131st Annual Spring Sale 2022

Society Sale

15 Feb

History was well and truly made at the 131st annual spring show and sale of Highland cattle at Oban on Monday, when a new breed record of 27000gns was achieved for a three-year-old bull from the Sorne fold at Kirriemuir, Angus.

A packed ringside of spectators and buyers were present over the two-day event, including breeders from Holland, Germany, Italy, France and America, who witnessed fierce bidding for the best of Highland bulls.

Smashing breed records at 27000gns, and setting a new centre record for Oban Livestock Market, was the March 2019-born bull Angus 2nd of Sorne, from Ken Headspeath, who farms with daughter Jordan.

Brought out with assistance from friends Robert Fletcher and Stacey Gibson, this lad stood senior bull champion and is by Angus 2nd of Earn, out of Eve 6th of Sorne.

United Auctions’ auctioneer, Raymond Kennedy knocked the gavel down to Jon and Queenie Strickland, who run the Cladich fold near Dalmally, alongside stockman Stuart Campbell, who was the judge of this year’s show.

Next best at 15000gns, when selling to Sam Vogyl, Minnesotta, was Murchadh Dubh of Mottistone, a March 2020-born bull from relatively new breeder Ewen Macmillan of Lurg and Townhead Farms, Lurg Farm, Fintry, Glasgow.

Lifting the champion honours in the two-year-old section, he is by Coirneal 3rd of Balmoral, bred out of Solas Molach 4th of Mottistone, which bred the 23000gns Eoin Mhor 17th of Mottistone, sold at the Mottistone dispersal in 2020.

The same American buyer also paid 10000gns for Iain Ruadh of Glengoyne, a third prize two-year-old bull from Ewan Mackay’s Glengoyne fold at Killearn, Glasgow.

He is by former Oban junior male champion, Ceannard of Eilean Mor, out of Boidheach Ruadh 5th of Glengoyne, which is the same female line as the 9000gns Sobhrach of Eileen Mor, which stood senior champion heifer in October.

Also selling for 10000gns, was the reserve senior champion Tearloch 2nd of Earn, from Heather Corrigall, Nigg, Ross-shire.

Full brother to Hector of Earn, which sold for 5000gns and sired the reserve champion at Stars of the Future, he is by Angus Ruadh of Wester Croachy, out of Magaida 1st of Earn.

The buyer was Murdo Maclean, Flichity Farm, Inverness.

Ardura Estate, Craignure, Isle of Mull, received 5500gns for third prize senior bull Seonaidh Mhor of Ardura.

Selling to Tom Nelson, Glengorm, he is by Callum Dubh of Thaggnam, out of Jennifer 1st of Glengorm.

Best yearling champion, Alaistair Ban of Cnoc na Sith, 4000gns

Not far behind at 4000gns was the best yearling bull, an April 2021-born bull named Alastair Ban of Cnoc na Sith, from Iain MacKay and Claire Simonetta, Torloisk Farm, Isle of Mull.

By a previous Alastair of Cnoc Na Sith, he is out of Dossan of 9th of Coirefuar, and sold to Carol Weir, Blanefield House, Kirkoswald, Maybole.

Females sold to a top of 6000gns for Robina Dhubh 17th of Cailaich from R and S Strachan, Cailaich Farm, Calgary, Isle of Mull, which also sold to Carol Weir, Blanefield House.

She is by Camus Dubh of Allanfearn, out of Robina Dubh 4th of Cailaich.

Two other females sold at 3200gns including second prize three-year-old heifer from Alastair Fitzsimon, Tregallon Farm, Lochfoot, Dumfries.

This was Smeorach 9th of Tregallon, by Sean Ruadh of Romesdal, which was purchased by Balrownie Farms, Menmuir, Brechin.

Matching that price when sold to RSPB, Kinnabus Farm, Islay, was Red Grouse of Hartside by Ossian of Allanfearnm out of Beadarach Peigi of Burnbank.

Katrina Macarthur

Download Sale Averages

Prize list

2 year old Bulls

Class 1
1st Magnus Dubh 2nd of Leys
2nd Prionnsa Dubh of Craigluscar Farm fold
3rd Black Grouse 2nd of West Edmondsley

Class 2
1st Muilleach of Rannoch
2nd Hector 2nd of Tordarroch
3rd Ruairidh Mhor of Black Glen

Class 3
1st Murchadh Dubh of Mottistone
2nd Jock of Sguir Mor
3rd Iain Ruadh of Glengoyne

Best 2 year old Bull

Murchadh Dubh of Mottistone

Reserve

Magnus Dubh 2nd of Leys

Senior Bulls

Class 4
1st Angus 2nd of Sorne
2nd Tearloch 2nd of Earn
3rd Seonaidh Mhor of Ardura

Best Senior Bull

Angus 2nd of Sorne

Reserve

Tearloch 2nd of Earn

Aged Bulls

Class 5
1st Eion Mhor of Black Glen
2nd Flath of Benmore

Best Aged Bull

Eion Mhor of Black Glen

Eoin Mhor of Black Glen — Best aged bull, Eion Mhor of Black Glen

Reserve

Flath of Benmore

Yearling Bulls

Class 6
1st 100439 of Glenkinglass
2nd 300940 of Castles Estate
3rd 700006 of Balrownie

Class 7
1st 300708 of Cnoc na Sith
2nd 100052 of Brindle Point Croft

Best Yearling Bull

300708 of Cnoc na Sith

Reserve

100439 of Glenkinglass

Male Champion

Murchadh Dubh of Mottistone

Reserve

Angus 2nd of Sorne

3 year old Heifers

Class 9
1st Red Grouse of Hartside
2nd Smeorach 9th of Tregallon
3rd Claggorm 52nd Glengarnock

Best 2 year old Heifer

Red Grouse of Hartside

Reserve

Smeorach 9th of Tregallon

2 year old Heifers

Class 10
1st Smeorach 10th of Tregallon
2nd Iona of Cairnross
3rd Isla of Cairnross

Class 11
1st Alice 22nd of Tordarroch
2nd Boideach 2nd of Hunters
3rd Fiochag 6th of Hunters

Best 2 year old Heifer

Smeorach 10th of Tregallon

Reserve

Alice 22nd of Tordarroch

Yearling Heifers

Class 12
1st Nighean Dubh of Luruha
2nd Caileag Bheag of West Edmondsley
3rd Julia 7th of West Edmondsley

Class 13
1st Fraoch Dhubh of Cailaich
2nd Robina Dubh 17th of Cailaich
3rd Millie Carlin 6th of Craigluscar Farm

Best Yearling Heifer

Nighean Dubh of Luruha

Reserve

Caileag Bheag of West Edmondsley

Female Champion

Red Grouse of Hartside

Reserve

Nighean Dubh of Luruha

Young Handlers

Aged 13 years and under
1st Ethan Braines
=2nd Tara Adams
=2nd Eva Armstrong

14 to 18 years
1st Callum Mackay
2nd Eilidh Mackay
3rd Iona Mackay

Ethan Braines, young handler with his black highland calf — Overall best young handler, Ethan Braines

Best Presented Exhibit

Smeorach 9th of Tregallon

Best pair of Females

Hunters fold

Reserve

Cailaich fold

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