134th Annual Spring Sale 2024

Society Sale

12 Feb

Averages: 12 two-year-old bulls, £4,873.75 (+£192.50); eight three-year-old bulls, £5,420.62 (-£1,104.38); five yearling bulls, £2,539.50 (+£222.50); four three-year-old heifers, £4,806.25 (-£228.75); 13 two-year-old heifers, £2,277.69 (-£627.31); 13 yearling heifers, £2,439.23 (-£145.77).

The breed record for Highland females was well and truly smashed at the breed’s spring sale in Oban on Monday, when the female champion from Sunday’s show went on to make 35,000gns in the ring – some 15,000gns ahead of the previous female best.

The top dollar was paid for Kirsty Dubh 3rd of Blingery, shown by herd manager Morven Coghill on behalf of owner Peter Haig Thomas, from Blingery Farms, Wick, Caithness. A black coated four-year-old daughter of Cameron Dubh of Kelby – a bull which had been bought for 6500gns after being champion at Oban in 2017 – this was a first sale for the Blingery fold at Oban.

Kirsty Dhubh 3rd of Blingery — Sale leader at 35,000gns and female champion, Kirsty Dubh 3rd of Blingery

“She’s been a star from day one and was really one that I wanted to keep,” admitted Morven. “However, I wanted to prove just what I have been aiming to achieve with the fold and that’s why she was here for sale.”

As show champion, she lived up to the expectation of the judge who placed her, Iain McKay, who said: “As soon as I saw her, I knew she’d be a fine champion. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a heifer as good as this at any Oban sale I have been at.”

She was bid to the top money by Graeme Easton, who bought her on behalf of the Carnegie family, Kevin Dylan and Ryan, for their Balrownie fold at Brechin, in Angus. They are no stranger to buying record breakers, having paid a male record price of 23,000gns for Eoin Mhor 17th of Mottistone. Their most recent purchase is due to calf in the spring to Glen of Applecross and is out of Kirsty Dubh of Blingery.

The sale also defied a recent ban on exports from the UK due to Bluetongue restrictions, with a rekindling of export interest, most notably from the United States and Argentina.

Making her presence felt was US-based Highland breed enthusiast Stacia Danielson, from Iowa, who bought the sale’s second top animal, Cruachan Min of Cladich, a two-year-old bull from Jon and Queenie Strickland, Cladich, Dalmally. This one put a dazzling smile on the face of stockman Stuart Campbell, who brought out this son of Angus 2nd of Sorne, the Cladich fold’s stock bull which had also cost a record-breaking 27,000gns and had produced two heifer calf champions for the Stricklands.

Mrs Danielson already has some animals in the UK, and she hopes to take semen from this bull and embryos from her female lines to bolster her fold back in the States.

The male champion came next in the price ratings at 10,000gns. Donald and Malcolm MacNaughton’s Falloch of Rannoch, from Kelty, in Fife, was taken to that mark by Peter Smith, buying for his Stockley fold, near Hereford. Sired by Seamus Ruadh of Craigowmill, he was bred out of the multi-award-winning Skye family and had himself been junior male champion at the Stars of the Future Show in 2023.

Moments earlier in the sale, Team MacNaughton got 6,000gns for Douglas 2nd of Rannoch from Hugh Saggers, buying for Leys Castle Estate, Inverness. By the same sire as his teammate, he was out of another from the Skye family.

A big buyer from recent breed sales, Alfie Cheyne, of Mayen Farms, Rothiemay, Huntly, bought a new stock bull in the shape of the reserve male champion, Lewis 3rd of Tippetcraig, from the Burns family – Colin, Lindsay, Fiona, George and Gillian – Tippetcraig, High Bonnybridge, Stirling. He paid 8,000gns to get the services of this rising three-year-old by Black Prince of Dumyat, which was bred from Princess Mhairi 8th of Gray Brae.

Reserve male champion, Lewis 3rd of Tippetcraig, 8,000gns

Second top female, at 7,000gns, was the first prize Ban-Larla Morag of Luruha, from Ewen MacMillan, Lurg, Fintry. This three-year-old was brought out by Dexter and Carolyn Logan and is a daughter of Cameron of Sguir Mor – male champion at the Highland Show last year – out of Ban-l-Arla Morag 10th of Blairlogan. Signing the cheque for this one was Ian McKnight, Dalhabboch, Glenluce, who has recently started a fold of Highland cattle with his wife, Hayley.

