim, was the reserve champion, Derryharney Nipper, a September 2017-born son of Doonally New, out of Derryharney Lulu, a Clogher show junior heifer champion, by Glenross Graham. He was consigned by Harold Stubbs and his grandson Alan Burleigh, Crummy, Co Fermanagh.

Heading up the females which averaged £2484.30 for the three sold, was the reserve female, Killadeas Natasha which made 3000gns selling to Stephen McGuiness, Greysteel, Co Derry. This 23 month-old heifer from Stuart and David Bothwell, Ballina Mallard, Co Fermanagh, is out of Killadeas Gail, by the 16,000gns Blackford Dynamite and is sired by the Welsh-bred Gwenog Braveheart.

Averages: 33 bulls, £3379.

Auctioneers: Dungannon Farmers Mart