Patron: His Majesty King Charles III

Male Champion - Carzise Claudius 1

Male Champion - Carzise Claudius 1

SOUTH DEVONS’ SPRING SALE AT EXETER

An excellent range of 34 quality pedigree South Devon bulls were presented for sale at Exeter, having travelled from as far away as Yorkshire, Staffordshire and Leicestershire, as well as more locally from the South West. The high standard was assured by strict inspections, frame scoring, and high health requirements.

Female Champion - Trewint Nylon 90

Female Champion - Trewint Nylon 90

Judge Mark Thomas from Treguddick, Launceston, Cornwall drew his Male Champion from the winners of six bull classes, selecting a January 2014 born bull shown by breeder A L Pascoe, Fraddam, Hayle, Cornwall. The bull, Carzise Claudius 1, was the Society’s Junior Bull of the Year in 2015, and was sired by Grove Claudius 102, himself the Society’s Bull of the same Year. Bloodlines include Carzise, Lumbylaw, Woodbastick, Grove, Rufford and Trewint.

Reserve Male Champion was A E J & F J Claridge’s Knowlhill Dominator 2 from Middle Claydon, Bucks, an April 2014 bull by Sexton Excalibur 7. Winner of the Thornton Cup for most points on inspection and Breedplan performance combined was Welland Valley Pathfinder 2, a well-grown two year old bull from M E & T E Broome, Thorpe Langton, Leicestershire, by their highly successful show and breeding sire Welland Valley Crusader. He went on to sell to G & J Hocking, Malborough, Kingsbridge, Devon.

Highest Price - Sexton Marvel 9

Highest Price - Sexton Marvel 9

Best pair of males came from R R B & S J Harvey’s Sexton, Ivybridge, herd – Sexton Senator and Sexton Senator 3, both by Sexton General 43 – receiving the Macfarlane Trophy from newly elected President Mr John Hadley, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.

Godworthy Diablo 13 - sold for 4000gns

Godworthy Diablo 13 - sold for 4000gns

In the female section, two classes of maiden two year old heifers were presented before Mark Thomas, who selected Trewint Nylon 90, from P S & A P Rowe, Menheniot, Liskeard, Cornwall as his female champion, a stylish heifer by Sexton Cavalier 10. Reserve female champion was R W Bostelman’s Rufford SAS Nettie, from Eccleshall, Staffordshire, a March 2014 born heifer by AI Rufford SAS Jambo and out of dam Halsall Safflorite 5.

In the sale ring, highest price went to R R B & S J Harvey for their polled bull Z Sexton Marvel 9, a September 2013 born bull by Sexton Marius, and with grandsires Goffe Cave Marius and Z Northwick General 10. He sold for 4,600 guineas to West Prawle Farm, Salcombe, Devon. The same buyer also acquired Kestle Emperor 3 from R K Rundle, Newquay, Cornwall, for 3,500 guineas, an April 2014 bull with Welland Valley, Waddeton and Lumbylaw bloodlines.

Second highest price was the Male Champion, Carzise Claudius 1, who sold for 4,500 guineas to Mells Park Trust, Frome, Somerset. Mr & Mrs R C Burrough & Sons’ Godworthy Diablo 13 from Axminster, Devon, sold at 4,000 guineas to Higher Hacknell Farm, Umberleigh, Devon, and a second bull Z Godworthy Diablo 6 from the same stable sold to J A & Y Hopkins, Lympsham, Somerset for 3,500 guineas.

The two highest priced heifers sold at 1,500 guineas each – R W Bostelmann’s Rufford SAS Nettie to Arthur & Sons, St Neot, Cornwall and The Tully Partnership’s Waddeton Ann 159 to R Shingleton, Holbeton, Devon. Next highest was the Female Champion, Trewint Nylon 90, who sold to G K Griffin & Son, Saltash, Cornwall. The same buyer acquired a further three heifers from The Tully Partnership, Brixham, Devon for 1,300 guineas apiece. D & J Hedgeman Farming, Wareham, Dorset, also sold at 1,300 guineas to D Lewis, Swindon, Wiltshire.

Auctioneer Mark Bromell said “The quality of the bulls was certainly there, and the sale was a barometer of the current trade throughout the industry.”

Auctioneers: Messrs Kivells

Averages: 20 bulls £2,966; 13 maiden heifers £1,279