AT the spring show and sale at Shrewsbury Auction Centre, bids reached 11,000gns for bull Rempstone 1 Virus N598, while a new record bull average was set as 27 bulls sold to average £4,404, clearing at 79 per cent.
A buoyant trade spread through Shrewsbury Auction Centre as Rempstone 1 Virus N598 from M Ludgate reached a top call of 11,000gns, paid for by Robert Allcock to join his Shrewsbury-based Burmill herd.
January 2021-born, this Solpoll 1 Nobility son also stood grand male champion in the pre-sale show, which saw silverware return to the fixture for the first time since the pandemic and was ably judged by Alistair Smith, Newark. Nobility, a Panmure 1 Henry son, has worked within the Rempstone herd as a stock bull, having also bred the 2021 Agri Expo supreme champion Rempstone 1 Curly N604.
Out of Blakesley 1 Myrtle, a Dendor 1 Krypton daughter, it is from an easy calving line at Rempstone, with this dam’s first three calves having averaged 34kg at birth.
With official auctioneer Jonny Dymond in the box, next in the money at 8,500gns was Classic 1 Theodore from R Edwards and E Smith, Swindon, Wiltshire, purchased by Pete Cobley, Stoney Stanton, Leicestershire. With Costhorpe breeding in both sides of its pedigree, it is by Kinglee 1 Nimrod and out of home-bred dam Classic 1 Showgirl, which is by Frys Cross 1 Oberon. April 2020-born, this bull was also tapped out as reserve senior male in the pre-sale show.
The only horned bull in the sale, senior male champion Pulham Victory from PRJ and LR Vincent, Pulham Market, Norfolk sold for 6,500gns to W Shaw, Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire. September 2020-born, it is by the Irish import Shiloh-Farm Elite which stood breed champion at Ireland’s Longford Show 2018. It is out of Pulham Blossom 16th, which is a Haven Hotspur daughter and bred from the famous Badlingham Blossom line. Not a stranger to the Shrewsbury ring, it also stood male champion at the Christmas Calf Show in December 2021.
Another Ludgate-bred bull, this time Rempstone 1 Vicenzo N600, changed hands at 6,000gns to RA Bradstock and partners, Tarrington, Herefordshire. Another Solpoll 1 Nobility son, it is out of Rempstone 1 Dowager V424, a Hawkesbury 1 Vespa daughter. This bull stood third in its class to two other Rempstone males and in all the three averaged an impressive £7,665.
In the heifer section, a selective trade saw some impressive prices. Topping this section at 8,000gns was the day’s grand female champion, Normanton 1 Blue Leg 13th V555 from TD and WT Livesey, Normanton-le-Heath, Leicestershire. A Panmure 1 Pudding daughter, it is out of a Laertes sired dam. It was purchased by Anthony Whitfield.
Barwise 1 Anise MU 127T, a class winner from Mrs CS Fletcher, Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria sold for 6,400gns and joined Anthony Whitfield’s purchases of the day. Sold as having run with bull Barwise 1 Tortuga, a son of Square-D Tortuga 953T, it has been scanned in-calf. This dark heifer carries HF 4L Beyond 36N, Dendor 1 Goblin and Barwise 1 Wellington in its pedigree.
Having travelled across the Irish Sea, Solpoll 1 Pansy T17 from John and William McMordie, Ballygowan, Co Down found a new home at 6,000gns, selling to the Allwood herd of FJ Wood and sons, Moreleigh Totnes, Devon. Having placed second in its heifer class, it by Moeskaer Mentos and out of the Panmure 1 Henry sired Solpoll 1 Pansy M16, this heifer is full sister to Solpoll 1 Powerhouse which holds the Northern Irish public auction records.
At 4,800gns, Normanton 1 Fistulina 35th V569, again from TD and WT Livesey sold to N Hooper, Leigh Sinton, Worcestershire. This class winner is another by previous stock bull Panmure 1 Pudding and out of a Dorepoll 1 579 Knighthood daughter.
There was a 100 per cent clearance in the for sale only female section, which was led by Alderoak 1 Lilac 7th from P and E Williams, Montford Bridge, Shropshire and Fellowhills 1 FR Julia from J Hodge, Horndean, Berwickshire, both selling for 1,500gns.
Averages: 30 show females, £2,973; 27 bulls, £4,404; 6 for sale only females, £1,330.
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