It was a record smashing day at the annual Spring Show and Sale of continental cross steers and heifers at Borderway Mart, Carlisle on 21st March with a new centre record of £8,000 achieved.
With a large number of show enthusiasts in attendance calves with show potential met a very strong demand, as they have at similar events this year so far. Young Limousins have broken centre records at Dungannon and Leyburn already this year.
Setting the record was a stylish black Limousin cross heifer from John and Mandy Smith-Jackson of Hightown, Haltwhistle. Judge Mark Harryman had selected the heifer as his Supreme Champion in the pre-sale show. The 11 month old is sired by the home-bred Limousin bull, Hightown Jacko and is out of an ex-show herd cow. This eye catching heifer was purchased over the phone by Mr Mike Scott of Besthorpe.
The Reserve Supreme Champion was another black Limousin heifer. This time from Kilnstown Farm Ltd, Bewcastle, Cumbria, she sold for the next top price of the day at £4,500. By Glangwden Downtown she went to Mike Kirby of Holsworthy.
Another calf reaching the £4,000 mark was a second prized Limousin from S Hardisty & Son who run the Howhall Limousin Herd at Ennerdale, Cumbria. By Huntershall Gladiator and out of a Limousin cross cow she was shown by 10 year old Leighton Hardisty and was sold to June Dowie of Barrhill.
Following the heifers, a tidy Limousin took the Steer Championship ticket. Also from the Hardisty stable, this time a red Limousin led the way. Similarly by Huntershall Gladiator and out of a Limousin bred mother he was knocked down at £2,900 to Mr Bentley of Thirsk. The Reserve Steer rosette was another success for Messrs Smith-Jackson with their 2nd prize Limousin cross steer which sold for £2,200 when purchased by A G Laws of Leyburn.
Judged by Mr Horace Wood of Rotherham, the first prized pen of steers was a group of Limousins from J M & S M Priestley who run the Brontemoor Herd at Cracrop Farm, Brampton. The tidy steers were sired by Garrowby Hurricane, Loosebear Hannabull and Drumlone Everlasting. The first prized pen of heifers came from D and R Cornthwaite, Balgray Hill, Lockerbie, all sired by Maybe Inwithachance, a grandson of the show cow Maybe Cute.
