A Limousin cross steer from Emily Gray, Low Hall, Amble, topped the annual overwintering competition held by Northumberland and County Durham Young Farmers Federations, staged at Hexham and Northern Marts in line with their weekly store cattle sale, selling for £1470.

The sale leader had been purchased for £1120 from Messrs Reed, Lands Farm, Weardale, last year.

Taking home the JS Hubbuck Trophy for the highest profit margin was Emilia Heslop of Bridge House Farm, Stockton on Tees, a Sedgefield YFC Member who was taking part in the competition for the very first time.

Emilia had purchased a Limousin cross heifer from Brian Storey, Woodhead, Haltwhistle in October last year, which left her £500 in profit.

An average profit for the calves sold on the day was £301.47 per animal sold.

Out with the Young Farmers calves, trade topped at £1510 for a Limousin steer from Messrs Walton, Ogle Castle.

Mark Featherstone, Allendale, sold an Aberdeen-Angus heifer for £1430.

Store hogg trade continued to rise with the overall average hitting £112.33 for all breeds.

Tup hoggs dominated the top of the trade selling to £178 for a pair of Texels from R Thornton and Sons, Cornhills.

Beltex cross hoggs peaked at £156 for a trio from RR Reay and Sons, West Moorhouses.

LEADING awards

Profit margins – 1, Emilia Heslop (Lim X heifer) £1270 (+£500); 2, Bradley Thompson, Stamfordham (Lim X heifer) £1400 (+£440); 3, Grant Cummings, Coquetdale (Lim X heifer) £1230 (+£430); 3, Ruby Heslop, Sedgefield (Lim X) £1200 (+£430).

LEADING prices

Steers – Cattle 23-30months – Lim X – £1510 Ogle Castel; £1255, £1205 Fallowfield. Blonde X – £1200 Whiskershiel. Sim X – £1475 Satley; £1300 Greencarts. A-A X – £1450 Aydonshields. Cattle 17-22months – Lim X – £1500 Ogle Castle; £1490 Wingates South; £1460 Ogle Castle; £1450 Sweethope; £1410 Ogler Castle; £1385 Sweethope. BB X – £1170 Fallowfield. Char X – £1450 (x2), £1380 (x2) Satley; £1335 Fallowfield; £1235, £1205, £1180 Pelton House. Sim X – £1370, £1300 Satley; £1260 Greencarts. Blonde X – £1380 Whiskershiel. A-A X – £1300 Rare Dean; £1255, £1180 Fallowfield. Cattle 11-16months – Lim X – £1310 Tenter House; £1305 Quarry House; £1300 Stotsfold; £1280 Town Farm; £1270 Stotsfold; £1265 Brownsleazes and Ross Farm. BB X – £1205, £1110 Fallowfield; £1050 Woodhall. Char X – £1500 Satley; £1240 Tenter House; £1190 East Fourstones; £1170 Pelton House; £1140 Low Staples and East Fourstones. Blonde X –£1325 Brownsleazes. Saler X – £1080 West Shields. A-A X – £1300, £1270, £1220 Sweethope; £1140 Burnhill. Cattle 10 months and under – Lim X – £1170 Stotsfold; £1130 Quarry House; £1105, £1100 Round Meadows; £1090 Woodhall; £1045 The Laws. BB X – £1040 Woodhall. Char – £1050 Cooper House. Char X – £1040 White Hills; £980 Thornley Hall. Sim – £1060 Wydon. Hfd X – £950 White Hills.

Heifers – Cattle 23-30months – A-A X – £1430, £1260 Allendale. Cattle 17-22months – Lim X – £1360 Berry Edge; £1250 Wingates South; £1220 Springwell Cottage and Berry Edge; £1210 Low Horton. Char X – £1230 Rare Dean. Sim X – £1260, £1190, £1130 (x2) Burnhill. A-A X – £1360, £1275 Allendale; £1110 Church Farm. Cattle 11-16months – Lim X – £1380, £1195, £1165 Quarry House;£1155 Stotsfold; £1130 Farnbury; £1125 Low Horton. Char X – £1270 Tenter House; £1085 East Fourstones; £1050 Stotsfold and East Fourstones; £1040 Harnham Hall;£1030 Wydon and East Fourstones; £1010 Cooper House; £4005 West Shields. Sim X – £1040, £1020 Burnhill. A-A X – £1000 Cooper House. BS – £1010 Cooper House; £950 High Warden. Cattle 10 months and under – Lim X – £1125 Highside; £1095 Farnbury; £1080, £1075 Woodhall; £960 Round Meadows; £910 Thornley Hall. Char – £960 Cooper House. Char X – £985 East Fourstones. Sim X – £955 Ross Farm.

Breeding cattle – Heifers and calves – Lim X – £2850, £2500 (x2), £2450 Tosson Glebe.

Store hoggs – Tex –£178 Cornhill; £174 Glenhill; £168 Flotterton; £165, £152 Cornhill. Tex X – £146 Reddishall; £145 Needless Hall; £142 Cockhall; £140 Gunnerton; £139, £138, £138 Cockhall; £137 Midgeholme; £136 Nettle Hall; £135 Reddishall. Suff X – £143 High Alderheads; £140 Laburnum; £140 Flotterton; £138 Morrowfield; £137 Lunns House; £136, £132 Morrowfield; £126 Lunns House; £126 Laburnum; £124 High Alderheads; £120 Cheviot; £119 Allenheads; £119 Lunns House; £118 Midgeholme; £118 Lunns House. Belt – £170 Glenhill. Belt X – £156 West Moorhouses; £150 Dotland; £150 Needless Hall; £144 Camphill; £138 Needless Hall; £129 Camphill. Mule – £126 Needless Hall; £116 Redesmouth; £115 Flotterton; £114 Allenheads; £112. £108 Redesmouth. Dutch Tex – £128 Camphill. Chev – £156, £118, £117 Flotterton. X – £122 Lunns House. BF – £120 Yatesfield; £115 Quickening Cote; £100 High Yarridge. Swale – £133 Glenhill; £102, £96 Allenheads; £94 Allergill.