Wanthwaite Rolo, a four-year-old bull, bred by the Bell family, Kessick, but consigned by Willie Barron, Burnhope, secured the championship and the top price of 6500gns at a show and sale pedigree Limousins at Darlington.

Judge Thomas Illingworth of the Glenrock herd from Lockerbie, found his supreme in a son of Kingshaugh Nice, bred from a Wanthwaite Lacey. Rolo sold carrying two copies of the F94L gene to suckled calf producers RA and SL Wearmouth, Middletown, Long Newton.

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The reserve, Cornsay Trademark, from WI Suddes and Son, South Farm, is by Elderberry Portrait and also sold with two copies of the F94L easy calving gene. He was knocked down at 4200gns, selling to M and E Shaw, Mount Pleasant Farm, Shelley.

Second top price was 5500gns paid for Matthew Jordan's Longhirst Trevor from Morpeth, which also sold carrying two copies of the F94L gene. He was purchased by R Falconer and Son, Barrow-in-Furness. The same home also received 4500gns for Longhirst Tonka from B and JD Beadle, Staindrop

Holywell Tyson from Mark Marley and Jo Gibson, was another to make the grade, selling for 4800g to A and PA Jopling, Richmond.

Pedigree heifers reached 2150gns for the 14-month-old Barrons Unifloss from W Barron, Morrow Edge purchased by local breeder Eileen Wilson of the Aprilton herd. The sole cow and calf, Rachels Jetty, a 10-year-old from Mark Woolhouse, Driffield and her February-born bull calf made 2300gns selling to M and O Trewhitt and Son, Low Ness.

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Limousin crosses also led the commercial section which peaked at £1920 for a 10-month-old steer by Tomschoice Lexicon, from Messrs Rochester and Murray, Glebe Farm, Butsfield, purchased by M Robinson and Sons, Staindrop.

Heifers sold to a £1800 twice for Limousin crosses from John Smith-Jackson, Haydon Bridge.

Leading Prices

Pedigree bulls – 6500gns W Barron; 5500gns, 4500gns JE Jordon and Son; 4800gns MJ Marley; 4200gns, WI Suddes and Son; 4000gns JH Tennant; 3800gns W and M Knaggs and Son.

Pedigree heifers – 2150gns W Barron; 1750gns x2, 1520gns, 1480gns x2, JWR and M Suddes; 1720gns, 1700gns, 1650gns, 1600gns, WI Suddes and Son; 1560gns, 1480gns D and MLP Woolhouse; 1520gns WE Swales and Sons.

Commercial calves – £1920 Rochester and Murray; £1800 x2 JW Smith Jackson; £1700 GC and KJ White and Son.

Commercial cows and calves – £2300, £2120, £2100 S and J Dent and Son.