Border British Blue Club 34th Annual Spring Show & Sale at Carlisle

Saturday 10th May 2025

A WORK OF ART AT CARLISLE AS 50,000GNS TATE TAKES BLUE RECORD FOR SOLWAY VIEW TEAM

Demand for pedigree British Blues met a record-breaking trade at the Border Club Spring show and sale at Carlisle on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th May 2025.  There was a gallery of accolades for Kevin Watret, from Annan, Dumfriesshire, his senior male champion, male champion, and overall champion, Solway View Tate (ET), an April-2023 son of Boherard Overdose out of Solway View Katie (ET), the reserve male champion at the Royal Highland Show in 2024, achieved a scorching 50,000gns bid from pedigree breeders at Coull Estate, Laggan, Perthshire.

Solway View Tate

Solway View Tate - Overall Champion and a new breed record price of 50,000gns

The early Spring heatwave got buyers ‘hot under the collar’ as they ‘dug deep’ to secure their pick of the British Blue bulls leading to another record, this time it was the average price that was smashed at £9356.85, with a clearance rate of 92%, and a further dozen bulls hitting the five-figure mark.

The pre-sale show on Friday was presided over by Geoff Walker, Brennand Farm, Lancashire, his farm spans 1,214 hectares (3,000 acres) and 25 years ago the family took on the neighbouring 1,214ha (3,000 acre) Whitendale Farm. With the farm at 198m (650ft) the land rises to 503m (1,650ft) at the top of the fell. The herd currently stands at 40 cows, and as well as selling some pedigree bulls and heifers, the aim is to produce cross-bred show calves from the commercial cows, which are usually sold at nine to 12 months old through Skipton auction mart. Talking of his champion, Geoff said, “this was a super black and white bull that stood out for me right from the start, he caught my eye as soon as he entered the ring, and interestingly the reserve champion was bred the same way”.

The reserve overall champion also from K Watret, had earlier in the day lifted the reserve senior male title and was out of Solway View Netty (ET). He was previously crowned male champion at the Royal Highland Show and Great Yorkshire Show in 2024 and is from the same family as Podga that bred the £16,000 commercial heifer for Haltcliffe in March 2025, at Carlisle. W Fleming, Kelso, Roxburghshire, let the hammer fall at 12,000gns to ensure this bull joined his Mosstower herd of pedigree British Blues.

Almeley Tom Grennan

Almeley Tom Grennan - 20,000gns

There must have been ‘something in the water’ as Almeley Tom Grennan (ET) the red ticket holder in Class 5, from G L Morgan, Tillington, took the second highest price, and at 20,000gns it was the Gass herd owned by J W Kay & Co, Maybole, Ayrshire that said, ‘let’s go home together’.

Coul Blue Thunderflash

Coul Blue Thunderflash - 18,000gns

Coul Estate Partnership, Perthshire, commanded 18,000gns for Coul Blue Thunderflash who also donned a blue rosette from class 3, the first son from the 27,000gns Solway View Odin son, bred from Trencrom Pick N Mix who had been shown successfully in 2024 headed home with B Baillie, Tankerness, Orkney.

Harestone Tennents

Harestone Tennents - Intermediate Champion - 18,000gns

Jean MacKay’s intermediate champion also matched the 18,000gns bid for the black bull, Harestone Tennents (ET), born in June-2023 out of Woodend Leonna who bred the 25,000gns Harelaw Star, he heads to the Abington herd owned by J McGarva, Lanarkshire.

Almeley Tiargo Sila

Almeley Tiargo Sila - 15,000gns

Two bulls peaked at 15,000gns, the first was the eye-catching, red and white, fourth prize bull from G L Morgan, Almeley Tiargo Silva, bred from Almeley Miss Unique (ET) and sired by Chocolat D’ochamps who heads to the new postcode in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, with G Mountain, while G A Hargreave, Stoke-On-Trent, was the final bidder at the same money for H R & J W Maudsley’s Littlebank Theo by Greystone Noveltee whose progeny included the 7,000gns Criffel View Romeo and the 4,00gns Brookley Blue Salem.

