Heifers proved the star attraction at the Beef Shorthorn spring show and sale at Carlisle, producing the lead two sales at 7200gns and 4400gns.

Topping the trade was the female and overall champion, Runleymill Miss Ramsden Red, a two-year-old polled roan heifer from first time consignors, John Wilson and Janet Dunning, who run 22 cows in their herd established in 2016 and based at Runley Mill, Settle.

Their big girl is a daughter of Chapelton Dauphin, a bull that originally sold for 15,000gns to the Cairnsmore herd and was later bought privately by the couple. The dam, Runleymill Miss Ramsden, is by Alvie Galahad and bred from Derek Steen's Ballinlinney Miss Ramsden, making Ramsden Red a maternal grand-daughter to the 10,000gns bull, Coxhill Napoleon, sold at Stirling earlier this month.

Forking out the cash for Miss Ramsden Red which sold five weeks in calf to Millerston Milkybar Kid, were new breeders, Mark and Judith Robinson, who run six pedigree cows in their Crosscrake herd at Low Barrows Green Farm, Kendal.

 Caitrina Ward sold Kimrina Nancy for 4400gns Ref:RH220521206 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Caitrina Ward sold Kimrina Nancy for 4400gns Ref:RH220521206 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Selling at 4400gns was Caitrina Ward's Kimrina Nancy, a similarly aged maiden heifer from the 20-cow herd at Low Brock Rigg, Glaisdale, Whitby. Another polled roan, Nancy is by the 7500gns Stirling purchase Craigfaddock Khan, which has bred heifers to 5800gns for the 20-cow herd, and out of the Ballyart Legend-sired Kimbrina Gabriella VG88. She sold down to Wales with Messrs Evans and Price, Llwynhywel, Aberystwyth.

The same buyers also bought the lead priced lot from Fraser Hugill's Ballard draft, from Throstle Next, Sproxton, Helmsley, at 3200gns. Selling here was Ballard Saphire N1, a two-year-old daughter of Knockenjig Harvester.

Back amongst the collective females, top price for Nick and Andrew Barrett's Glenariff Pedigree Livestock enterprise based at South Wootton, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, was 3600gns paid by Messrs Gates Farming, Oakham, Leicestershire for the third prize winner, Glenariff Nakita Gina, a June 2019-born polled roan by Glenisla Ghillie. She is out of the Glenariff Fanfare daughter, Glenariff Jemina Gina.

Just behind, on 3300gns, Andrew Morton, Lochend, Denny, bought Charles Lowther's two-year-old red polled heifer, Lowther Sally, from Nord Vue Farms, Askham Hall, Askham. She is by the Glenisla Zetor son, Lowther Konan, bred from a previous home-bred Sally and sold in calf to Lowther Madoc.

Bulls sold to 4000gns on two occasions. First was the male champion and reserve overall, Wrangham Neptune, a 28-month-old polled roan from Aberdeenshire breeders, J and J Green, Colpy, Insch, purchased by Messrs Jameson, Bardon Mill, Hexham. Neptune is by the Rothesay Eildon son, Wrangham Julius and out of a home-bred cow by Fearn Godfather.

Matching that 4000gns bid was Geoff Riby's Stonehills Nijinsky, a 26-month-old polled roan from Low Stonehills, Fraisthorpe, Bridlington. This twin-born bull by the 14,000gns Jason of Upsall is out of an Ex91 cow by Elliot Bodacious and sold to Messrs Howey, Westruther, Gordon, Berwickshire.

Averages: 10 bulls, £3370.50 (+£284.50 for three more compared to 2020 event and -£4.50 for four fewer against 2019 sale); 34 females, £2507.65. Ballard herd – 12 females, £2174.37

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington.