Breed Champion: Broadwood Zeus 1
There was good demand for both South Devon males and females at the Midland Club’s annual spring sale at Rugby Farmers Mart, Stoneleigh, with prices topping at 3,500 guineas and 3,100 guineas respectively, and a 93% clearance.
Judge of the Show was Mr John East from Kidlington, Oxfordshire who chose his male and overall champion from a line-up of eight – J & S White’s Broadwood Zeus 1, from Brampton Ash, Leicestershire. This March 2016 born bull is by AI George Teign SWIG Dionysus and out of Trevassack Mimosa 168, and with bloodlines including Edmeston and Juniper. Reserve male champion was Mr W H D Scott’s Grove Claudius 132 out of prize-winning dam Grove Celandine 85, and by AI Woodhayes Homer 5, from Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire.
Female Champion: Upper Norton Starling
In the female section the champion was from M & S Kettlewell, Upper Norton, Oxfordshire, a March 2016 born polled heifer, AI Z Upper Norton Starling, with Breedplan recorded indexes in the top 1% for the breed. With polling on both sides of the pedigree, Starling’s bloodlines include Arncliffe, and the New Zealand bull Z Westhams Security 5. Reserve female champion was from Bob & Sue Bostelmann, Eccleshall, Staffs, a well-grown February-2016 born heifer by AI Rufford SAS Jambo, with excellent EBVs to back up her looks.
Z Welland Valley Banker 3 3500gns
In the sale ring, top priced bull at 3,500 gns was from Thorpe Langton, Leicestershire, M E & T E Broome’s Z Welland Valley Banker 3, a July 2016 born bull by Welland Valley Banker 2 and out of Welland Valley Candy 29. He sold to J G Williams & Son, Hopton Castle, Shropshire. Next highest was Sellstead Jackpot from A & G Sell, Basildon, Essex, to L Kent-Smith & Sons, Barnstaple, Devon for 3,000 gns. Two other bulls sold for 2,900 gns apiece: C J Page, Banbury, Oxfordshire’s Coton Ludo 5 to E J Darnell & Son, Basingstoke, Hampshire; and the male champion Broadwood Zeus 1 to A E J & F J Claridge, Middle Clayden, Buckinghamshire.
Top priced heifer was the female champion AI Z Upper Norton Starling, selling to Hadley Farms, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire for 3,100 gns. Next highest at 1,800 gns was the reserve female champion, selling to M Tuckey, Brill, Buckinghamshire who bought a consignment of 11 heifers.
Mark Bromell, Kivells auctioneer said, “Despite the continuing cold wet weather, this was a great sale with 93% clearance, and a good trade for both bulls and females.”
Averages: 8 x bulls £2,900; 16 x 2016 born heifers £1,755; 10 x 2017 born heifers £1,244; 2 x first calvers with calves at foot £1,995
Auctioneers: Messrs Kivells, with thanks to Rugby Farmers Mart