The first prize heifer and overall champion was a 12-month-old Limousin cross from R. A. Gumbley, Littleborough, which sold at £1,600 to Martin and Thomas Wilcock, Ashton-in-Makerfield.
The judge was Stephen Eastwood, Emley, whose choice for second prize in the heifer class went to M.E. and C.A. Duerden, Dalton-in-Furness with a 13-month-old Parthenaise which realised £1,350, while the yellow rosette was awarded to a British Blue cross from Frankland Farms, Rathmell, which made £1,280.
A Limousin cross from J. Feather, Oxenhope, took the red rosette in the young bull class and sold for £1,570.
In the steer class, Messrs Duerden won with another Parthenaise which sold at £1,370. They also had the second and third placed steers, also Parthenaise, selling at £1,320 and £1,350 respectively. However, the Duerdens also topped the sale at £1,710 with another Pathenaise heifer which was bought by A. L. Thompson, Foulridge.
British Blue crosses led the way in the young bull averages at £1,174 while Charolais cross steers levelled at £1,260. British Blue heifers averaged £1,370 followed by Parthenaise at £1,145.
Auctioneer Jack Pickup said the younger grazing cattle definitely looked the trade on the day with plenty of suckler bred yearling steers £1,200-plus and heifers to the top side of £1,000.
The sale also saw the dispersal of a 67 head suckler herd for E.A. and H. Hanson, Grindleton, Clitheroe whose home-bred Limousin stock bull topped an entry of 10 stock bulls at £4,900.
A pedigree 28-month-old Limousin from J.R. and C.J. Greenwood, Bradley, sold at £4,200 and a four-year-old British Blue from J. and S. Howorth, Bacup, realised £3,400.
The show and sale of hoggs with lambs at foot on the same day, saw first and second place in the Texel class awarded to K. G. Stapleton and Sons, Skipton, whose first placed pen won the championship and went on to sell for £390/outfit and £370/outfit with other pens from the same home at £360 and £358.
In the Mule class the red rosette went to a pen from K. and M. Berry and Son, Thornton-in-Craven, selling at £270.
Auctioneers: Gisburn Auction Marts.
