Strong demand for Aberdeen-Angus bulls saw a top price of 13,000gns and a further 10 lots sell at or above the 5000gns at last week's breed society show and sale at Carlisle.

Topping the trade was Auchincrieve Exodus, a 15-month-old bull from Charles McCombie's herd from Auchincrieve, Rothiemay, Huntly, which sold in a two-way split to D and K Graham buying for their Carruthers herd at Birska, Lockerbie, and the Clark family who own the Duncanziemere herd from Avisyard, Cumnock.

For their money they get the junior male champion and reserve overall, a son of the herd sire Rodmead Primero – a bull purchased for 4000gns – out of the Blelack Widgeon-sired Auchincrieve Ethelle, a milky cow that weaned twins the previous year.

Mr McCombie also took 6000gns for Auchincrieve Jura Eric, another by Primero, but out of the Blelack Master Bugle daughter, Auchincrieve Julia Erica. Fourth in his class at the pre-sale show, this 26-month-old was knocked down to Hugh and Sandy Wilson, Newbank, Beattock.

Aberdeenshire breeders, Neil and Mark Wattie, were also in the money, selling one of the last bulls by Blelack Evor, for 6800gns to Liam Muir, Stenness, Stromness, Orkney. The bull, from Mains of Tonley, Alford, stood first in his class at the pre-sale show and is bred from the Hurdcott Elixier daughter, Tonley Ethel which has bred sons to 7000gns.

Two bulls came under the hammer for 6500gns including the champion, Stouphill Prince Morgan, a 25-month-old bull by Duncanziemere Jigsaw from Bill and Kate Allen, son Dallas and daughter Ruth, Humbleheugh, Alnwick. He is bred from the Stouphill Endeavour-sired female, Stouphill Marsala Pearl and was knocked down to Messrs Mitchell and Son, Glespin, Lanark.

Northumberland breeders Alan and Steven Lawson, also received 6500gns for their fifth prize bull, Hallington Enchantment, an October 2017-born entry from South Farm, Newcastle Upon Tyne. Backed by some of the best genetics in the breed, Enchantment is by Hallington Jubilee Eric which has bred sons to 11,000gns and out of Hallington Ebolass, a Hallington Picasso-sired cow from the same family as the 17,000gns Hallington Edition. Messrs Kemp, Barton Le Street, Malton, Yorkshire, forked out the cash.

Just behind on 6000gns was the reserve junior male champion, Retties Lord Rufus from Richard and Carol Rettie, Methven, purchased by Martin McCornick, Boreland, Kirkcowan. The bull, a January 2018-born son of Rawburn Elysium, is out of the Wall Emperor daughter, Wall Lady Ruth.

Another from the same stable, Retties Earl, an embryo bred from Weeton Eyrie, a Netherallan Peter Pershore-sired cow, made 5500gns selling to Messrs Tomlinson, Abbotts Bromley, Rugley, Staffs. Earl, a 16-month-old bull stood second in his class and is by Blelack Duke.

The reserve senior male, Linton Gilbertines Dragoon from the Gordon Brooke Estate, Earlston, made 5800gns selling to Messrs Ord, Newton on the Moon, Morpeth. The breeding behind this rising two-year-old includes Rawburn Braw Lad onto the Linton Gilbertines Rowan-sired, Linton Gilbertines Della.

Top price for Alasdair Houston's Gretnahouse herd from Gretna was 5500gns paid for Gretnahouse Black Bud, an October 2017-born son of the 18,000gns Haymount Precursor – the sire of the 12,000gns Gretnahouse Jack Eric. He is bred from the Blelack Kanasta Lad-sired cow, Gretnahouse Blackbird, and sold to AR Bell and Son, Kirkton, Hawick.

Top price amongst the females was 2000gns paid by Messrs Morton and Son, Melrose, for the champion winner in the section. This was Neil and Mark Wattie's Tonley Emiline, a two-year-old heifer by the Rawburn Double OSeven son, Tonley Essien, from Mains of Tonley, Alford. She sold five months in calve to Cheeklaw Black Boris.

Averages: 66 bulls, £4206.86 (-£124.39 for 10 more sold); three served or maiden heifers, £1728.65 (+£685.65 for the same number).

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.