Tonley Swaggers Into The Top Spot

*NOTE: Photographs to follow*

Judge: Gordon Mackay of Muir of Ord, Ross-shire

With the Spring sale season now in full-swing, it was once again time for Charolais to return to Thainstone for the Aberdeen & Northern Marts’ Spring Sale of Pedigree Bulls on 1^st March 2023. Charolais bulls had a strong showing, with 16 bulls selling to an average price of £6779 and a phenomenal 94% clearance, showing a marked increase all-around on the previous year’s sale.

Society Chairman Allen Drysdale commented on the sale, saying:
“The sale was a resounding success for the breed and its local breeders. ANM is week in week out being topped by Charolais sired suckled calves and it was great to see the commercial buyers showing their commitment to the breed by reinvesting in another bull. For the second week in concession the Charolais breed is topping the sale averages at another bull sale in a different part of the country.”

Kicking off the sale with a bang was Tonley Swagger from N Wattie’s Tonley herd in Alford, selling for the top price of 13,000gns. Swagger has some notable bulls in his pedigree, having been sired by the 31,000gns Whitecliffe Highlight, and his dam Balthayock Morag going back to the former Royal Highland Interbreed Champion Balthayock Imp. Securing the final bid and taking this impressive 25-month-old home was A & A Blackhall of Banchory, Aberdeenshire.

Reaching the next highest price of 8,500gns was the day’s Reserve Charolais Champion – 24-month-old Harestone Sexyboy from R & N Barclay’s well-known Harestone herd. Sexyboy was sired by Goldies Oasis, who previously sold for the top price of 23,000gns at Stirling in 2019. Meanwhile his dam Harestone Linda is by the 25,000gns Thrunton Socrates. Sexyboy is sure to settle in nicely to his new herd in Newtonhill, under the care of the Elsick Estate.

Taking the next highest price was class winner Bonnykelly Spectacular, who sold for 7,200gns. Spectacular was bred by R Leggat in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, and was sired by the 10,000gns Gretnahouse Ivory. His dam is Bonnykelly Erin, a daughter of the 10,000gns Maerdy Rumbull. This strapping 20-month-old caught the attention of A & H Sim, who won the bid and will be taking him home to their herd in Inverurie.

Selling for a final price of 7,000gns was 22-month-old Elrick Solomon from M Massie’s Ellon-based Elrick herd. Solomon is out of Elrick Isidore, a daughter of the 11,000gns Maerdy Dublin, and he was sired by the 22,000gns Maerdy Ignition. Solomon will be making the journey over to Dores, Inverness, where he will be introduced to the herd of final bidders K & J Matheson.

23-month-old Roebank Sandy was the next highest seller, reaching a final bid of 6,800gns. Sandy is from the Roebank herd of S & L Robertson of Keith, Banffshire, and was sired by Balthayock Lancer. Sandy’s dam is Roebank Nora, a daughter of the ever-popular AI bull Whitecliffe James. This young bull will be heading back to Keith, where he will join the herd of successful bidder W & V Leith.

Securing the next highest price of 6,500gns was Glenernan Storm, from W & N Milne of the Glenernan herd in Strathdon. This 24-month-old is out of Glenernan Fusion, a Mistral Ben daughter, and he was sired by the 17,000gns Elgin Jagger. At the fall of the hammer, the final bidder was A Smith & Son, who will be taking Storm back to their holding in Banchory, Aberdeenshire.

Last but certainly not least, the day’s Interbreed Champion and Overall Charolais Champion Inverlochy Superscot sold for a final price of 6,000gns. Superscot had made the trip over from J Irvine’s Ballindalloch-based Inverlochy herd, and has some well-known names in his pedigree. He was sired by the easy-calving Nuthampstead Judas, and his dam Westcarse Margaret goes back to Mortimers Highlandfling. Securing the winning bid for this young 21-month-old was W & A Strachan of Turriff, Aberdeenshire.

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Show Results:

Class 1 – BULL, born on or between 1 March & 9 April 2021
1^st – R & N Barclay – Harestone Sexyboy – s. Goldies Oasis
2^nd – M J Massie – Elrick Shogun – s. Maerdy Gouverneur
3^rd – J A Wilson & Sons – Kinclune Superman – s. Goldies Lad
4^th – S & L Robertson – Roebank Sandy – s. Balthayock Lancer

Class 2 – BULL, born on or between 10 April & 31 May 2021
1^st – J Irvine & Son – Inverlochy Superscot – s. Nuthampstead Judas
2^nd – M J Massie – Elrick Solomon – s. Maerdy Ignition
3^rd – J A Wilson & Sons – Kinclune Steven – s. Harestone Nighthawk
4^th – C Stuart – Lettoch Sherlock – s. Harestone Otto

Class 3 – BULL, born on or after 1 June 2021
1^st – R Leggat – Bonnykelly Spectacular – s. Gretnahouse Ivory
2^nd – R & N Barclay – Harestone Supermario – s. Major
3^rd – A & A Wright – Lagavaich Struie – s. Elrick Jazzman

Charolais Championship – Overall best bull from Classes 1-3
Champion – J Irvine & Son – Inverlochy Superscot – s. Nuthampstead Judas
Reserve – R & N Barclay – Harestone Sexyboy – s. Goldies Oasis

Interbreed Championship – Overall best bull from all breeds
Champion – J Irvine & Son – Inverlochy Superscot – s. Nuthampstead Judas