Ashford Sussex peak at 4,600gns

The event, sponsored by Farmers Guardian, saw a top price achieved for Wellington 3 of Goldstone from Messrs Chandler and Dunn, Canterbury, Kent.

This five-year-old bull is by Wellington 1 of Goldstone and out of a Elbridge Wellington 4-sired dam. The hammer fell to C.E. and W.S. Millson for the Trottenden herd, Goudhurst, Kent.

The reserve champion bull, Wellington 5 of Goldstone, also from Chandler and Dunn made 2,900gns going to Iain Lindsey for the Benham herd recently established by Sir Richard Sutton, Newbury, Berkshire. This one is an August 2008 bull by Wellington 3 of Goldstone.

At 100gns less was a Petworth Stargazer son, Aylesford Poll Stargazer 1, from B.W. Kemsley and Son, Maidstone, Kent. It sold to Mr and Mrs R. Bloomfield, Wareham, Dorset.

The champion bull, Offham Major 13, from Justin and Susan Harmer, Lewes, Sussex, made 1,800gns when knocked down to Messrs Passmore, Lancing, Sussex.

Females

In the female section, cows sold to 1,000gns for a 2001-born Weston-bred cow and her steer calf at foot. The pair was consigned by Messrs Sheppard and Denyers, Lewes.

Jane Howard, Wadhurst, Sussex, sold a 2006-born home-bred in-calf cow, Coopers Snowdrop 7, for 1,080gns to Vanessa McDonald, Hardres Court, Canterbury.

Another from the same herd, this time a heifer and heifer calf at foot by Mayfield Major 6, made 2,200gns, selling to Lynn Gasper for the Rotherhurst herd, Rotherfield, Sussex.

Maiden heifers were in demand, selling to pedigree and commercial breeders with 14 separate buyers in this section.

Six heifers from C.E. and W.S. Millson, Cranbrook, Kent, peaked at 1,300gns for reserve champion, Trottenden Buttercup 9, selling to Iain Lindsey.

In-calf heifers peaked at 980gns for Wright Joy from Wright Farm Partnership, Rye, Sussex, and 2009-born heifers sold for between 410gns and 560gns.

These were the first cattle not to be sold on a Tuesday at Ashford since reopening the mart after foot-and-mouth in 2002.

Averages: 8 in-calf cows, £848; 5 cows and calves, £1,358; 2 senior bulls, £3,596; 5 young bulls, £2,205: 8 in-calf heifers, £841; 62 maiden heifers, £822; 10 maidens, £487.

Auctioneers: Hobbs Parker.

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