Averages: 31 bulls, £4515; two in-calf females, £4357.50.

Trade was nothing short of electric at the Northern Ireland Charolais Club’s annual November Charolais sale, held at their new location in Swatragh, where prices peaked at a staggering 15,000gns, with bulls achieving a clearance rate of 86%.

Taking the highest price of the day was the supreme and senior champion, Stranagone Reagan, from R McWilliams of Maghera, Co. Londonderry. This 20-month-old is a son of the 2016 Balmoral Show supreme champion, Stranagone Jones and is bred out of the Prime Colombo-sired cow, Falleninch Fanna.

This boy has also enjoyed some success in the show ring too, having stood reserve supreme and junior champion at Balmoral Show, last month and he now finds himself crossing the water to join W Kingaby, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire.

Close behind on 9400gns was the reserve overall and intermediate champion, Tullygarley Roscoe, from JK Currie of Ballymena, Co. Antrim. Out of the home-bred Tulleygarley Flojo – a daughter of Tullygarley Rollerball – he is sired by Blelack Digger. Winning the bid and taking Roscoe home to their herd was S Hunter.

Another Blelack Digger son was sold for 8400gns, this time in the form of Brogher Robroy from the herd of T Phair of Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh. Bred from the 26,000gns Balbithan Vespasian-sired Brogher Natalia, he headed home with J Carson.

Next to sell was the reserve intermediate champion Kenachan Ronsie, reaching a price of 7800gns. Bred by L Ruddy of Strabane, Co. Tyrone, this boy was sired by the AI bull, Liscally Eti and out of the Pirate-sired Tawny Java. Ronsie was purchased by W Donnell.

Tapped out as junior champion and knocked down at a price of 6700gns was another from the herd of R McWilliams, this time in the form of Stranagone Roman. Like Reagan, this boy is also sired by Stranagone Jones and out of Stranagone Hadi – a daughter of the 55,000gns Thrunton Voldemort. Buying this 13-month-old was S Taylor.

Selling for 6000gns was the reserve senior champion, Woodpark Robin. This 19-month-old comes from the well-known herd of W Short, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, and is a son of the 11,000gns Woodpark Elgin. Bred out of the home-bred Woodpark Melody, Robin was snapped up by WJ Frazer and Sons.

Killadeas Roly secured the next highest price of 5800gns from S and D Bothwell, Ballinamallard, Co. Fermanagh. Out of Killadeas Nora, – a daughter of Gwenog Braveheart – he is sired by the 14,000gns Westcarse Houdini and was knocked down to S Gowdy.

Top price among the females was 4600gns, paid for the reserve female champion Brougher Ruth, from T Phair. Sold in-calf at 4 months to Whitecliffe James, she is a daughter of the 10,000gns Goldies Icon and bred out of Brogher Janet. Securing Ruth and taking her home to their herd was S Doonan.

LEADING awards

Males – Born on or between Feb 4 and Apr 18, 2020 – 1, senior and overall champion, R McWilliams, Stranagone Reagan by Stranagone Jones; 2 and reserve senior, W Short, Woodpark Robin by Woodpark Elgin; 3, C Todd, Pinehill Rambo by Mornity Nero. Born on or between May 1 and 16, 2020 – 1, WD and JA Connolly, Brigadoon Remus by Newhouse Maxamus; 2, RS and A Todd, Cappagh Ransom by Mornity Nero; 3, S and A Bellew, Kiltybane Rightbull by Clenagh Jasper 2. Born on or between May 21 and June 3, 2020 – 1, intermediate champion and reserve overall, JK Currie, Tullygarley Roscoe by Blelack Digger; 2, T Phair, Brogher Robroy by Blelack Digger; 3, P Hackett, Fury Rocco by Carrickbrack 96 Hutch. Born on or between June 4 and July 3, 2020 – 1 and reserve intermediate, L Ruddy, Kenaghan Ronsie by Liscally Eti; 2, R McWilliams, Stranagone Rex by Stranagone Jones; 3, G Henderson, Sandelford Rafa by Harestone Hercules. Born on or between July 4 and 23, 2020 – 1, S and D Bothwell, Killadeas Rodney by Battleford Laser; 2, W Short, Woodpark Romulus by Deeside Gulliver; 3, JK Currie, Tullygarley Rolex by Derryharney Outstanding. Born on or between Aug 4 and Oct 31, 2020 – 1 and junior champion, R McWilliams, Stranagone Roman by Stranagone Jones; 2 and reserve junior, S McGovern, Ratoary Rockstar by Scardaune Mark; 3, P Hackett, Fury Rocky by Fury Merchant.

Females – Born on or after April 16, 2019 – 1 and female champion, G Nelson, Drumacritten Poppy by Tweeddale Lookout; 2 and reserve female, T Phair, Brogher Ruth by Goldies Icon.