May 13, 2025 Carlisle May 2025

The confidence in the Charolais breed was clear at the Carlisle May sale, with a new breed centre record average and top price, plus a near total clearance of 98%. In all, 30 bulls sold to average £11,582 – up by a phenomenal £5506 on the year – with trade peaking at 55,000gns and a further 13 bulls hitting the five-figure mark, while females topped at 14,000gns.

The pre-sale show was judged by Robbie McNeill, of the Douneside herd near Stirling, and it was his choice of reserve overall champion which went on to make the top price of the day. That was Goldies Unbeatable, a Gretnahouse Heman son, out of Goldies Icequeen, from Hamish Goldie, South Bowerhouses, Ruthwell. Following on from highly successful sales for the herd at Stirling in October, February and earlier this month, this sale saw the three Goldies entries reach five-figures, with the pen averaging out at £28,700.

At 55,000gns, Unbeatable was knocked down to Neil and Stuart Barclay, for their Insch-based Harestone herd. He is a full brother to Goldies Oasis, a bull that’s bred extremely well for the Harestone herd since his purchase for 23,000gns at Stirling in October, 2019. Oasis sons topped the Stirling February sale in 2022, 2023 and 2024, for Harestone, with another making the second top price of 35,000gns in February, 2025.

Commenting on his new purchase, Stuart Barclay said: “Unbeatable is an extremely modern bull, with great breeding behind him, and when you see one like that, you’ve got to try to buy it.”

Thrunton Uplander, from the Campbell family’s herd at Alnwick, was this first of two bulls to make 18,000gns and one of two Thrunton bulls to make five-figures on the day. This second-prize winner, by Baillieston Orcadian and out of the Thrunton Gladiator daughter, Thrunton Lilac, sold to Q Limond, Barskelly, Crosshill, Maybole.

The other at 18,000gns was the first-prize winner, Caylers Vinny, from David and Louise Barker’s Nuthampstead-based herd. His sire is Goldstar Simon, while the dam, Caylers Polly, is by Goldies Icon. He caught the eye of three Scottish pedigree herds, selling jointly to Ian and Dot Goldie, Solwayfirth; Allen Drysdale, Glenericht; and Alison Gray, Firhills.

Overall champion in the show, Newhouse Unionjack, made the next best price of 15,000gns, for the Adam family, Newhouse of Glamis, Forfar. He’s a son of the 16,000gns Ballinlare Phantom, the sale topper at Stirling in February, 2021. Out of the Maerdy Hearthrob daughter, Newhouse Micah, Unionjack sold to WN Lindsay, Carnleith, Kirriemuir.

Back amongst the Goldies bulls, Goldies Unsuhttps://abri.une.edu.au/online/cgi-bin/i4.dll?1=3E372E28&2=2420&3=56&5=2B3C2B3C3A&6=27265C252320272421&9=515F52nghero, which stood third in his class, sold for 14,000gns, to G and G Law, Wynd Farm, Galston, Ayrshire. He is the first son to be sold off the 30,000gns Harestone Sandiego, who himself is a son of Goldies Oasis. The dam is the Gretnahouse Heman daughter, Goldies Occasion.

Another from the Adams, Newhouse Ureka, sold at 13,000gns, to the Hollidays at Cleamire, Wigton. A fifth prize winner in his class, this heterozygous polled bull is by Ballinlare Phantom and out of Newhouse Oldhazel, another daughter of Maerdy Hearthrob.

Matching the 13,000gns price tag was the final bull from Hamish Goldie, Goldies Upstanding, which had stood second in his class. This one is by the 28,000gns Falleninch Stormzy, which also sired Mr Goldie’s 30,000gns sale topper at Stirling earlier in the month. The dam, Goldies Marion, by Goldies Formidable, also bred the 26,000gns Goldies Romeo. Upstanding was knocked down to JC Hobday and Son, Todshawhaugh, Hawick.

Thrunton Utmost, from the Campbells’ consignment, was the first of three bulls to make 12,000gns. This fourth-prize winner is by the 26,000gns Rutherston Sonny, out of Thrunton Roxanna, by Thrunton Nevada. He went to Telfer Bros, Make Me Rich Farm, Capheaton.

The next bull in the ring, Tweeddale Uppercut, also made 12,000gns, for Jonathan Watson, Bowsden Moor, Berwick Upon Tweed. A heifer’s calf, out of the Goldies Jasper daughter, Tweeddale Sassy, this one is sired by Fleurieu Napoleon, and sold to AH Fisher, Merrick Farm, Portpatrick.

