SATURDAY, March 6, saw the Northern Ireland Charolais Club host its annual Char-olais Bull Sale for the first time at Ballymena Livestock Market, with a mix of bidding happening in person, online and over the phone due to the current Covid-19 restrictions still in place.
A steady trade was recorded which saw the two top selling animals go for 6000gns each. Eleven bulls sold with an average price of £3,081.
Top price bull of the day, at 6000gns, was Woodpark Presley, bred by Mr W Short of Omagh. This 19-month-old bull is sired by the easy calving Deeside Gulliver and out of Woodpark Ellie, a daughter of Major. The hammer went down with a bid from W J Fraser & Son, who will be taking him home to Banffshire.
The next highest price, with a bid of 3400gns, was Pinehill Ronaldo, bred by Mr C Todd of Lisburn. Sired by Mornity Nero, out of Pinehill Naomi, a daughter of the easy calving Blelack Digger, this 14-month-old lad caught the eye of A McMullan and will be making his way to his new home in Castlewellan.
The third top price of the day, with a bid of 3300gns, was for the 2019 born Mountjoy Pagan, bred by Mr C O McAskie of Omagh. His sire, Montgomery Ianto, is the 2014 Royal Welsh Reserve Male Champion and Reserve Junior Champion. His dam, Mountjoy India, is the daughter of Corrie Alan, the 19,000gns Reserve Junior Champion from Perth in 2006. The successful bidder and taking him home is S J McIlmurray of Dungannon.
Twenty-three-month-old Royal-downs Pablo sold for the next highest bid of 3000gns. Sired by Hideal and out of Drumfin Damsel, a daughter of Doonally Ducdenever. Bred by M McKeown Esq of Downpatrick. He will be making the journey to his new home in Limavady to the farm of Mr N Blair.
Ovill Prime is bred by the O’Kane Bros from Dungiven. Prime sold for 2900gns and caught the eye of H Small of Ballymena.
This 17-month-old lad is parent verified, sired by Ovill Lancelot, his dam is Ovill Jessica, a daughter of Doonally Nicefor.
Twenty-month-old Royaldowns Patrol sold for 2800gns, sired by the 18,000gns Thrunton Fairfax, his dam, Royaldowns Erica, is the daughter of Allanfauld Velocity. Patrol also from the stable of M McKeown Esq of Downpatrick and will be heading home with J Wilson of Ballyclare.
Also selling for 2800gns was 17-month-old Drumacritten Paul from the stable of Mr G Nelson of Rosslea, County Fermanagh.
Sired by Whitecliffe James, this lads dam, Drumacritten Marylou, is the daughter of Maerdy Dublin, who sold for 11,000gns in Carlisle in 2009. The successful bidder was Mr S Dobbin of Ballycastle.
Woodpark Pablo is bred by Mr W Short of Omagh. This 20-month-old lad is sired by the easy calving Deeside Gulliver, his dam, Woodpark Jan, is sired by Rumsden Fawkes. Pablo caught the eye of
Mr W Hanna of Kilkeel, who secured the purchase with a bid of 2,700gns.
Woodpark Pixel was another from the stable of Mr W Short of Omagh. This bull is 19 months old and is fully parent verified. His sire is Deeside Gulliver and his dam is Woodpark Nectar. Pixel sold for 2600gns and is going home with J Lavery from Lurgan.
The 2019-born Altanaderog Pajo, selling for the price of 2500gns, comes from the herd of by M G & G McShane of Strabane.
Sired by Deeleview Horace, out of Burnside Lappy, a daughter of Conval Frank, the Reserve Intermediate Champion at Stirling in 2012 who sold for 13,000gns. Pajo will be going home with Mr M Dooher of Strabane.
Top price female of the day, with a bid of 6000gns, was Birches Prettylady, bred by Mr & Mrs N Matchett of Portadown. This 25-month-old heifer is sired by Elgin Jackman, out of Tawny Jasmine, who is sired by Doonally New. Prettylady’s successful bidder was Simone McCabe of Castleblaney, County Monaghan.
Twenty-eight-month-old Brogher Omygirl was the final female to sell, with the hammer going down on a bid of 3400gns.
Bred by Mr T Phair of Enniskillen, Omygirl is sired by the 26,000gns Balbithan Vespasian, out of Brogher Fancygirl, a daughter of Lyonsdemesne Tzar. Omygirl will be making her way home with Mr K Murphy of Newry.
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