The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Senior bull fetches top price of 13,000gn on final day of sales
Average of £6,171 down slightly
Charolais bulls sold to a top of 13,000gn at the closing day of the Stirling Bull Sales yesterday.
An average of £6,171 was achieved for 121 bulls – a clearance rate of 85%. This compares to last year’s average of £7,635 for the 115 bulls at a clearance rate of 88%.
The sale leader was a first-prize senior bull from JHC Campbell & Sons, Thrunton, Alnwick. May 2017born Thrunton Nugget, by Thrunton Gladiator and out of Thrunton Hoopla, sold to KJ Thomas, Llechwedd, Wales.
Next best at 12,000gn was the senior champion, Inverlochy Nelson, from father and son Johnny and Raymond Irvine of Inverlochy Farm, Tomintoul.
A May 2017-born son of the Irishbred Kilbine 1 Instigator, he sold to the Wights at Midlock, Crawford.
Thereafter, three lots sold for 11,000gn.
The first, selling to John Smith, Netherton Farm, Peterhead, was June 2017-born Gretnahouse Neverland, by Westcarse Jimmy, from Gretna Green breeder Alasdair Houston.
The second was August 2017-born Harestone Nighthawk from Neil and Stuart Barclay, South Road, Insch. An ET son of Balmlye Edition, he sold to JG Wilson, Kinclune, Glenkindie.
The third, selling to GA Mackie, Drimmie Farm, Rescobie, Angus, was October 2017-born Goldies Navigation, by Gretnahouse Heman, from Hamish Goldie, South Bowerhouses, Ruthwell, Dumfries.
Next best at 10,500gn was September 2017-born Killadeas Noah, by Blelack Blackberet, from S & D Bothwell, St Angelo, Co. Fermanagh. He sold to J Warnock & Sons, Dreva Farm, Broughton.
Other leading prices included 10,000gn for October 2017-born Thrunton Nike, by Thrunton Gladiator, from the Campbells. He sold to AJ Maclean, Heylipol Farm, Scarinish, Tiree.
Five lots sold for 9,500gn, including the reserve overall champion from Major David Walter, Balthayock, Perth, who is this year celebrating 50 years in the Charolais breed.
Brought out by Davie and Tracey Nicol, Balthayock Nanook, by Balthayock Imp, sold to WJ Millar, Hunting Faulds Farm, Tealing.
Another entry from Major Walter made 9,500gn when Balthayock Nominee, by Balthayock Impression, sold to Mr Timm, Westend Farm, Appleton Roebuck, York.
Hamish Goldie was also behind two of the 9,500gn bids. Goldies Nugget, by Gretnahouse Heman, sold to A & J Wilson, Mains of Tillymorgan, Culsalmond, and Goldies Noelle, by Goldies Formidable, sold to Strathisla Farms, Moolies Meigle, Ruthven, Perthshire.
The last lot at 9,500gn, selling to D Munro, Pitmain, Kingussie, was Woodpark Neptune, by Deeside Gulliver, from W Short, Wood Park, Co. Tyrone.
The overall champion – Maerdy Northernboy, from Welsh breeder Esmor Evans – was unsold at 7,800gn.