Solpoll 1 Perfection from J and W McMordie, Ballygowan, Co Down was the judge’s pick at the Hereford spring show and sale at Hereford market.
Having stood grand male champion in the pre-sale show, this Panmure 1 Henry son was knocked down at 8,000gns, and taken home by pedigree breeders SC and GL Hartwright, Abingdon, Oxfordshire with plans to show it through the summer.
A superior carcase sire with excellent figures, this bull has been used heavily at Solpoll and was reserve in the performance recorded interbreed class at the Royal Ulster. Havenfield 1 Rufus, an October 2017-born bull from the well-established home of EL Lewis and son, Dilwyn, Herefordshire was next in the money at 6,400gns, passing hands to JR Williams, George Nympton, Devon.
By Solpoll 1 Lawman, the supreme champion at Tullamore Show in both 2016 and 2017, Rufus’ grandsire is also Panmure 1 Henry. In late 2018, this young bull was judged best bull calf in the Christmas Calf Show 2018 at Shrewsbury. Another McMordie bred bull, Solpoll 1 Rawhide, realised 6,000gns and received a red prize card in the pre-sale show. Selling to Mr and Mrs MGS Gibson, Stitchcombe, Wiltshire, it is another Panmure 1 Henry son. Born in September 2017 it is out of the home-bred Solpoll 1 Dainty F16, one of the herd’s best cows.
Having travelled south from Kelso, Scottish Borders, Romany 1 Roxburgh BL R34 from JRB Wilsons and sons sold to pedigree breeders N and G Robinson, Bury, Lancashire for 5,200gns. This striking bull with full eye pigmentation is by the Hereford Cattle Society’s 2018 sire of the year Barwise 1 Lancer and out of Romany 1 Ishbel RE L48.
Averages: 46 bulls, £3,394; 22 show females, £3,021; 24 for sale only females, £1,330.