Littlebank Theo

Littlebank Theo - 15,000gns

Solway View Teddy

Solway View Teddy - 14,000gns

Aberdeenshire farmers, D Work and Son, from Ellon, took a punt at 14,000gns for K Watret’s, Solway View Teddy (ET) a son from the most consistent breeding cow at Maulscastle, Solway View Katie (ET), and a full brother to lot 18, Solway View Taylor who made 7,000gns to I & L Weatherley, Hexham, Northumberland.

Almeley Thunderstorm

Almeley Thunderstorm - 12,000gns

G L Morgan sold two bulls at 12,000gns. J Proctor, Kendal, Cumbria, was struck on Almeley Thunderstorm, a Gass Okay son from Almeley Oceanina, born in June-2023. It was ‘only rock’n’roll’ for A & F Baillie, Newtown Stewart, Wigtownshire to safeguard the junior champion, Almeley The Rolling Stones at 12,000gns. This powerhouse of a bull again sired by Gass Okay was bred from Almeley Posh-Totie, and was semen tested prior to the sale.

Almeley The Rolling Stones

Almeley The Rolling Stones - 12,000gns

Netherwood TikTok

Netherwood TikTok - 11,000gns

At 11,000gns, J H Pedley from Oak Tree herd of British Blues at Carnforth, Lancashire, purchased Netherwood Tiktok, a Aultmore Powerhouse son, from A Woodburn, Muirkirk and D C Rees & Son, Brecon, Powys, went all the way, securing Almeley The Full Monty for 10,000gns, a son of the 12,500gns Drybarrows Cawdale. 

Topgun Tornado

Topgun Tornado - 10,000gns

Meanwhile, A Jackson’s Topgun Tornado, whose dam Solway View Oesha, was a full sister to the 27,000gns Solway View Odin and bred £22,000 Topgun Splash, shot to a final bid of 10,000gns to local pedigree breeders, R & E Pattinson, Brampton, Cumbria.

53 bulls sold to a top of 50,000gns, average £9356.85, 13 five-figure sums and a 92% clearance.

Almeley Taylor Swift

Almeley Taylor Swift - Female Champion - 10,000gns

Nick Parker, Silsden, West Yorkshire ‘knew all too well’ the female champion Almeley Taylor Swift belonged to him and bid 10,000gns to ensure the Gass Okay June-2023 daughter joined his pedigree Parkers herd.

Drift Ursie

Drift Ursie - 12,000gns

Leading the female trade was the second prize ticket holder Drift Ursie from Mr & Mrs A S Phillips & Son, Reading. The junior September-2024 born Topgun Splash daughter bred from Drift Rosie (ET) went to G Mountain, Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

Coul Blue Tequilla

Coul Blue Tequilla - 10,000gns

R Carr, Newcastle-upon-Tyne fancied a tipple at 10,000gns for Coul Blue Tequilla (ET) a daughter of Solway View Odin from Coul Estate. She was successfully shown as a calf and the first daughter to be offered for sale from the 16,000gns Solway View Rosie.

30 females sold to a top of 12,000gns, average £5491.50, 3 five-figure sums and an 88% clearance rate.

SHOW RESULTS

Class 1
1st         Stonebyres Titan, A&C Comrie
2nd        Tamnabrady Tailor-Made, C McCrea
3rd        Ruiag Thunder, I MacInnes
4th        Thistle Tilt In Your Kilt, G Scott
5th        Warehams Tiger, J & S Wareham
Class 2
1st         Solway View Tate, Maulscastle Farming
2nd        Tweeddale Tyson, J & J Watson
3rd        Gass Titan, A R Kay
Class 3
1st         Solway View Tenley, Maulscastle Farming
2nd        Coul Blue Thunderflash, Coul Estate Partnership
3rd        Solway View Teddy, Maulscastle Farming
4th        Almeley The Real Slim Shady, G L Morgan
5th        Maes Thunderbolt, I P Jones

Senior Male Champion
Solway View Tate, Maulscastle Farming

Reserve Senior Male Champion
Solway View Tenley, Maulscastle Farming

Class 4
1st         Faughanvale Tommy, O McGuinness & family
2nd        Almeley Titanium, G L Morgan
3rd        Almeley Tweedle-Dumb, G L Morgan
4th        Starstruck Tyson, J Burnett
5th        Netherwood Tiktok, A Woodburn
Class 5
1st         Almeley Tom Grenna, G L Morgan
2nd        Dragon Blues Turbo, G W & K Williams
3rd        Almeley The Full Monty, G L Morgan
4th        Almeley Tiargo Silva, G L Morgan
5th        Almeley The Love Doctor, G L Morgan
Class 6
1st         Harelaw Tennents, J Mackay
2nd        Crackley Bank Talisman, P Walker
3rd        Almeley Thunderstorm, G L Morgan
4th        Valley Tucker, R E Carruthers
5th        Ty Isaf Tango, D W & L E Morgan

