Leading the way was the Brewis family from Eastfield and their talented stockman Iain McGillivray. They were awarded the Intermediate Championship and then the Overall Supreme Championship with Eastfield Jacobite and grossed £55,000 for four bulls in the sale ring.

Intermediate & Overall Champion - Eastfield Jacobite

To complete a perfect day for the Brewis Family, judge Colin Hutchings also awarded  the title of Reserve Junior Champion to Eastfield Justy who sold to Messrs Sinclair from Orkney for 13,000 guineas. Lot 286, Eastfield Black Buddy sold to Messrs Carhill for 10,000 guineas and Russell Taylor from Moncur put his money on Eastfield Foreman bidding 15,000 guineas for his new stock bull.

Reserve Junior Champion - Eastfield Justy

Stuart Addison from Castlegate had a successful show and sale with Castlegate Exocet, a Balsar Buccaneer son out of a Castle of Mey Elscot daughter took the Reserve Senior Champion title and sold to the Crofters Commission for 4000 guineas.

Reserve Senior Champion - Castlegate Exocet

Reserve Intermediate Champion was also won by a Border Angus breeder Whittaker & Co Farms. Flodden Earl Samuel was shown by Fraser Cormack and is out of Flodden Evita Samantha by Wrae Baker Boy. This string also sold Flodden Black Bob for 7500 guineas and Aberdeen Angus females to 4000 guineas.

Messrs J & J Campbell of Wedderlie has a really impressive line up of 8 bulls which was awarded various prizes in the show ring and massed a whopping average of 6875 guineas. Their first lot 164 Wedderlie Net Result sold for 5000 guineas to Blackford Farms, Wedderlie Black Rod sold to Teaser Farms for 8000 guineas and Wedderlie Eriview sold for 5500 guineas to Longford Farms. The trade for Wedderlie Junior bulls really did hot up with Lot 372 Wedderlie Kallander selling to Orkney based breeders Messrs Harcase for 10,000 guineas, Wedderlie Kampbelton sold for 7000 guineas, Wedderlie Pringle was next at 6000 guineas and travelling to the highlands and islands also is Wedderlie Ergo who was purchase by Messrs Rendall from Papa Westray for 6000 guineas. The final bull from the Wedderlie string Wedderlie Nabarro sold to Messrs Shaw for 7500 guineas.

The Arnott family from Haymount had 7 bulls forward at the sale. The first Haymount bull through the sale ring was purchased by Adrian Johnson of the Yearsley herd who bought Haymount Willinger for 11,000 guineas. Lot 306 Haymount Privor sold for 5000 guineas and local farmers Messrs Hogg of Birkenside bid to 6500 guineas for Haymount Elgar. Messrs Scott purchased Haymount Pestar for 4000 guineas and Haymount Wager realised 7000 guineas from Messrs Fordyce from Bridgefoot. The Wilson Family from Loch Elvie backed Haymount World Star to 9000 guineas and the Whiteford’s purchased the final bull in the sale Haymount Eiger for 4000 guineas.

Alan Lawson from Hallington had a flying trade for his 3 Aberdeen Angus bulls. Hallington Evolution, a Nightingale Defiance son out of Blelack Klansman sold for 12000 guineas to Messrs Henderson. Hallington Jay Eric was sold for 3800 guineas and Terry Coghill of Muce, Orkney bought Hallington Prince for 3500 guineas.

Andrew Hodge of Rulesmains Duns sold his first lot 162 Rulesmains Executive Admiral for 5500 guineas to Denmark and his second bull Lot 163 Rulesmains Wilfred for 2000 guineas. Andrew with a call of 3500 guineas also secured the purchase of the Overall Female Champion Carlhurlie Fondare, an April 2010 born daughter of Penguin Elderado.

Angus and Patricia Glennie of  Threeburnford sold Lot 292 Threeburnford Nestor to Messrs Longform for 3500 guineas and Messrs Inglis purchase Threeburnford Jericho Eric for 5500 guineas. The Glennie family also purchased a new stock bull from Netherton, an ET born son of Ardrossan Admiral, Netherton Mr Admiral was secured at 10,000 guineas.

