Local Simmental breeders Harold Stubbs, Crummy, Lisnaskea, and grandson Alan Burleigh, Florencecourt, had a successful trip to this week’s spring bull sales in Stirling.

They secured the junior and supreme overall championship ribbons with Derrycallaghan Ernest, who later sold for a joint top price of 12,000gns – setting a new record for the four-cow Simmental herd.

At 14-months-old, he was the youngest bull in the catalogue, and is a son of the popular AI sire, Kilbride Farm Newry. His dam is the Raceview King daughter, Derrycallaghan Beauty. The buyer was breed judge, Michael Barlow from the noted Denizes herd based at Preston in Lancashire.

The reserve female championship went to Cleenagh Eliza, a June 2013 born heifer consigned by Adrian and Clive Richardson, Drumbroughas, Maguiresbridge.

She was sired by the herd’s jointly owned 10,000gns stock bull Drumlone Anchor – junior and supreme Perth champion in October 2010; while her dam is the Curaheen Tyson daughter Cleenagh Anna 2nd. This one sold for 3,500gns to G Brown from Penicuik.

This spring sale marked the 150th anniversary of the world-famous bull sales hosted by United Auctions.

See next week’s Impartial Reporter for full report.