A seven-month-old black heifer from the Stones family of Nun Cote Nook, Marrick, secured the championship at Darlington Farmers Auction Mart's ‘Special Backend’ show and sale of suckled calves and store cattle.

The sale, which saw 541 head of cattle forward was judged by Will Hall of Ivy House, East Yorkshire, who found his reserve winner in a similarly aged heifer from the same home which went on to sell for £1150.

Top price amongst the store cattle was £1160 paid for a two-year-old Aberdeen-Angus steer from D Blake of Whitehall, Rowley.

Breeding cattle sold to £1900 for a two-year-old Charolais bull from WM Strickland of Field House Farm, Appleton Wiske.

LEADING awards

Heifer – 1, KO Stones, Nun Cote Nook, sold for £1850; 2, KO Stones, Nun Cote Nook sold for £150; 3, JH Craggs, Glower-Over-Him sold for £790.

Steer – 1, KO Stones, Nun Cote Nook sold for £1000; 2, JH Craggs, Glower-Over-Him sold for £885; 3, KO Stones, Nun Cote Nook sold for £895.

Bull – 1, JA and UM Fawcet, Manor House, sold for £995; 2, CG Robinson, South View sold for £1085; 3, JA and UM Fawcet, Manor House sold for £1070.

LEADING prices

Breeding cattle – Cows and calves – £1100 PRE Marwood. Breeding bull – Char – £1900 WM Strickland and Son.

Store cattle – Bulls – £1170, £1070, £1060, £995 (x2), £980 JA and UM Fawcett; £1085, £930, £900, £870, £855, £800 CG Robinson; £990, £880 PF and JM Littlefair and Son; £830 (x3) K Sayer; £695, £620 Duell Partners; £690, £610 (x2) AW Sanderson; £690, £620 GN Moor; £680, £600 (x2) K Cowens; £670 £600 (x2) A Wilson; £640 JA Bainbridge.

Steers – £1160, £1110, £1030 (x3), £975, £965 (x6), £960 (x3), £950 (x2), £940 (x2) D Blake; £1015, £970, £950 (x3), £920, £865 K Sayer; £1010 JG Wilkinson and Son; £1000, £940, £905 (x3), £895 KO Stones; £980, £950 D and PH Brown; £955 R Potts; £955, £910 P Suddes; £945, £920 B Bell; £940 (x3) JG Wilkinson and Son; £935, £930 M and P Stead; £885 JH Craggs; £885 (x2) B Watson; £875 B Lowson.

Heifers – £1850, £1150 KO Stones; £1145 WF and DM Metcalf; £1065 (x2), £1000, £950 S and J Dent and Son; £1060, £920, £910 AC Walton; £1045 K Sayer; £1035, £1010, £955, £910 (x2) D Blake; £1000, £955, £905 RA and SL Wearmouth; £990, £960, £925 MH Hodgson; £985, £980 WA Dinsdale and Son; £985, £970 (x3) WB Rutter and Sons; £98 HW and M Alderson and Son; £980 D and PH Brown; £940 E Blacklock; £940 FP and IM Jefferson.