CALDERDALE-based Andrew Thornber & Daughters, Blackbrook herd, Barkisland, were the standout performers at the 15th annual Beef Shorthorn Society highlight at CCM Skipton when consigning a brace of March, 2023-born heifers, among the first to be sold from a herd established five years ago.

One, a maiden, took 4200gns top, the other leading the way in the show arena when standing female, then supreme champion and achieving 4000gns second top call at the sale on November 6.

 Leading performer on price was Blackbrook Lancaster Tilly, a roan daughter of Millerston Roly, bred out of the Coldrochie Leif-sired cow, Highlee Luscious Ruby, this from fellow Calderdale breeders Mark and Tracy Severn - they too farm in Barkisland. Both the sire and dam are rated VG88.Tilly sold to Nottinghamshire’s Thomas Cheetham, Bothamsall.

The supreme champion from the same home was Blackbrook Phantasy Thora, a roan daughter of Highlee Phoenix, also acquired from the Severns when the herd was first established and consistently one of the biggest stock cows in the herd and a family producing plenty of milk.

The victor’s sire was also responsible for two Beef Shorthorn Society calf show winners on behalf of a 40-strong holding that is the Society’s reigning North of England champion herd, a title it also clinched in 2023. There are currently 25 breeding females.

Out of the EX90 Delphead Phantasy Nina, herself by the EX95 Gilven Journey, Thora, shown by 18-year-old Emi Thornber, was the overwhelming choice of Norfolk show judge Lee Oakes, who has 35 breeding females in his Dereham-based Oakes Beef Shorthorn pedigree herd run with his wife Kirsty and children George, 14, and ten-year-old Phoebe.

He described his chosen victor as “super, beautiful, powerful, really stylish – completely balanced throughout and showing all the traits of breed characteristics.” The local buyer was Andrew Holgate, Rathmell, a regular purchaser at the annual highlight, who this year took home five Beef Shorthorn, plus four from the same day’s annual Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society sale.

Blackbrook was also represented by a cow and calf outfit which topped its section at 3900gns. The October, 2021, roan Blackbrook Waterloo Robyn sold with her Perseus of Upsall March-born bull calf, Blackbrook Vulcan. Robyn is by Muiresk Nevis, out of the VG85 Chapelton Waterloo and with a calf due in April to Crichton Snoop Dogg. The family went to West Yorkshire with L Driver & Son, Oakenshaw.

Heifers in-calf received a solid response and two 3rd prize 2023 roans in a quality pen from County Durham’s Alistair Gibson, Cutthorn herd, Burnopfield, each made 3500gns joint section top when also joining Andrew Holgate. Both were sired by the North of England champion bull, Cairnsmore Phenomenal and scanned in-calf for April next year to Healind Sergeant.

First up was the February-born Cutthorn Camilla’s Teal, bred from the Westmoor Editor-sired Cutthorn Camilla’s Kenya, the second the April-born Cutthorn Ruby’s Tempest, out of the two-year-old Cutthorn Ruby’s Robin, herself a Derwentwood Monarch daughter.

A 2600gns sale from the same home fell to another 3rd prize and younger empty heifer, the July, 2023, Cutthorn Melody’s Tasmin, again by Cairnsmore Phenomenal, out of the herd’s Melody lines, also going home in Andrew Holgate’s trailer.

There were four show classes for 2023-born heifers, the two for older entries both falling to Upsall Castle Farms, run by breed stalwart Gerald Turton and long managed by Scotsman George McCulloch and his wife Maureen.

Both 1st prize winners came from long-established and renowned families, the first Augusta X1791 of Upsall, an April-born, roan daughter of Mandalong Of Upsall, himself by Firefox Of Upsall, two prolific EX93 sires that have made a major impact on Britain’s oldest Beef Shorthorn herd. Mandalong was also responsible for the 7,300gns top price junior heifer at Skipton in 2022. Out of the Crooked Post Drover daughter, Augusta X1363 Of Upsall, her red rosette-winning daughter sold for 2200gns to the Blake family, Penrith.

Another Mandalong roan daughter, the May-born Tessa X1797 of Upsall, again out of a Crooked Post Dover-sired dam, Tessa X1364, did better at 2500gns when joining Mrs A Falkingham, Goole. The same home also stood runner-up in the single show class for 2022-born heifers with Tessa X1666 Of Upsall, a March-born roan by Nelson Of Upsall, again by Crooked Post Drover daughter, out of a daughter of Grenadier Of Upsall. Scanned in-calf due January to Rooster of Skaillhouse, she went under the hammer at 2400gns, also joining Mrs Falkingham.

This price was matched by a second class runner-up, Jilt X1759 Of Upsall, herself a March, 2023, roan daughter of Crooked Post Drover, out of a Jester Of Upsall-sired dam. She was claimed by same day vendors RH& HE Thompson, Grinkle herd, Whitby.

Back with the 2022-born heifers, making 2500gns was the 3rd prize winner from Jual Farms, Great Ayton, with the light roan March, 2022, Jual Taransay Siena, shown successfully this year when winning a breed championship, plus a Great Yorkshire Show 3rd. By the EX93 Glenisla Hooch, out of the EX90 Breakheart Taransay Peach and scanned in-calf to the EX93 Muiresk Nevis, Siena went to Lincolnshire with B Foster, North Somercotes.

The remaining prize winner was a 3rd prize heifer from the Scottish Borders and H&N Sloan, Burnfoot herd, Oxton. Their Burnfoot Lovely Yasmin, a March, 2023, roan daughter of Fearn Mallaig, made 1850gns, going to the Derbyshire High Peaks with SE Cowan.

Firm trade for in-calf heifers saw Andrew and Caroline Ivinson, Sandwick herd, Ousby, achieve 2500gns with their Sandwick Millicent Scrumpit, a November, 2022, red and little white daughter of Fearn Night Watchman, out of Glenisla Jack Frost-sired dam. Scanned in-calf to Sandwick Talasker, she became the final Andrew Holgate acquisition.

Stuart and Gail Currie, Beautry herd, Rathmell, achieved 2400gns with Beautry Shuna Trilby, a March, 2023, roan daughter of the EX90 Jodame Nobleman, out of a Poyntington Himself-sired dam. Scanned in-calf to Beautry Talisman, the 2023 Northern Area Calf Show champion, Trilby sold locally to MJ Atkinson, Briercliffe.

Of the heifers with calves, the Anderson family, Harrietsfield herd, Canonbie, Dumfries, achieved a brace of 2200gns sales with 2022-born heifers with this year’s calves, the outfits going to, respectively, Sir Richard Sutton, Market Rasen, and SE Cowan again.

Cows with calves peaked at 2100gns section top for Kirklees-based Emma Andrews, Holstead herd, Holmfirth, with an outfit bred by Chris Bellerby, Dale herd, Weeton, again selling locally to Michael Daggett, Wharfe herd, Hartlington.

Also hitting 2100gns was a maiden heifer from Thomson, Roddick & Laurie, Shawhill herd, Eaglesfield, Lockerbie, while a further cow and calf outfit from Calderdale’s Tim Riley, Stoneyroyd herd, Midgley, made 2000gns..

With 66 head forward, maiden heifers sold to 4200gns, av £2156, in-calf heifers to 3500gns, av £2332, heifers and calves to 3900gns, av £2905, and cows with calves to 2100gns, av £1872. Show co-sponsors were Skipton NFU Mutual, Morrisons and I’Ansons Feeds.

The Beef Shorthorn highlight formed part of an annual pedigree triple header, running alongside the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society’s sale and a British Blue production sale for the Greystone and Pendle herds, with exactly 100 head forward in total.