‘Invincible’ Beltie matches his name

A fast selling trade throughout resulted in some of the best sale averages for several years at Wallets Marts’ sale of pedigree Belted and White Galloway cattle at Castle Douglas, where prices peaked at 6500gns. 
Averages improved in all sections amongst the Belties which attracted vendors and buyers from across the UK and Northern Ireland. 
It proved a particularly worthwhile trip for regular Irish vendor, Dessy Henry, Gruige Lane, Cloughmills, Ballymena, who not only produced the male champion but also the sale leader at 6500gns. 
His best was the 20-month-old bull, Gruige Invincible, a son of Ballylough Brave, out of Polbae Jess, which goes back to Mochrum David. He went home to Burnley with P Atkinson, Sweetwell, Briercliffe.
After a successful day selling the top priced lot, Mr Henry then forked out 2600gns for Coulmony Bayley, from Anthony Laing, Coulmony House, Dunphail, Forres, Moray.
This two-year-old was reserve male champion at the pre-sale show and was brought out by Eogheur Lawrie. A son of the home-bred sire, Saltway Zebedee, he is out of Coulmony Maree, which goes back to Howemill King Kid. 
Second top price was 5000gns for Anne Bell’s Clifton Darwin, from Clifton, Southwick, Dumfries, purchased by A Layfield, Milkup Bank, Willington. 
This July, 2017-born bull stood junior champion at the Royal Highland in 2018 and 2019 and reserve male this year. He was brought out by stockman, Hayden Ross, and is by Clifton Hercules out of Clifton Daffodil – a former Great Yorkshire and Royal Highland champion. 
Selling at 4000gns was Mochrum Lachlan, brought out by Helen Ryman for Mochrum Estates, Old Place of Mochrum, Port William, Newton-Stewart. This Broadmeadows Jamie son is a two-year-old out of Mochrum Lilas 2, a Bolobec Triple Crown daughter and sold to CM Ryder, Scrafelhall, Blubberhouses. 
The last of the big bull sales was 2400gns given for the two-year-old Lipwood Craigronald, from George Milroy, Mains of Machermore, Newton Stewart, which headed home to Cumbria with RA Murray, Kirkland Howe, Arlecdon. Bred by the Tailfords, he stood male champion at Wigtown in the summer and is by Barwise Jambo Habari,  out of Crystal Paprika. 
Topping the females at 3600gns was the in-calf heifer, Lomond Eyebright, from Duncan Maxwell, Blairvockie, Drymen, which sold to James Redbanks, Racy Ghyll, Penruddock. Eyebright, is an April, 2017-born heifer by Speddoch Rocky – a former champion here bought for 10,500gns five years ago – out of Lomond Temptation, which goes back to Downholland Johnston. 
Lomond Whisky Galore, the last lot in the ring from the same home, made 3000gns when selling to MH and MA, Handley, Croasdale House, Slaidburn, Lancashire. This 18-month-old is bred the same way as the pen leader. 
The female champion, Whitstonehill Isadora, from the Ward family, Whistonehill, Tundergarth, Lockerbie, left the ring at 3200gns when knocked down to Mrs K Halsall, Thwaite House, Summerstone, Harrogate. 
This unshown 29-month-old in-calf heifer, is a daughter of Lomond Tobermory – purchased at Castle Douglas in 2013 from Duncan Maxwell – out of Laggish Isabella and is in-calf to Shelsleys Dylan. 
Another purchase by James Redbanks was Muil Cara, from Sir Chips Keswick, Muil, Shawhead, Dumfries, which was bought at 2500gns. This 16-month-old bulling heifer is a daughter of Speddoch Robin out of Muil Jasmine, that is a grand-daughter of Park David. 
Two lots later, the hammer fell at the same money for Bill and Jane Landers’ Cairnsmore Mariah Johan, from Bargaly, Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire, purchased by Senga and Emma Hair, Cormiston Towers, Biggar. 
The 16-month-old bulling heifer is a daughter of Tobergill Sam and out of Mosstonmuir Johan, which was a former champion here and has bred well for the herd. 
Another on the same money was a cow and calf outfit from E Duggleby, Low Farm, Beswick, Driffield, which again sold to Mrs K Halsall, Thwaite House. The four-year-old, Beswickhall Crispin, is a daughter of Edale Icarus, out of Cairnsmore Flora and ran with Stonehouse Red Alert this summer. Her April-born bullock calf is by Beswickhall Broxwood. 
Just behind, on 2400gns, was Glen Heidi from Ian Bond, Glen, Gatehouse of Fleet, which also sold to James Redbanks. This in-calf heifer was brought out by Robert and Debbie McTaggart and is a daughter of Lomond Laphroaig, which was purchased four years ago for 5000gns and out of Whitepool Nightingale. Heidi is in calf to the 4500gns Lipwood Machermore, purchased here last year. 
Top price amongst the White Galloways was 2200gns paid for the pre-sale champion from Tim Oliver, East Farm, Great Whittington, Newcastle upon Tyne.
His rising three-year-old heifer, Melkridge Isabel, is a daughter of Woodhead McCoy’s Boy, which has bred well for the herd and out of the home-bred cow, Snowfell Isabel. This summer Isabel ran with Barlaes Snowman and should be in-calf. 

OTHERLEADING prices

Bulls – 2000gns – D Maxwell’s Lomond Glayva, by Speddoch Rocky to Messrs Bell, Croft House, Scaleby.
Females  – 2300gns – The Ward’s Whitstonehill Rosabel, by Lomond Tobermory to Mrs K Halsall, Thwaite House; D Maxwell’s Lomond Dinky, by Speddoch Rocky to J Redbanks, Racy Ghyll.
2200gns – B Moorhead’s Briglands Blaze, by Woodbine Firecracker to Messrs Hopkins, Splotts, West Road; E Duggleby’s Beswickhall Carroll, by Edale Icarus to Mrs K Halsall, Thwaite House.
2000gns – H and N Sloan’s Burnfoot Lea, by Park Horatio to Mrs K Halsall, Thwaite House; H and N Sloan’s Burnfoot Lettie, by Park Horatio to Mrs K Halsall, Thwaite House.

Auctioneers: Wallets Marts.