Two five-figure sales and a further 20 lots selling at or above the 5000gns bracket made for a successful sale of pedigree Charolais cattle at last weekend's breed society show and sale at Carlisle, where the sale leader at 12,000gns sold in a two-way split up to Scotland.

Star attraction was the reserve male and reserve overall champion, Caylers Napoleon, a 17-month-old bull from the Barker family from Nuthampstead, Hertfordshire, purchased jointly by John and Raymond Irvine, Ballindalloch, Banffshire and Jim Muirhead, Arbroath, Angus, for 12,000gns. Their bull is by the Irish-born Rosanna Jupiter and out of Caylers Fuchsia, a Caylers Bombadier daughter.

The Barker family enjoyed a cracking trade, selling four bulls to average just shy of £6900.

Perthshire breeder, Bill Bruce, who owns the Balmyle herd from Meigle, sold the second top priced bull at 10,000gns in the shape of Balmyle O'leary, the reserve junior champion at the pre-sale show. This 13 month-old is backed by home-bred genetics on both sides, being a son of the 11,000gns Balmyle Jasper, a former reserve champion here whose first son sold for 20,000gns, out of the Maerdy Egret daughter, Balymle Halo. O'leary sold back up to Perthshire with pedigree breeders, Major David and Nick Walter, buying for their Balthayock herd based just outside Perth.

Next in the bidding stakes at 9000gns was the class winner Goldies Network, from Dumfriesshire breeder, Hamish Goldie. His December 2017-born entry is by the 15,000gns Gretnahouse Heman, while his dam, Goldies Jewel, is by Goldies Gladiator. Local breeder William Cleasby, Temple Sowerby, Cumbria, forked out the cash.

Mr Goldie who sold three to average £6930, also scooped the intermediate and supreme championship with Goldies Noted, which went on to sell for 8000gns. Another by the same sire, but out of Goldies Jinny, a daughter of the 34,000gns Goldies Uppermost, this 17-month-old headed home to work at Gelston Castle Farms, Castle Douglas.

Matching that bid was Gretnahouse Ninja, from local breeder, Alasdair Houston, Gretna Green, who produced the lead herd average, selling four bulls at £7009. His best, which stood third in his class at the pre-sale show, is a December 2017-born son of Westcarse Jimmy, a bull whose first four sons averaged £8250 in February, is equally well bred on the dam side being out of Gretnahouse Fayesse, a Thrunton Camelot daughter, which has previously bred sons to 7500gns. Ninja was knocked down to A Smellie, Peebles, Roxburghshire.

Westcarse Jimmy was also the sire of the next two top bulls from Gretnahouse at 7200gns and 6500gns. Dearest was the class winner, Gretnahouse Nelson, a 17-month-old entry bred from the Balthayock Gladiator-sired Gretnahouse Jaywatch, purchased by William Forbes, Ballindalloch, Banffshire.

North Yorkshire breeders, Mike and Jane Hayhurst, Kirbymisperton, received 7800gns for their second prize bull, Whitecliffe Nico, a 20-month-old

bull by the 30,000gns Dingle Hofmeister, which was snapped up by Rachel Dawson, Newton Burgoland, Leicestershire. His dam Whitecliffe Heather is a Blelack Digger daughter.

Just behind on 7500gns was the March 2017-born Ricnick Nelson, a second prize winner from Richard McCornick, Lochfoot, that stood male champion at Dumfries, last year. The 18,000gns Thrunton Fairfax is the sire here while the dam is Ricnick Jump, a Logan Geordie daughter. Nelson headed home with AH Fisher, Merrick Farm, Portpatrick.

Selling up to Orkney with Terry Coghill, Birsay, Muce, at 7200gns was Seaville Nero, a 20-month-old son of Sportsmans Linesman, from Robert and Kathleen Jackson, Blencogo, Cumbria. His dam Seaville Julie, goes back to easy calving AI sire, Blelack Digger.

Perthshire breeders, Peter and Allan Drysdale, Blairgowrie, were also in the money, when they received 7000gns for their blue ticket winner, Glenericht Nacho, from Douganhill Farms, Palmackie, Kirkcudbrightshire. Selling at this price was a September 2017-born son of Fleets Vibrant bred from Glenerich Jarling, a daughter of the 12,000gns Caylers Gladiator.

Matching that price tag was Andrew Stott’s class winner, Tophill Oscar from Canonbie, Dumfries-shire. Oscar, a 16-month-old son of the 10,000gns Ratoary Ferguson, bred from Edenhurst Rosett, a Dingle Hoffmeister-sired cow, was purchased by Messrs Gilleard, Thorne, Doncaster, South Yorkshire.

Strong demand for females saw the heifer trade peak at 4800gns twice, both of which were consigned by Hamish Goldie. First to hit this mark was Goldies Nancy, a 25-month-old in-calf daughter of the 14,000gns Goldies Joss and the Goldies Formidable-sired Goldies Juliette. Final bidders were Messrs Strain, Ballantrae, Ayrshire.

Also hitting 4800gns was the 22-month-old Goldies Nice, by Gretnahouse Heman, out of Goldies Incense, another Goldies Formidable daughter, this time purchased by Whitemills Ltd, Marden, Herefordshire – a new venture set up by Botswana resident Patricia Johnson-Hill. Her son in law and stockman, UK-born Clive Marshall, moved to Botswana in 1985 to take over the running of the Charolais herd there after working for the De Crespigny herd with Gordon Brookes. Clive, who will be establishing Patricia’s Charolais herd here in the UK, is travelling there later this month with the intention of selecting more base females for the herd.

The same buyers also went to 3500gns for the reserve female, again from Mr Goldie. Goldies Nora, a 19-month-old, is also by Heman but bred from Goldies Jean, a Goldies Formidable daughter.

Draft heifers from the Milne family's Elgin herd from Lhanbryde, Morayshire, brought out by Roy and Matthew Milne, sold well averaging £1785 for 10. Topping the trade here at 4000gns was the 16 month-old Elgin Natty, purchased by Ellis Mutch to join his herd in Forglen, Banffshire. She is by the 11,000gns Woodpark Elgin, while her dam Elgin Juliet, a half-sister to the 28,000gns Stirling supreme champion Elgin Glenlivet, goes back to the Highland show supreme champion, Elgin Highroller.

Another of the Milnes' top lots was the February 2017-born in-calf heifer, Elgin Nicky, purchased by Messrs Bowen, Molleston, Pembrokeshire for 3200gns. Also by Woodpark Elgin, Nicky is out of the Caylers Gladiator-sired, Elgin Ida.

The highest priced cow and calf outfit was bred and consigned by Fred, June and Emma Andrews of Holmfirth, Yorkshire. Holtstead Libby, a December 2015-born heifer that sold served to the 10,000gns Chunal Dougie, is by Wesley Equinox and out of Holtstead Gina – another Dingle Hofmeister daughter. Orkney producer, E Hourston, Swannay, was the last man in on this entry and also bought her six-month-old, Blelack Digger-sired bull calf, Holstead Odin at 3500gns.

OTHERLEADING prices

Bulls – 6500gns – AG Houston's Gretnahouse Neon, by Westcarse Jimmy, to Messrs Strain, Ballantrae, Girvan.

6000gns – Caylers Charolais' Caylers Oscar, by Rosanna Jupiter, to Messrs Edmondson, Kirkby-In-Furness, Cumbria.

Averages: 61 bulls £4855.82 (-£528.06 for one more sold); 17 heifers £2272.94; three cows and calves £2765.00.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington