Royalamelie Shines at White Gold Sale

Following the success of 2022’s inaugural White Gold sale of elite females, the breed returned to Borderway Mart, Carlisle on Friday 20^th January 2023. The sale was a combination of both maiden and served heifers, from several of the breed’s leading herds. Over the course of the afternoon, 17 heifers were sold to an average price of £4181.47.

The bidding reached its climax at 6,000gns for 25-month-old Harestone Royalamelie from R & N Barclay’s Harestone herd in Insch, Aberdeenshire. This impressive heifer has a number of heavy hitters in her pedigree, having been sired by the 23,000gns Goldies Oasis, and going back to the 26,000gns Thrunton Fearless on her dam’s side. Royalamelie is certain to go on to produce quality calves for her new owners C Smeaton & Sons in their Bombax herd in Forfar, Angus.

Close behind Royalamelie, at a final price of 5,500gns, was her half-sister Harestone Roxanne. Roxanne was also sired by Goldies Oasis, however her dam Harestone Lively is a daughter of the 11,000gns Allanfauld Gambler. This beautiful 27-month-old will be joining her stable mate in the Bombax herd, under the care of C Smeaton & Sons.

The next highest price of 5,000gns was secured by 17-month-old Tweeddale Sureprincess from the herd of J Watson & Co in Northumberland. This young heifer boasts some sought-after Blelack genetics in her pedigree – she was sired by the popular AI bull Blelack Blackberet, and her dam Tweeddale Icemaiden is a daughter of renowned easy-calver Blelack Digger. Sureprincess caught the attention of D & D Morgan of Talybont, Ceredigon, who was the final bidder and will be introducing her to their Alltgoch herd.

Selling for a final price of 4,800gns was another from J Watson’s Tweeddale herd – 14-month-old Tweeddale Spicegirl. Spicegirl is by Westcarse Jimmy, a trait leader in 200, 400, and 600 day weight EBVs, and her dam Tweeddale Mygirl goes back to the 18,000gns Thrunton Fairfax. This stunning young heifer will be making the journey down to Leicestershire to join the Jessops herd, courtesy of successful bidders C A Jessop & Son.

The hammer came down twice for the next highest price of 4,500gns, firstly for 28-month-old Thrunton Ribbon from J H C Campbell & Sons’ Thrunton herd in Northumberland. Ribbon was offered for sale in-calf to Whitecliffe Orwell, a son of Thrunton Fairfax. Ribbon herself was sired by the 14,000gns Westcarse Houdini, and she is out of Thrunton Nellie, a daughter of the 20,000gns Balmyle Magnate. Securing the final bid for this promising lass was K Story of Carlisle, Cumbria.

Also selling for 4,500gns was the youngest heifer forward for sale – 13-month-old Balthayock Soprano, from D F W H & N R Walter’s renowned Balthayock herd in Perth. A homebred young heifer, Soprano was sired by the 14,000gns Balthayock Loyalist and her dam Balthayock May is a daughter of Balthayock Impression. Soprano caught the eye of R Gregory, who won the bidding and will be taking her all the way back to Truro, Cornwall to join his Kerling herd.

Finally, selling for 4,200gns was Maerdy Robina, bred by D E Evans in his Maerdy herd in Flintshire. This 28-month-old is out of Maerdy Nettle, a daughter of Blelack Fabulous, and she was sired by the French-born easy-calver Maerdy Gouverneur. Robina will be making the journey down to Dereham, Norfolk, where she will join the Whitetower herd under the care of successful bidders Howell & Sons.