The McKnights added a stock bull to their inventory when they paid 5,000gns to get the use of Graeme Easton’s Eoin of Ranch, a third-prize son of the 23,000gns Eoin Mhor 17th of Mottistone, from The Ranch, Letham, in Angus. The dam was Eleanor of Ubhaidh.

New Argentinean buyer, Jeremias Butto from Patagonia, was in on the top action on two occasions. He first paid 6,500gns to the MacDonald family team from Kyles in North Uist, for their three-year-old Sean of Ardbhan. He was by the 5,000gns Hector of Balnabroich and out of Jean Sean of Ardbhan.

He was be joined on the route south for semen to be drawn, by Innis of Glenfinnan, from Andrew Polson and his daughter Christina, from Portlethen in Aberdeenshire. With a value of 6,000gns, he is by Alasdair 4th of Woodneuk and out of Iona of Craigluscar. This one also had a string of show wins to his name from last summer, including being reserve junior inter-breed champion at both Kirriemuir and Stars of the Future shows, as well as being reserve male champion at the Royal Highland Show.

Another bull with a price tag of 6,500gns was Brodie of Callachally, from H and E MacPhail, Callachally, Isle of Mull. A maternal brother to the 7,000gns Sileas 21st of Callachally and by Brodie of Gartocharn, he heads for work with J and M Stewart, Langraw, St Andrews.

Andy Kilpatrick, Strathmore, Glengarnock, near Beith, got some action from both the male and female sections. Dearest for him was his first prize two-year-old, Geordie of Glengarnock, a son of Iain Ruadh of Glenkinglass out of Eilidh 30th of Glengarnock – a mating which had produced a 4,200gns heifer in October 2023. He’s off to High Rannachan Farm, Campbeltown, for work.

From the same home came the yearling champion heifer, Eilidh 42nd of Glengarnock, a full sister to Geordie. The buyer this time was Angus MacGillivray of Highland Cattle Services.

‘Mr Highlander’ himself, Angus MacKay, from Achnagoul, Inverary, got a 5,000gns cheque for his yearling bull, An Buchaillie of Achnagoul, from Jackie Wild, who was buying him for her Wainsmore fold, Matlock, Derbyshire. This one led the yearlings on price and is by Fraser of Meggernie and out of Neoinean of Achnagoul.

Auctioneers: UA Oban

Download Sale Average List

Prize list

2 year old Bulls

Class 1
1st Tearloch of Eastertyre | Davina and Stuart Bridget
2nd Coinneach of Benmore | Emma Paterson
3rd Angus 1st of Goldenberry | Alan Kennedy
4th Uisage Beatha of Romesdal | Yvonne White

Class 2
1st Geordie of Glengarnock | Andrew Kirkpatrick
2nd Vital Spark of Shenavallie | Duncan Buchanan
3rd Alastair Og of Cnoc Na Sith | Iain Mackay and Claire Simonetta
4th Companach of Benmore | Emma Paterson

Class 3
1st Falloch of Rannoch | Donald MacNaughton
2nd Douglas 2nd of Rannoch | Donald MacNaughton
3rd Elvis of Allanfearn | Maureen MacArthur and John Ashton
4th Robert 2nd of Gartocharn | Jim and Catherine McKechnie

Best 2 year old Bull

Falloch of Rannoch | Donald MacNaughton

Reserve

Geordie of Glengarnock | Andrew Kirkpatrick

Senior Bulls

Class 4
1st John of Black Glen | Grant Hyslop
2nd Ben Cruchan 2nd of Castles Estate | Mr K Howman
3rd Sean of Ardbhan | The MacDonald Family
4th Lord Mosscastle 4th of Goldenberry | Alan Kennedy

Class 5
1st Lewis 3rd of Tippetcraig| The Burns family
2nd Innis of Glenfinnan | Andrew Polson
3rd Eoin of Ranch | Graeme and Rebecca Easton
4th Finlay of Pollok | Glasgow City Council

Best Senior Bull

Lewis 3rd of Tippetcraig | The Burns family

Reserve

John of Black Glen | Grant Hyslop

Aged Bulls

Class 6
1st Eoin Mhor 30th of Mottistone | Grant Hyslop
2nd Thor of Allanfearn | The Keys family

