The Sky’s the Limit at Welshpool

Judge: Thomas Corbett
Junior Judge: Bartley Finnegan

Saturday 30^th April 2022 marked the return of Charolais animals to the Welshpool Spring sale, with 38 bulls finding new homes. The traditional pre-sale show had returned in full swing, with judge Thomas Corbett of the Teme herd overseeing the excellent selection of cattle shadowed by junior judge Bartley Finnegan. The sale was a resounding success, with bulls reaching a phenomenal 100% clearance rate and an average price of £5670.00 – an incredible £1251 increase on last April’s sale.

Taking the day’s top price of 9,000gns was TEME SKYFALL, an impressive young 15-month-old bred by the Corbett family of Knighton, Powys. Skyfall was sired by the illustrious 70,000gns Barnsford Ferny, and his dam is Teme Opaque, a Goldstar Gentleman daughter. Despite being unable to participate in the pre-sale show, Skyfall still caught the attention of winning bidders A W & A R Gale, who will be taking him back to their holding in Newtown Abbot, Devon.

The next highest price of 8,500gns went to the day’s Reserve Overall Champion, MAERDY SLATER from the well-known herd of D E Evans of Mold, Flintshire. Success clearly runs in this young 14-month-old’s lineage, as his sire Goldies Linford won the title of Reserve Supreme Champion at Stirling in 2016. Slater’s dam is Maerdy Gips, a daughter of the popular French sire Vald’or-Ra. Winning the bid and taking Slater home is M P B Ashton & Son of Welshpool, Powys.

The day’s Overall Champion, GRAIGGOCH SAMUEL, took the next highest price of 7,800gns. Samuel was bred by G Jones of Llanrwst, Clwyd, and was sired by the Irish-born Goldstar Gentleman. His dam is Graiggoch Lassie, a daughter of notorious easy-calver Blelack Digger. Samuel is sure to settle in nicely to his new home in Llanbrynmair, Powys, courtesy of T T Jones & Co.

Coming in at the next highest price of 7,500gns was 16-month-old NUTHAMPSTEAD RICHMOND from the herd of G P Barker in Nuthampstead, Hertfordshire. Richmond was sired by the French bull Idol, and his dam Nuthampstead Oona goes back to Rosanna Jupiter, who previously secured the title of Supreme Champion at the Great Charolais Summer Show in 2020. Richmond is sure to go on to perform well for his new owner A T Richardson & Son of Ashbourne, Derbyshire.

The hammer came down a total of five times for the next highest price of 7,000gns, firstly for SEAWELL RANGEROVER, the oldest bull forward for sale. Rangerover was bred by P M & S M Donger of Towcester, Northamptonshire, and was sired by the easy-calving Balthayock Jonathan. His dam is Seawell Marigold, a daughter of the 20,000gns Maerdy Flambeau. Rangerover also caught the eye of A W & A R Gale, who won the bid and will be taking him home alongside Skyfall.

Next to reach 7,000gns was 19-month-old BEANHILL ROLO from R J & B E Kimber of Chippenham, Wiltshire. Rolo’s lineage contains some impressive figures, with his sire Balthayock Musketeer being known for his excellent calving ease, gestation length, and growth EBVs. Rolo’s dam Beanhill Mary is a daughter of Alwent Goldbar, who goes back to Blelack Digger and also boasts some superb growth EBVs himself. Winning the bid this time was J P Herdman of Clyro, Hereford.

Also reaching 7,000gns was SPORTSMANS ROMEO, a 19-month-old from the herd of Boden & Davies Ltd in Mellor, Greater Manchester. Romeo was born to Sportsmans Jade, a daughter of the 70,000gns Barnsford Ferny, and his sire is Maerdy Newman who reached the top price of 40,000gns at Stirling in 2018. Romeo will be making the journey over to South Molton, Devon, under the care of winning bidder R F Jones.

The final bulls to reach a price of 7,000gns were a pair of brothers bred by Roberts & Jones of Welshpool, Powys. The first of these to sell was 17-month-old MONTGOMERY ROLLY, who was sired by Balthayock Musketeer – a trait leader in gestation length, 400-day, and 600-day weight EBVs. His dam is Montgomery Ophelia, a daughter of former Carlisle Supreme Champion Gretnahouse Jugular. Winning the bid and taking Rolly home is W J & B Lewis of Pennant, Llanon.