The second-prize winner, Huttonend Vodka, from Sean Mitchell, Grassknop, Penrith, was the final bull to make 12,000gns. Sired by the 28,000gns Elgin Glenlivet, and out of the Blelack Digger daughter, Huttonend Malibu, this 14-month-old sold to AT Richardson and Son, Throwley Hall, Ashbourne.

Best for Charlie Boden, Mellor Hall, Stockport, was an 11,000gns bid for Sportsmans Usher, an Elrick Outlaw son which stood third in his class. Out of the Golies Jerry-sired Sportsmans Novelty, he was knocked down to N McBurney, Ballsalloch Farm, Girvan.

The other at 11,000gns, was Balmyle Upstage, a first-prize winner from Bill Bruce’s herd at Balmyle, Meigle. His sire, Glenericht Mecca, also made 11,000gns, back in 2018, while the dam, Balmyle Relish, is by Ovill Lennon. He went to D and W Bowman, Bagbie Farm, Newton Stewart.

Andrew Stott, Shawhead, Longtown, sold his 14-month-old Tophill Vibrant, at 10,500gns to JT and SIA Abberley, Llewerrog, Builth Wells. He’s by Sandleford Harrison and out of Tophill Maryette, a Ratoary Ferguson daughter.

The final at five-figures in the bulls was Forcebeck Undeniabull, from Jonny Wood, Waters Farm, Shap, Penrith. Selling at 10,000gns, this one is a son of the 20,000gns Inverlochy Fencer, out of Blelack Lara, by Caylers Hustler. He sold to David Main, Blaelochhead, Beith.

Females also proved popular at the Charolais White Gold sale, selling to a top of 14,000gns, with the 12 lots averaging out at £6484. Leading the trade was Grinshill Valentina, a shapely young heifer from Drew Coppinger and Nairn Wyllie, Buxton, Derbyshire. This 10-month-old, by Lochend Nighthawk and out of Gretnahouse Raradise, sold to RM Dunlop, Middle Part, Dalry.

The Harestone female consignment, from the Barclays, met a steady demand, averaging £5822 for nine and peaking at 6500gns, for the Harestone Romeo daughter, Harestone University, a two-year-old in-calf heifer out of Alsnow Olwen. She was knocked down to Callum Dodd.

SHOW RESULTS:

Judge: Mr Robbie McNeill, 28 Castle Hill, Doune, Perthshire

Shadow Judge: Miss Ellie Knox

Class 1 – Bulls born on or between 05.06.2023 & 21.07.2023

1 – Sportsmans Unmatched – Boden & Davies Ltd

2 – Thrunton Uplander – JHC Campbell & Sons

3 – Sportsmans Usher – Boden & Davies Ltd

Class 2 – Bulls born on or between 14.10.2023 & 05.11.2023

1 – Balmyle Upstage – WP Bruce Ltd

2 – Harestone Usher – R & N Barclay

3 – Tweeddale Uppercut – J Watson & Co

Class 3 – Bulls born on or between 07.11.2023 & 23.11.2023

1 – Goldies Unbeatable – Mr H Goldie

2 – Forcebeck Undeniabull – Mr JM Wood

3 – Whitecliffe Unightstar – M & J Hayhurst

Class 4 – Bulls born on or between 23.11.2023 & 18.12.2023

1 – Newhouse Unionjack – RM Adam & Son

2 – Goldies Upstanding – Mr H Goldie

3 – Tweeddale Unforgettable – J Watson & Co

Class 5 – Bulls born on or between 31.12.2023 & 25.03.2024

1 – Caylers Vinny – Caylers Charolais

2 – Huttonend Vodka – Mr S Mitchell

3 – Goldies Unsunghero – Mr H Goldie

Class 6 – Heifers

1 – Seawell Usha – Brailes Livestock

2 – Annanview Ugem – Kevin Watret

3 – Grinshill Valentina – Coppinger Wyllie Partnership

Overall Male Champion

Newhouse Unionjack – RM Adam & Son

Reserve Male Champion

Goldies Unbeatable – Mr H Goldie

Overall Female Champion

Seawell Usha – Brailes Livestock

Reserve Female Champion

Annanview Ugem – Kevin Watret

Overall Supreme Champion

Newhouse Unionjack – RM Adam & Son

Reserve Overall Supreme Champion

Goldies Unbeatable – Mr H Goldie