Heifers from the Maraiscote herd of Ian, Moyra and Andrew Nimmo, proved the star attraction at the Limousin Cattle Society’s female sale at Carlisle staged the night before the bull sale, producing the lead price of 10,000gns with another two selling for 5000gns.

The sale from the Wishaw-based herd, established in 1992, saw the family sell 26 heifers to average £3214.62, with their sale leader being the two-year-old Maraiscote Rolex.

She is a daughter of the 50,000gns stock bull Bassingfield Machoman, which has bred several five-figure priced bulls for the herd, and out of the Goldies Comet daughter, Maraiscote Gold. Rolex sold to the Wight family, Midlock, Crawford, for 10,000gns, who also bought another from the same home at 3500gns.

Another two similarly aged Maraiscote heifers by Machoman made 5000gns, with the first being Maraiscote Rhistyle, purchased by WG Beattie and Son, Tullywhanland, Forfar. The dam is the Macschoice Chris daughter, Maraiscote Myrtle.

Minutes later, Maraiscote Rochelle, bred from another Goldies Comet daughter in the shape of Maraiscote Molly, made the same money when selling to Ian Snape, Sanbourne, Redditch.

Maraiscote Role, a daughter of Sliabh Felim Mourinho, also proved popular, selling for 4200gns to Messrs Hunter, Larne. She is bred from Maraiscote Logo, a Virigina Andy-sired female.

Second top price was 5200gns paid for the last lot in the catalogue, Tweeddale Sohot, a polled 11-month-old ET heifer from Jonathan Watson, Bowsden Moor, Berwick Upon Tweed. Full sister to Tweeddale Redhot which was junior champion at Balmoral Show last year for Trevor Shield, Sohot is the result of a flush from the Claragh Franco daughter, Grahams Lizzie and sired by Carrickmore Maximus. Andrew Bunting, New Abbey, Dumfries, was the final bidder.

Mr Watson also received 5000gns from Messrs Macdonald, Cumwhitton, Carlisle, for her maternal sister, Tweeddale Specialrose, a polled 13-month-old ET, that was best heifer calf in the North east herds competition. Her sire is Gallaway Kemp.

Another two heifers sold for 5000gns, with the first being the two-year-old ET, Broadhead Reliant, from Turner Farms, Honley, Holmfirth. Her dam is the Irish-bred Larkhill Lorna, a Larkhill Emerald daughter, while the sire is Huntershall Nutcracker. Reliant sold down to Devon with GN and LV Dunn, Ridgepark, Highfield, Okehampton.

Welsh breeders, TD and MJ Orrells and Son, Middle Llegodig, Abermule, Montgomery, went to the same money for Eric and Elaine Norman’s Norman Ritsybitsy, from Little Orton, Carlisle. She boasts home-bred genetics on both sides, being a daughter of the Plumtree Fantastic son, Norman Largo, out of Norman Ophelia.

Clive Knox, Cragside, Hume, Kelso, forked out 4500gns for Goldies Sanora, a January 2021-born heifer by Carrickmore Maximus, from Dumfriesshire breeder, Bruce Goldie. The dam is Golides Ivy.

averages: 81 heifers, £2723.52