New Threeburnford Stock Bull - Netherton Mr Admiral

The Elliot family from Rawburn sold their first prize winning bull Rawburn Evangelist to Messrs Robinson for 8800 guineas and Terry Coghill, Orkney purchased Rawburn Encore for 5500. Rawburn females were also highly successful with six females averaging 6200 guineas.

Rawburn Ebony - 11500 guineas

Rawburn Rosebud - 5500 guineas

Rawburn Duchess Kent - 5000 guineas

Martin Whiting of the Lakewood Stud sold Lakewood Decorum the Male Champion at the Berwickshire County Show to the Glympton Pedigree herd for 8000 guineas.

Also destined for Glympton is John & Teena Gilmours Belhaven Eastern Storm. This SAV Net Worth son out of Royal Eston Anne was secured at 5500 guineas. John & Teena were also successful with their Belhaven females securing Reserve Champion with Belhaven Jenny Wren who is destined for Ireland for 4000 guineas. Belhaven Niagra, the first heifer in the ring on Monday afternoon sold for 1700 guineas.

The Cheeklaw herd of D G & C Lucas sold Cheeklaw Black Bevan for 6000 guineas and Cheeklaw Black Burley is heading to a Hereford Breeder in Derbyshire for 4000 guineas.

James and Debbie Playfair-Hannay of the Tofts Herd near morebattle were pleased with the sale of their three Aberdeen Angus bull, Tofts Permix, Tofts Ermatrix and Tofts Jevlix with an average of above 3000 guineas.

Border Farmers were also buying at the sales with Tom McFarlane of the Flass purchasing five bulls, The Moss Ethan, The Moss Flourish, The Moss Patient Boy, Blelack Ruffian and Ribble Leopold.

Rob Forrest from Preston, Berwickshire purchased Chapelton Justice, Messrs Orr of Rumbleton Greenlaw Purchase Culrain Prelectrolad and Morven Kite and Vice Chair of the Border Angus Club, Andrew Elliot of Blackhaugh purchased Balsar Koenig for 4000 guineas.

Finally Messrs McFarlane of Quixwood bid 12000 guineas for the Orkney born Skaill Doubletake.

This March 2010 born bull is the first son from the 22,000 guineas stock bull Lorabar Blackstar G290. He is from the successful Witch family line at Haymount, which has produced bulls that have recently realised up to 16,000gns guineas at Perth. Wavestar has a Terminal Index of +30 and a Self Replacing Index of +39.

David Lucas of Cheeklaw said “This bull caught my eye as soon as I saw him…I knew straight away that he would complement the Cheeklaw herd. He has genuine breed characteristics, great locomotion and is naturally fleshed. Above all, he has a great temperament, something that is highly valued at Cheeklaw. With a bull this good I knew I would have to go to great lengths to ensure I got him!”

Tom Arnott reported “it is not our normal policy to sell bulls that have been entered into official society sales privately, especially when so close to the sale. However, we were delighted to have genuine interest from a very local pedigree breeder. Wavestar really is an exceptional bull and we wish the Lucas family of Cheeklaw every success with him!

I would like to say a special thank you to Fraser & Christina Cormack…and Christina’s Aunty for providing much welcomed hot soup, pies and delicious cakes at Stickle Heaton. I would also like to thank Debbie Playfair-Hannay and all of those at Tofts for providing the refreshments that rounded off a great day!

A special thanks must also go to the stock men and women throughout the Borders who presented their cattle in top form……. I wish you the best of luck at Stirling!

We have already organised some workshops focused at teaching you the skills you will need to look after, show and sell pedigree cattle and are hoping to run even more workshops throughout the country. It is possible that if you are successful at the workshop and complete the award then you may have the opportunty to attend the Youth Development final….a weekend away learning new skills, developing more skills  and socialising with young people from all over the UK and the Republic of Ireland and the winner at the end of the weekend wins a study trip abroad.

Workshops have been arranged in the following places:

21^st April: South East England @ Angus Stovold’s Rosemead Herd, Godalming, Surrey

28^th April: South West England @ Ed & Claire Jones’ Rull Herd, Cullompton, Devon

29^th April: Central England @ Jeremy Price’s Oakchurch Herd, Staunton-on-Wye, Herefordshire

11^th August: Central Scotland @ William McLaren’s Netherton Herd, Auchterarder, Perthshire

19^th August: North of England @ Bryan Ronan’s Jerusalem Herd, Appleby in Westmorland, Cumbria

There will be workshops in the Scottish Borders and Northern Ireland and we are looking at the possibility of perhaps holding workshops in Co Leitrim, Republic of Ireland and in the SW of Scotland.