Rolly’s younger brother MONTGOMERY ROWAN also sold for 7,000gns. This 16-month-old was also sired by Balthayock Musketeer, and his dam is Montgomery Overture, another Gretnahouse Jugular daughter. Rowan will be heading over to Pontllyfni, Caernarfon, where he will be introduced to the herd of winning bidder E Williams.

Two bulls reached the next highest price of 6,800gns, the first of which was 18-month-old BRAMPTON RUDEBOY from G W Turner of Ripon, North Yorkshire. Rudeboy was born to Brampton Leaf, a homebred daughter of the easy-calving Brampton Hamish, and he was sired by Maerdy Orpheus. Rudeboy caught the attention of winning bidder D A Jones & Co, who will be taking him back to their herd in Llanidloes, Powys.

Also reaching 6,800gns was class winner GRAIGGOCH ROMEO, another bull from the herd of G Jones of Llanrwst, Clwyd. This strapping young lad was sired by the 16,000gns Clyth Diplomat, and his dam Thrunton Starband goes back to former Perth Supreme Champion Mowbraypark Orlando. Winning the bid and taking this 17-month-old home is Edwards Partners of Presteigne, Powys.

Finally, a trio of bulls managed to secure the next highest price of 6,500gns – the first of these was class winner MONTGOMERY REGENT, another quality bull bred by Roberts & Jones. This 18-month-old was born to Montgomery Noreen, a daughter of Balmyle Harlequin, and he was sired by Gretnahouse Jugular who was Supreme Champion at Carlisle in 2016. Regent will soon be settling into his new home in Oswestry, Shropshire, courtesy of winning bidder D I Jones.

Next to reach 6,500gns was 15-month-old TEME SKYBLUE from the Corbett family, a half-brother of the day’s top price winner Skyfall. Like his brother, Skyblue was also sired by the 70,000gns Barnsford Ferny. Meanwhile his dam is Teme Magnolia, a daughter of former Shropshire & West Midlands Show Champion Shraden Osram. The winning bidder for this charming young lad is T & M Snell, who will be taking him home to Tipton St John, Sidmouth.

The final bull to sell for 6,500gns was 14-month-old MAERDY SOLOMON, another from the herd of D E Evans. Like the day’s Reserve Overall Champion, Solomon was also sired by the 18,000gns Goldies Linford. His dam, however, is Maerdy Goddess, a daughter of former French National Show Champion Begonia. Solomon is certain to go on to perform well for his new owner W P Bower & Son in their herd in Llandrindod Wells, Powys.

---

Show Results:

Class 1 – BULL, born on or between 6 May & 8 September 2020
1^st – D E Evans – Maerdy Robust – s. Maerdy Figaro-W
2^nd – Boden & Davies Ltd – Sportsmans Romeo – s. Maerdy Newman
3^rd – G M Jones – Esgob Rambo – s. Caylers Hustler

Class 2 – BULL, born on or between 4 October & 6 November 2020
1^st – Roberts & Jones – Montgomery Regent – s. Gretnahouse Jugular
2^nd – R A Owen – Trefaldwyn Rolex – s. Brampton Nacodar
3^rd – G W Turner – Brampton Rudeboy – s. Maerdy Orpheus

Class 3 – BULL, born on or between 13 November & 8 December 2020
1^st – G Jones – Graiggoch Romeo – s. Clyth Diplomat
2^nd – G P Barker – Nuthampstead Richmond – s. Idol
3^rd – R A Owen – Trefaldwyn Ringostar – s. Blelack Digger

Class 4 – BULL, born on or between 12 December 2020 & 7 January 2021
1^st – D E Evans – Maerdy Royalmarine – s. Maerdy Montypython
2^nd – J A W Rees – Hendy Saint – s. Allanfauld Vagabond
3^rd – Roberts & Jones – Montgomery Rowan – s. Balthayock Musketeer

Class 5 – BULL, born on or between 14 January & 20 February 2021
1^st – G Jones – Graiggoch Samuel – s. Goldstar Gentleman
2^nd – D E Evans – Maerdy Slater – s. Goldies Linford
3^rd – D E Evans – Maerdy Solomon – s. Goldies Linford

Overall Championship – Overall best bull from Classes 1-5
Champion – G Jones – Graiggoch Samuel – s. Goldstar Gentleman
Reserve – D E Evans – Maerdy Slater – s. Goldies Linford