Centre records for a Beef Shorthorn heifer were equalled at the North of England Club show and sale at Skipton, when an entry from Charles and Sally Horrell and son Harry, sold for 11,000gns.

Their March 2020-born heifer, Podehole Rothes Phoebe from the Podehole herd in Thorney, Peterborough, is by the Meonhill Charlie Chaplin son, Knockenjig Hercules, a bull purchased privately at the Royal Highland Show and the sire of 9000gns males.

Out of the Fandango daughter, Podehole Rothes Kitty – a line going back to cows purchased from the late Christopher Marler’s Wavendon herd – this roan heifer sold to A and C Farms, Langham, Oakham.

Read more: Beef Shorthorns prove their mark at Eskechraggan

Podehole Rothes Phoebe, a second prize junior heifer at the pre-sale show equalled the previous 11,000gns record set three years earlier by a heifer from Stuart and Gail Currie’s Beautry herd, Rathmell.

Harry Horrells reserve champion, Podehole Rita Philomena made 7400gns. Photo: Tim Scrivener

Harry Horrell's reserve champion, Podehole Rita Philomena made 7400gns. Photo: Tim Scrivener

The Horrells, who calve some 60 females also secured the reserve overall championship and a price tag of 7400gns for their April 2020-born red and a little white heifer, Podehole Rita Philomena. A daughter of Podehole Rock Legend, a son of the Australian bull, Royalla Rockstar, Philomena is bred from another Hercules daughter in the shape of Podehole Rita Liberty. She sold to Gerard Lintelo, of Mayfield Beef Shorthorns, Wolsingham, Co Durham

The Horrells sold two other maiden heifers at 2500gns and 2400gns.

Supreme champion came from the same 2020-born heifer class as the reserve. Meonside Desiree Penelope from Dumfriesshire brothers Tom and David Bradley Farmer, who run the Meonside herd at Parkgate, took top honours with a May 2020-born light roan. The first heifer to be sold by the Irish sire, Caramba Kinvara, acquired privately from Tommy Staunton in Co Galway, she is out of the Knockenjig Foremost daughter, Coldrochie Desiree, purchased three years ago at the herd dispersal for 4500gns.

Overall champion Meonside Desiree Penelope from D and T Bradley Farmer sold for 5200gns. Phot: Tim Scrivener

Overall champion Meonside Desiree Penelope from D and T Bradley Farmer sold for 5200gns. Phot: Tim Scrivener

Buying back some of his own genetics, Penelope was knocked down at 5200gns to Mr Staunton who also went to 5000gns for the boys' May 2020-born, Meonside Shamrock Pocahontas, a roan by Meonside King Kong which is a maternal brother to the family’s 27,000gns breed record price holder, Meonside Nidavellir. The dam is Caramba Lovely Lovely, which goes back to the Erin family and another Irish buy at 4000gns.

In addition, the Bradley Farmers received 2800gns for the December, 2019-born Meonside Tessa Nativity, a light roan by Willingham Kensington – sire of their 27,000gns breed record price holder. Nativity sold in calf to Caramba Kinvara, to internet buyer Gordon Snodgrass, Strabane, Co Kildare.

In-calf heifers peaked at 5000gns for Oakleigh Natasha, a 2019-born roan heifer from Peter Turnbull’s Oakleigh herd in Kildale, Whitby. She is by the Chapelton Wildfire son, Castlemount Ross and bred from the Blelack Masterpiece cow, Oakleigh Gorgeous. She sold due to Oakleigh Picasso and again to Mr Staunton.

Another from the same stable, Oakleigh Nellie, a July 2019-born roan daughter of Blelack Masterpiece, out of a home-bred dam by Gilven Ace of Spades and due to Picasso, made 3600gns to Scottish breeder, John McIntyre, Greenock.

Mr McIntyre bought another four heifers going to 3100gns for the 2020-born, Pikelowe Blythesome Girl from Andrew Thompson, Higher Wheelton, Chorley. She is by Pikelowe Free Spirit, out of a Stonehills Fox Terrier-sired dam and sold scanned in calf to the Broughton Park Thunder son, Pikelowe Masterplan.

Also heading up the road on the same lorry load at 3000gns was Bradhill Ali 3, a March 2020-born roan heifer from dairy farmer, Steve Swales, Cliviger, Burnley. She is by Podehole Beefeater son, Wenmar Kentaro, and goes back to the Clipper of Upsall line.

Caitrina Ward, who runs the Kimrina herd on the North York Moors at Glaisdale, then sold the 2020, roan heifer, Kimrina Pixie, by Craigfaddock Khan, for 2400gns to Mr McIntyre.

Top price for Gerald Turton's Upsall herd from Thirsk, was 4700gns paid for Jilt X1437 of Upsall, a Firefox of Upsall daughter bred from a home-bred Dingo of Upsall daughter. Brought out by stockman George McCulloch, she sold served to New Line of Upsall, up to Kendal with M Robinson.

The same buyer also went to 3500gns for another in-calf heifer from Mr Turton – Clipper X1403 of Upsall, again by Firefox and due to New Line.

Calderdale's Mark and Tracy Severn, who run the Highlee herd in Barkisland, won the youngest 2020 heifer class with Highlee Duchess Penelope, a white June-born daughter of the Fearn Godfather-sired Coldrochie Leif. She is out of the Croxtonpark Ken daughter, Sandwick Duchess Zoe, and made 3200gns to GT and MA Wearmouth in Kirkby Lonsdale.

Read more: Coxhill Beef Shorthorn herd reaches 6200gns at Stirling

Superseding that price was the second prize winner from the same class which made 3600gns for Stuart and Gail Currie. Their June 2020-born, Beautry Tessa Persephone, by the Millerston Jester son, Highlee Milo, bred from the Poyntington Himself daughter, Beautry Tessa Mildred, was bought by DP and SM Day and Son, Ingleby Greenhow, Hambleton. Beautry sold other maiden heifers at 3400gns and 2600gns.

The same buyers also went to 3700gns for the first prize senior heifer from Ian Tennant, Hyndford Bridge, Lanarkshire. Hyndford Nadia, a July 2019-born roan by Coldrochie Keillan, is out of a home-bred dam by Glenisla Banquo, and sold in calf to Poyntington Himself

Another catching the eye at 3600gns was Thomson, Roddick and Laurie’s similarly aged heifer from the Shawhill herd at Eaglesfield, near Lockerbie. Their Shawhill Dewdrop Phoenix, by the 20,000gns Fearn Godfather, out of a Glenisla Zetor-sired dam, heads down to Wales with EM Roberts, of Llithfaen on Gwynedd’s Llŷn Peninsula.

Averages: 46 maiden heifers £2319; 20 in calf heifers £2541.

Auctioneers: CCM