Ladies’ day at Stirling bull sales

Following on from the heights achieved by the females in the Cheeklaw dispersal on Monday, yesterday proved to be ladies’ day once again at the Stirling bull sales – with the dispersal of the Sterling Simmental herd from Boddington Estates in Cheltenham seeing females sell to a breed record-breaking price of 28,000 guineas.

In fact, the herd broke the record twice, with the unbeaten show champion, Celia’s Fifi, sold for 22,000gns, pipped later in the day by 18-month-old Bacardi’s Hawaii which reset the record to 28,000gns.

In the bull rings, Simmentals picked up the day’s leading prices, with Clive Houldey, Waterbeck, Lockerbie seeing his Manor Park herd lifting the top two.

And while his intermediate and overall breed champion, Manor Park Hayden changed hands for 18,000gns, going to Allan Wright, West Lundie, Doune, it was the very last bull through the ring, Houldey’s Manor Park Hansome which made the day’s top price of 22,000gns, to G Behan, Cloneygowan, Ireland.

Next in line was the show bull from WS Stronach’s Islavale herd which made 15,000gns, to J Ewington, Orkney, while Garry and Angela Christie, Huntly. saw their reserve champion, Rockytop Hurricane, sell for 13,000gns to the Hollingsworth family of Sheffield.

Two Simmentals sold to 11,000gns, with Strathisla Farms, Meigle, selling to John Jeffrey, Kelso, while W Patterson, Upper Forgie, Moray, sold to J Innes, Huntly. Some 61 Simmental bulls sold to average £5,720, up £337 but with a clearance of only 52 per cent.

In the Charolais ring two herds shared top price at 12,000gns. Welsh breeders Esmor Evans sold his fourth prize winner to Mrs CJ Wright, Biggar, and the last bull through the ring, from Boden & Davies, Stockport, sold to the same price to a Northern Irish breeder.

Peter and Allan Drysdale, Blairgowrie, saw their Glenericht herd top at 11,500 gns, to the Goldies of Dumfries.

J Watson’s Tweeddale herd from Bowsden, Berwick upon Tweed, sold to 10,500gns, to H Goldie, South Bowerhouses, Ruthwell, with another knocked down at 9,000gns to J Evans, Coalfield.

Some 85 Charolais bulls sold to average £6,079, up £405 on the year.