March 1, 2017 Charolais set the pace at Aberdeen

Charolais topped the bull sales at the Royal Northern Agricultural Society Spring Show on Wednesday 1 March 2017. Where 21 Charolais bulls sold to a top price of 8,000gns and averaged £4,170 with a clearance rate of 84% – a massive increase on last year’s 60%.

Topping the Charolais lots at 8,000gns and securing the top price of the day across all breeds, was the reserve breed champion and March 2015-born Kinclune Laurent. D Blair and Son, Balmerino, Fife, liked the look of this son of the 20,000gns Carlisle supreme champion Beechtree George who has sold sons here before to 8,500gns for breeders John Wilson and Sons, Kinclune, Alford, and who in turn is sired by the Royal Show male champion Gretnahouse Archangel.

The Wilson’s, who sold a total of six to average £4217.50 had another Beechtree George son in the money, this time out of a home-bred 20,000gns Perth supreme champion Thrunton Crownprince daughter. Kinclune Legend, a 21-month-old who had been tapped out first in his class earlier in the day, attracted a 4,200gns bid from Messrs Steel, Banchory, Aberdeenshire.

Two bulls were knocked down at 6,000gns a piece with the first being the red-ticket winner and June 2015-born Doon Lancelot consigned by Neil Barclay, Insch, Aberdeenshire. The 16,000gns Royal Welsh Show reserve male champion Anside Foreman is the sire of this Irish-born lad who caught the eye of E Innes and Son, Glenlivet, Ballindalloch. With another two bulls going on to new owners the Harestone herd averaged £4,655 for the trio.

The second call of 6,000gns was paid by DM McCallum, Dingwall, Ross-shire, for the 18-month-old Lettoch Logan. Logan is the first son to sell by herd-sire Killadeas Dwane and is out of Ugie Giselda who goes back to the 14,000gns Goldies Banker for breeders and exhibitors Colin Stuart, Braes of Glenlivet, Banffshire.

The Interbreed and Charolais champion was the next to sell for Kevin Mallarkey, Ellon, Aberdeenshire, who earlier in the day had been honoured to receive their award in a presentation by HRH The Princess Royal. Champion Strathys Lionheart is a 22-month-old first of son of herd-sire Maerdy Harrypotter while the dam is the 30,000gns Maerdy Andes-sired Airdlin Fuzz. E and J Mackie were the last bidders standing and paid 5,500gns to take him home to Fyvie, Turriff.

Two bulls then achieved 4,500gns apiece with the first finding a new home with C Addison and C Chapelpark, Ellon, Aberdeenshire. The June-2015-born Bonnykelly Landlord who stood second in his class at the pre-sale show and whose full brother sold at the same time last year for 5,000gns for Graeme Leggat, New Pitsligo, Fraserburgh, is sired by the 9,000gns New Deer Show Champion Newhouse Challanger and is out of the 10,000gns Maerdy Rumbull daughter Bonnykelly Erin.

Local breeder and first time Charolais seller Neil Wattie, Alford, Aberdeenshire, matched the 4,500gns price tag with Tonley Lavezzie, who has been shown successfully previously attaining reserve breed champion at the Banchory Show and first prizes at the Turriff and Keith shows. The outfit behind the money on this 12,000gns Caylers Hustler son, who at 16-months-old was the youngest Charolais of the sale were TE and M Walker, Banff, Aberdeenshire.

Show Results
Judge: Tracey Nicol, Balthayock, Perth

Class One – Bulls born on or between 23/03/2015 – 02/05/2015
1st – K & J Mallarkey – Strathys Lionheart – s. Maerdy Harrypotter
2^nd – John Wilson and Sons – Kinclune Laurent – s. Beechtree George
3^rd – Michael Massie – Elrick Leonardo – s. Thrunton Fearless

Class Two – Bulls born on or between 03/05/2015 – 07/06/2015
1st – John Wilson and Sons – Kinclune Legend – s. Beechtree George
2^nd – M Bruce and Partners – Logiestate Lairdoellon – s. Goldies Golddust ET
3^rd – Michael Massie – Elrick Lincoln – s. Thrunton Fearless

Class Three – Bulls born on or after 08/06/2015
1st – Neil Barclay – Doon Lancelot – s. Anside Foreman
2^nd – Robert Leggat – Bonnykelly Landlord – s. Newhouse Challanger
3^rd – John Wilson and Sons – Kinclune Luckylad – s. Kinclune Herbert

Champion
K & J Mallarkey – Strathys Lionheart – s. Maerdy Harrypotter

Reserve Champion
John Wilson and Sons – Kinclune Laurent – s. Beechtree George