Prices peaked at 12,000gns at the Hereford Cattle Society’s Spring Show and Sale at Shrewsbury, when the reserve overall male champion, Normanton 1 Whiskey, was sold.

The bull sale, which saw a strong demand in particular for juniors, saw a 91% clearance and a good trade for females which peaked at 8000gns for a heifer purchased by Berwickshire breeder, Jimmy Hodge.

Sale leader, Normanton 1 Whiskey, an October 2021-born bull which also scooped the junior male honours for Tim and Will Livesey's herd from Normanton Le Heath, sold to Paul and Vicky Moyle to join the Porton House herd from Newport, Gwent. Backed by show winning genetics, Whiskey is by Dendor 1 Rosco P Coltrane, a son of the 2017 Royal Welsh Show champion Bakgard 1 Keno 1178, while his dam is Normanton 1 Fistulina 25 S192, a daughter of Normanton 1 Laertes that stood inter-breed champion at the Royal Welsh and Royal Highland Show in 2016.

The Liveseys who had a cracking day selling six bulls to average £5195, also received 5800gns for the August 2021-born Normanton 1 Willywonka, which travels to Northern Ireland to AI Services NI, based in Co Antrim. He is bred from a home-bred dam, and is an AI son of the Australian $95,000 Minlacowie Jubilant J123 that was inter-breed beef champion at the 2016 Sydney Royal Easter Show.

His stable mate, born the same week, Normanton 1 Woodville W471 made 5400gns when selling to Derbyshire with Atkin Bros, Barrow on Trent. By Alvian 1 Emperor, his dam is Normanton 1 Blue Button 5.

Second top bull price was 7500gns paid by L and L Bowen, of the Bowendu herd from Nelson, Glamorgan, for the junior male champion, Havenfield 1 Wilf, from EL Lewis and Son, Dilwyn, Herefordshire. Their 15-month-old entry by Solpoll 1 Dynamite, is out of Dendor 1 Ruby 20 – a top performing female line which has produced heifers to 7800gns and 5800gns at last year's bicentenary sale.

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Just behind, on 7000gns, Auckvale 1 Winchester 2133W from W and R Kemp and Sons, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham, was purchased by W Shaw of Welburn Herefords, Kirkby Moorside, North Yorkshire. For their money, they get the reserve overall male champion, a rising two-year-old by Auckvale 1 Ramesses 1711R, out of Auckvale 1 Beth 1796R, a Canadian embryo import, flushed from CBB 4R Iggy 511C which the Kemps own a share of in Canada.

In an all Oxfordshire transaction, Rempstone 1 Waspy from M Ludgate, Thame, made 5800gns to SC and GL Hartwright, Abingdon, to join the 2022 Show Herd of the Year, Spartan Herefords. One of the youngest animals forward at 14-months, Waspy is a son of Dendor 1 Nairobi, the 2018 National Poll Show supreme champion, while his grand-dam, Blakesley 1 Kimberely stood reserve champion at the same show twice.

At 5200gns was the January 2022-born Midford 1 Whistlejacket from Will Awan, Midford, Bath. He was knocked down to JR, JK and RJ Pike, Bromham, Wiltshire to join the Bromham herd.

Berwickshire-based Jimmy Hodge, Berwick-upon-Tweed, bought the top priced female at 8000gns for his Fellowhills herd. This was the October 2021-born Grifford 1 True Lush, from Nick Griffths, Bickford, Staffordshire. She is a daughter of the Irish sire Gouldingpoll 1 Stockman, and bred from Greenyards 1 Truelove M314, purchased in partnership with Sky High Herefords for 10,200gns at five years of age in January 2020.

Mr Hodge also went to 5500gns for its maternal sister, the December 2021-born Grifford 1 True Breaker. This heifer is by Romany 1 Lawbreaker RE L23 and was the natural daughter out of the two sisters, having also won a red ticket in the morning’s show.

Top priced junior heifer was Porton House 1 Duchess 2, from Paul and Vicky Moyle, Newport, which made 4300gns when selling to Bethan Hutchinson, Greatham, Co Durham. By Dendor 1 Sherlock, she is out of Gouldingpoll 1 Duchess 978.

The overall female champion, Moralee 1 Kylie KS268 from T and D Harrison, Mickley, Northumberland made 4100gns to C Codd and R Lewis of Furzy Herefords, Haverfordwest. The breeding behind this heifer includes the 2019 Sire of the Year, SMH King Size 87K, and Moralee’s original Kylie female, bred from the Romany Ishbel line.

A consignment of three heifers from Balfron-based George and Sophie Harvey peaked at 3300gns for Harveybros 1 Crocus Vanilla, secured by H Davies, Anglesey.

Auctioneers: Halls.

Averages: 38 bulls, £4302.24 (-£101.76 for 11 more sold); 21 heifers, £3400