A BUSY weekend of sales at Borderway kicked off with the Popes Princesses production sale of Simmental heifers from the Wood family, which saw five heifers sell at five-figure prices and 20 cash in to average £8610.
The offering from Jimmy, Vikki, Harry and Hannah, from near Dutton, Preston, included some of the best genetics from their Pope’s herd, and peaked at 15,000gns on two separate occasions.
First, at that price, when knocked down to Chris White for his Frogmore herd near Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, was March 2024-born Popes Nellys Prudence, which was shown successfully last year and changed hands with entries to this year's Royal Highland and Royal Norfolk. Her sire is the €52,000 Clonagh Lucky Explorer, from which six sons were sold in 2025 at an average of around the £12,000 mark. Believed by the family to be one of the best females bred at Popes, her dam is the Denizes Impressive-sired Popes Nellys Lexi.
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One of the youngest in the catalogue matched that 15,000gns price tag when Popes Fabulous Sapphire sold to the Stronach family for their Islavale herd near Grange, Keith. This 13-month-old is out of Clonagh Jubilant Fabulous, a Kilbride Farm Dragoon daughter purchased for €18,000 at Roscommon in 2019. Her sire is the Denizes Nugget bull bought for 37,000gns at Stirling in February 2024.
Selling to the Burns family for their Tippetcraig herd near High Bonnybridge, Stirling, for 14,000gns was Popes Nellys Rhea, another two-year-old by Clonagh Lucky Explorer, which this time is out of the Camus Harold-sired Popes Nellys Koko. She was shown successfully last year and won first place at the Simmental National Show.
Also making 14,000gns was Popes Ruffles, again a two-year-old by Clonagh Lucky Explorer. Selling in a two-way split to Jim and Patricia Goldie for their Newbiemains herd near Annan, and Alastair Dodd for his Tundergarth herd near Lockerbie, Ruffles is bred from Springfield Magic, an Islavale Jabba daughter.
Selling all the way down to Cranbrook, Kent, with Nicola Osgood and Robert Tremayne for their O’so’good herd was Popes Nellys Rumour at 13,000gns. Highlighting the strength of the Nellys family, this lass is out of the Swingletree Emporor daughter, Popes Nellys Ilia, and again sired by the Clonagh bull.
Popes Princess Ruby, whose dam line boasts many Royal show championships, realised 9000gns when knocked down to RE and SHW Steggles for their Wacton herd near Honingham, Norfolk. She is by the Clonagh bull and out of a Team Celtic daughter.
Hitting 8500gns when sold to KG Holliday, Struddabank herd, Seascale, was another Clonagh Lucky Explorer daughter in the shape of Popes Nellys Sage, an 11-month-old out of a Denizes Impressive daughter.
Averages: 20 heifers, £8610.
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