8000gns Mastermind ends three-year quest
8000gns Mastermind ends three-year quest
AFTER a three-year search Cumbria farmer Alan Fawkes found a new stock bull at the Blonde dAquitaine Societys show and sale at Carlisle.
It cost him 8000gns, a new record for the breed.
Mr Fawkes, who farms as G A Fawkes and Son, Maryport, was determined to return home with the impressive young bull Shapfell Mastermind.
"Three years ago we lost the best Blonde dAquitaine bull we have ever owned in an accident. Ive been looking for a replacement ever since. This bull is his absolute double and I wasnt going home without him," said Mr Fawkes.
Mastermind, by Hadley Esquire, is out of a Lythvalley Outlaw cow. He was bred on the farm of Mike Harrison, Penrith and stood second in his class under judge Mr Rodney Arbuckle, Ballymena, Co Antrim. He will be used on Mr Fawkess 50 pedigree Blonde dAquitaine cows as well as 50 Blonde-cross sucklers.
Top award at the event went to Shropshire breeder Roy Kinnish who brought a useful string from his 50-strong herd at Bridgnorth. The tall, modern stamp of his Kinaston Mozart was the deciding factor that clinched the overall championship.
Judge Mr Arbuckle said: "Hes such a great bull; just the sort to produce the type of cattle for todays market. Hes so clean and tight with not an ounce of waste on him." The June 1996-bred Mozart weighed 872kg on the day but was unsold at 2600gns.
Linda Sewell of G B Sewell and Partners, Huntingdon, Cambs, has bred Blondes since 1992 and her debut at Carlisle resulted in a well-deserved reserve supreme championship with Meadow Montague, a grandson of the French performance recorded bull Tonnerre through his sire son Hayton Ike.
This is the first of Ikes progeny to be sold. Buyers Wood Bros, Rotherham, Yorks, gave 3100gns for the bull.
Banffshire breeder Eric Mutch saw his good-ended Whitefield Merlin, a second prize winner by Genus Hero, make 3100gns to V Hunter, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire.
Hayton Martin, a son of Everest and out of the top show cow Ganaway Fiona from local breeders Hayton Blondes, realised 2700gns to W Montgomery, Antrim.
Isle of Man breeder J Chadwick creamed off both the days best females paying 2600gns for the unserved heifer Kinaston Marcie from Mr Kinnish. She stood reserve to the female champion Ganaway Madeline who is full sister to the legendary show cow Ganaway Edelweiss. Madeline realised 2100gns.
AVERAGES: 19 bulls £2186 and 18 females £991. (Harrison and Hetherington) *
Linda Sewell saw this bull take the reserve championship for 3100gns.