THE WEEKEND EVENT: This year will be on the 29^th & 30^th September somewhere in Scotland!

If you are interested in finding out more about the Youth Development Programme then click here

or contact the YDP Co-ordinator Gayle Bersey  gayle@bersey.fslife.co.uk

Please find below the timetable for the Border Angus Spring Bull Walk which will be held on Wednesday 25 January 2012. Please bring along a packed lunch which we will eat on the move as we have 42 bulls to view in one day and the agenda is very tight. Hot drinks will be provided at Stickle Heaton at lunch time and again at the end of the day at Tofts. Please click on the postcode to obtain a map and HERE for the ROUTE. I hope you can join us.

09.00am    -    Threeburnford (TD2 6PU) [2 Bulls]
09.35am    -    Wedderlie (TD3 6NW) [8 Bulls]
10.55am    -    The Chapel (Rulesmains) (TD11 3TW) [2 Bulls]
11.40am    -    Stickle Heaton (TD12 4XG) [Whittaker & Co - 3 Bulls] [Castlegate - 2 Bulls] [Cheeklaw - 4 Bulls]
13.15pm    -    Haymount (TD5 7RR) [8 Bulls]
14.30pm    -    Roxburgh Mains (TD5 8NJ) [Rawburn - 2 Bulls] [Elliot - 1 Bull] [Lakewood - 1 Bull]
15.20pm    -    Eastfield (TD5 8BN) [4 Bulls]
16.00pm    -    Tofts (TD5 8AD) [5 Bulls]

Don’ forget the club will be hosting an open meeting at The Lodge, Carfraemill on 18 January 2012 at 7.30pm. Karen Tait MBE from Hi Health will talk about the latest developments and research in disease eradication and health planning and a representative from Marks and Spencers will talk of the benefits and commercial requirements for High Quality Beef.

Please contact Sian Sharp if you will be attending either of the events mentioned above by email at info@borderangus.com

Forthcoming events: 25 January 2012 – Spring Bull Walk

Senior & Reserve Overall Champion

The Arnott’s proved it is all about the breeding when a Haymount Wessuro daughter won the female championship and later sold for 4000 guineas.

Haymount sired Female Champion - Old Glenort Poppy

John and Daniel Whiteford were in the prizes also, taking third place with Borewell Eastern Flame J389. This October 2009-born bull is by Ankonian Werner Wild Fire 96 and is out of Royal Eston Anne 23J and sold to Sandy Norrie of the Wrae herd for 7000 guineas.

Borewell Eastern Flame

Gordon Gray from Ettrick sold Ettrick Rooney K089 a Rawburn Rommel son for £4200 guineas and Messrs Campbell of Wedderlie purchased the third prize Woodvale Lord Juggernaut from Alwyn and Carol Armour from Northern Ireland for 4000 guineas.

Local breeders Messrs Ross of Wester Middleton secured the purchase of the Overall Champion Blelack Earthquake K384 (lot 56) for 8000 guineas from Messrs Neil and Graeme Massie after failing to secure him in the sale ring earlier By Oakchurch Dominator G035, he is out of the Blelack Blackstock A227 daughter Blelack Evora D988.

Blelack Earthquake - Overall Champion

The Borderers were at the top of their game in the female sale also with Messrs John Elliot of Rawburn topping 12,000 guineas for Rawburn Ella J996 (lot 116). This April born heifer by Rawburn Enigma G653 , out of the Rawburn Lord Ross C216 daughter Rawburn Ella F515. She sold due in calf to Rawburn Elmer J921 to Angus Hodge.

12,000 guineas - Rawburn Ella

Lot 7 – Haymount Privor

Lot 9 – Haymount Wergin

Lot 10 – Borewell Eastern Flame

Lot 33 – Haymount Wavozzo

Lot 47 – Cheeklaw Jonti Eric

Lot 55 – Flodden Douglas Argyll

Lot 61 – Belhaven Ready Ayeready

Lot 63 – Hallington Buccaneer

Lot 70 – Ettrick Rooney

Lot 81 – Hallington Laser

Lots 109 – 118 – Rawburn & Elliot Females