It was a day to remember for Jim and Heather Marks, Gilly Flatts, Bishopton, at Darlington Farmers' Auction Mart's Christmas show and sale when they won the overall championship with a British Blue cross heifer.

Judges Anthony Kitson and Chris Bell, Kitson’s Butchers, Northallerton, Stockton selected a 650kg home-bred heifer from the couple which later went on to sell for 540p or £3510 to H Taylor and Sons Butchers, Darlington.

Taking the reserve honours was a 745kg British Blue cross steer from Alan Barnett of Brinns, Shap which went under the hammer at 365p and £2719 to the judges.

Willis Piper of Pipers Quality Butchers, Houghton-le-Spring, judged the bulls and found his champion in a home-bred Limousin from the Renton Family of High Highlaws, Morpeth, that went on to sell to JA Jewitt, Spennymoor for 300p or £2145.

Outwith the show, bulls attained a top of 305p for a pair of Blondes from P Weightman and Sons, Easington or to £2560 for a 892kg Limousin from AC Simpson and Son, Witton-le-Wear, to average 260p.

Messrs Barnett, Shap led the steers which averaged 287p, selling at 365p and £2719, heifers were led by JL Marks, Bishopton, with entries at 540p and £3510. Heifers averaged 301p.

LEADING awards

Unhaltered Limousin or Blonde steer 600kg and above – 1, A Barnett, Brinns, 340p, £2414; 2, Renton Highlaws, Morpeth, 310p, £2139; 3, TN Callender, Ox Eye, 302p, £1842.

Unhaltered other breed steer under 600kg – 1, JL Marks, Gilly Flatts, 333p, £1981; 2, EW Grieves, Oakdene, 286p, £1630.

Unhaltered other breed steer 600kg and above – 1 and reserve, A Barnett, Brinns, 365p, £2719; 2, Brinns, 317p, £2187; 3, Gilly Flatts, 321p, £2086.

Unhaltered Limousin or Blonde heifer under 550kg – 1, Highlaws, Morpeth, 375p, £2043.

Unhaltered Limousin or Blonde heifer 550kg and above – 1, Brinns, 354p, £2265; 2, Highlaws, 349p, £2128; 3, Brinns, 355p, £2307.

Unhaltered other breed heifer under 550kg – 1, Highlaws, 372p, £1897.

Unhaltered other breed heifer 550kg and above – 1, Brinns, 380p, £2242; 2, A Armstrong, Coxhoe, 354p, £2194; 3, Highlaws, 360p, 2268.

Haltered steer any breed, any weight – 1, AG Laws, Village Farm, 331p, £2217.

Haltered heifer any breed, any weight – 1 and champion, Gilly Flatts, 540p, £3510; 2, Highlaws, 344p, £2218.