Intermediate Champion
Harelaw Tennents, J Mackay

Reserve Intermediate Champion
Faughanvale Tommy, O McGuinness & family

Class 7
1st         Almeley Teafortwo, G L Morgan
2nd        Bowl Turner Toronto, D M Alderson
Class 8
1st         Valley Truman, R Carruthers
2nd        Almeley The Rolling Stones, G L Morgan
3rd        Solway View Titus, Maulscastle Farming
4th        Clifftown Tyson, D Townend
5th        Topgun Tonka, A Jackson
Class 9
1st         Ballygrange Topper, J Sloan
2nd        Topside Thumper, R & E Pattinson
3rd        Springbank Tank, C & I Gordon

Junior Male Champion
Valley Truman, R Carruthers

Reserve Junior Male Champion
Almeley The Rolling Stones, G L Morgan

Overall male champion
Solway View Tate, Maulscastle Farming

Reserve overall male champion
Solway View Tenley, Maulscastle Farming

Class 10
1st         Warehams Suzie, J & S Wareham
2nd        Geirn Blues Sugar & Spice, C A Owen
3rd        Warehams Smarty, J & S Wareham
4th        Geirn Blues Sassy Lassy, C A Owen
5th        Bowl Turner Susie, D M Alderson
Class 11
1st         Almeley Taylor Swift, G L Morgan
2nd        Coul Blue Tiffany, Coul Estate Partnership
3rd        Delhorn Twice As Nice, J & Y J Hopkins
4th        Solway View Tahani, Maulscastle Farming
5th        Thistle Ticketyboo, G Scott
Class 12
1st         Coule Blue Tequilla, Coul Estate Partnership
2nd        Solway View Tori, Maulscastle Farming
3rd        Topgun Tiktok, A Jackson
4th        Coul Blue Trick Or Treat, Coul Estate Partnership
5th        Topgun Tutti Frutti, A Jackson
Class 13
1st         Solway View Truffle, Maulscastle Farming.
2nd        Solway View Unique, Maulscastle Farming.
3rd        Red River Truly Ice Baby, C Hunter
4th        Bowl Turner Urenna, D M Alderson
5th        Solway View Ursula, Maulscastle Farming
Class 14
1st         Red River Ultra Sassy Icebaby, C Hunter
2nd        Ruaig U Beauty, I MacInnes
3rd        Llanfair Unique, R & S Jones
4th        Dragon Blues Unis, G W & K Williams
Class 15
1st         Ruaig Ultra Violet, I MacInnes
2nd        Drift Ursie, AS Phillips & Sons
3rd        Clifftown Ultra Sassy, D Townend

Female Champion
Almeley Taylor Swift, G L Morgan

Reserve Female Champion
Coul Blue Tiffany, Coul Estate Partnership

Overall Champion
Solway View Tate, Maulscastle Farming

Reserve Overall Champion
Solway View Tenley, Maulscastle Farming

Solway View Tenley

Solway View Tenley - Res Overall Champion - 12,000gns

LEADING PRICES

BULLS
Solway View Tate                      50000
Almeley Tom Grennan               20000
Coul Blue Thunderflash             18000
Harelaw Tennants                     18000
Littlebank Theo                         15000
Almeley Tiargo Silva                  15000
Solway View Teddy                    14000
Solway View Tenley                   12000
Almeley Thunderstorm              12000
Almeley The Rolling Stones        12000
Netherwood Tiktok                   11000
Almeley The Full Monty             10000
Topgun Tornado                       10000

FEMALES
Drift Ursie                                 12000
Almeley Taylor Swift                  10000
Coul Blue Tequilla                      10000
Solway View Tahani                   9000
Solway View Unique                  7200

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Auctioneers: Harrison & Hetherington

Photos: Wayne Hutchinson