Best Aged Bull

Eoin Mhor 30th of Mottistone | Grant Hyslop

Reserve

Thor of Allanfearn | The Keys family

Yearling Bulls

Class 7
1st Murphy of Gartocharn | Jim and Catherine McKechnie
2nd An Buchaille of Achnagoul | Angus MacKay
3rd King Kong of Sean | Simon and Emma Haley
4th Rolo Dubh of Tordarroch | Tordarroch estates

Class 8
1st Murchadh Ruaridh 2nd of Luruha | Lurg and Townhead Farms
2nd Craigy Boy of Glengorm | Glengorm
3rd Reudle of Cnoc Na Sith | Iain Mackay and Claire Simonetta
4th Bein Gael of Tordarroch | Tordarroch Estates

Best Yearling Bull

Murphy of Gartocharn | Jim and Catherine McKechnie

Best yearling bull, Murphy 2nd of Gartocharn

Reserve

An Buchaille of Achnagoul | Angus MacKay

Male Champion

Falloch of Rannoch | Donald MacNaughton

Reserve

Lewis 3rd of Tippetcraig | The Burns family

Senior Heifers

Class 9
1st Kirsty Dhubh of Blingery | Blingery Farms
2nd Lady Alma 13th of Pollok | Glasgow City Council

Best Senior Heifer

Kirsty Dhubh of Blingery | Blingery Farms

Reserve

Lady Alma 13th of Pollok | Glasgow City Council

3 year old Heifers

Class 10
1st Ban-Larla Morag of Luruha | Lurg and Townhead Farms
2nd Siusan Dubh 5th of Pollok | Glasgow City Council
3rd Claggorm 63rd of Glengarnock | Andrew Kirkpatrick
4th Isabelle of Blingery | Blingery Farms

Best 3 year old Heifer

Ban-Larla Morag of Luruha | Lurg and Townhead Farms

Reserve

Siusan Dubh 5th of Pollok | Glasgow City Council

2 year old Heifers

Class 11
1st Gillian 3rd of Luruha | Lurg and Townhead Farms
2nd Eiteag of Black Glen | Grant Hyslop
3rd Morag Mingeal of Glenaros | Alastair Fitzsimon
4th Muireall 12th of Leys | Leys Castle

Class 12
1st Siusan Ruadh 71st of Pollok | Glasgow City Council
2nd Bonnie of Glenaros | Alastair Fitzsimon
3rd Janice 43rd of Pollok | Glasgow City Council
4th Barabel Ris 2nd of Cragganvallie | James Foster

Class 13
1st Claggorm 68th of Glengarnock | Andrew Kirkpatrick
2nd Saskia 4th of Ardentraive | The Keys family
3rd Sirn Dubh 2nd of Ardentraive | The Keys family

Best 2 year old Heifer

Gillian 3rd of Luruha | Lurg and Townhead Farms

Reserve

Claggorm 68th of Glengarnock | Andrew Kirkpatrick

Yearling Heifers

Class 14
1st Eilidh 42nd of Glengarnock | Andrew Kirkpatrick
2nd Monica 18th of Cnoc Na Sith | Iain Mackay and Claire Simonetta
3rd Bonnie Gheal 5th of Balemartine | The Armstrong family
4th Crystal Gheal 3rd of Balemartine | The Armstrong family

Class 15
1st Dorothy Nighean 33rd of Glengorm | Glengorm
2nd Maiggdean Mor 32nd of Glengorm | Glengorm
3rd Mairearad Maiseach of Ardbhan | The MacDonald family
4th Murran Mosscastle Dhubh of Ardbhan | The MacDonald family

Class 16
1st Clodagh Eve Dubh of Mail | A and L Prentice
2nd Marie Ruadh 17th of Cnoc Na Sith | Iain MacKay and Claire Simonetta
3rd Myra Maiseach of Ardbhan | The MacDonald family
4th Oighrig if Tregallon | Alastair Fitzsimon

Best Yearling Heifer

Eilidh 42nd of Glengarnock | Andrew Kirkpatrick

Reserve

Dorothy Nighean 33rd of Glengorm | Glengorm

Female Champion

Kirsty Dhubh of Blingery | Blingery Farms

Reserve

Ban-Larla Morag of Luruha | Lurg and Townhead Farms

Best Pair of Heifers

Lurg and Townhead Farms

Young Handlers

Aged 10-15 years
1st Eva Armstrong

16 to 26 years
1st Kelsie Prentice
2nd Hannah Walsh
3rd Eilidh MacKay
4th Kirsty Neil

Champion Young Handler

Eva Armstrong

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