News & Events

Galloway Spring Sale - Wallets Marts, Castle Douglas

Saturday 6th March 2021

Female record smashed, increased averages in all sections and 9 new purchasers buying into the breed, resulted in the best sale of Galloways in recent times. With increased interest in the breed due to the success of the Galloway Beef Project and environmental benefits meant Galloways were keenly bid for and many bidders in the ring and on line not successful.

Beating the 2015 Penninghame dispersal record of 8500gns was Blackcraig Fay A899 from John, Ann and Iain Finlay, Blackcraig, Corsock, this September 2018 born, Blackcraig Vagrant daughter and out of a Blackcraig Sam daughter- Blackcraig Fay, sold to well-known agricultural photographer Catherine MacGregor, West Rossburnlane, Blairdrummond. This much fancied heifer sold in calf to Blackcraig Yahoo, this record breaker is the foundation female for Catherine’s new herd. The high prices continued for this outstanding pen of heifers from the Blackcraig team, next top was 7500gns for Blackcraig Joan A925, this September 2018 born Blackcraig Xtreme daughter is out of a FinMac Norseman daughter – Blackcraig Joan S374, this stylish heifer in calf to Blackcraig Yahoo and sold to new purchaser Cameron Barnett, Corsock. Mr Barnett, then purchased the remaining Blackcraig consignment all in calf to Blackcraig Yahoo, Blackcraig Imprezz A912, another 30 month old heifer, this time sired by Blackcraig Vagabond for 5200gns, Blackcraig Diana A959 by Blackcraig Vagrant for 4600gns and the November 2018 born Jock of Balgray daughter – Blackcraig Bertha A975 again for 4600gns. The Blackcraig five heifers averaged an amazing 6880gns. Not to be outdone by the heifers, Blackcraig’s bulls - Bugsy Malone, a Nucamp of Balgray son sold for 7000gns to Society’s Vice Chairman - Allan McClymont, Kirkstead for his 50 cow herd and Blackcraig Big Bear sold for 6500gns, this Blackcraig Yahoo son sold to Stewart and Kathleen for their 100 head Huntly herd at Borthwickshiels, Roberton, Hawick.

Blackcraig then purchased Countess Adele of Nether Cleugh from Peter Hunter Blair, Nether Cleugh, Corsock for 4200gns, which is a herd record price to date. This October 2018 born heifer is by X of Nether Cleugh who is by Beanley Equinox and out of Countess Winnie of Nether Cleugh.

Commenting on the success of the sale, Mr John Finlay said “ People are taking note of the breed due to the success of the Galloway Beef Project and this has made the breed able to compete on a commercial bases due to the fact people are questioning were their beef is coming from, eating quality and environmental benefits of Galloway cattle”.

Top price in the male section was 11000gns for Kirkstead Commodore from RA McClymont and Son, Kirkstead, Yarrow, this 30 month old bull is by the homebred sire Kirkstead Vindicator and out of a Penninghame Major daughter - Kirkstead Quebec Y9. This successfully used bull sold to Robbie Galloways’ Cardona herd, based in Doune. Allan also had a successful day in the female section with a top of 4300gns for Kirkstead Bondchen C3 sired Troloss Impeccable who sired last year’s top price bull -16000gns Kirkstead Commander and out of a Kirkstead Vindicator daughter Kirkstead Blondchen W4. She heads over the Irish Sea with D Hendry, Ballymena.

Society’ Chairman – Duncan Maxwell had a good day at the office when Ben Lomond Dalmore, sold for 7200gns, this 23 month old bull by Wipa of Romesbeoch and out of Ben Lomond Ribena a Blackcraig Lunatic daughter sold to Exmoor Forest Farms, Cornham Farm, Simonsbath, Minehead, Somerset. Exmoor Forest Farms also purchased Avenger of Kilnstown for 4200gns, the only entry from Kilnstown Farms Ltd, Bewcastle. The oldest bull in the sale, he is by Buccleuch Adonis who was 2019 Royal Highland Show Breed Champion and out of Edna 64th of Kilnstown who has produced sons to 4500gns.

The last two bulls in the ring Dynamite and Danger Mouse of Over Barkseoch from Gib and Allan McMillan trading as Messrs Wallace Over, Barskeoch, Dalry received 5200gns and 2800gns respectively, these 15 month old bulls by Amadeus of Over Barkeoch and Penninghame Windfall, - who was bought as a calf at the Penninghame dispersal sold to CJ Baird, Laughtmuirside Farm, Thornhill and W McCreath, Polquhanity Farm, Carsphairn, Castle Douglas.

Lockerbie base David and Rosemarie Cornthwaite from the 100 cow herd Balgray herd continued from last year’s sale success selling Platinum of Balgray for 4500gns, this September 2019 born Troloss Impeccable son - the 9500gns bull which is shared by Balgray and Kirkstead sold to Emblehope Estate (The Kennel Club), Tarset, Hexham. Balgray’s heifers sold to top of 3000gns for Omnipresent of Balgray again by Troloss Impeccable and out of Penninghame Ubiquity - a Burns of Gall-Way daughter, who was purchased at the Penninghame dispersal. This youngest of the consignment sold to another new purchaser CC & DA Fawcett, Holmcrest, Sedbergh. This duo also purchased Orchid of Balgray, for 1600gns another Troloss Impeccable daughter and out of Fleur of Balgray, this June, 2018 born heifer is due to calf in May 2021 to 8000gns Ben Lomond Blackthorn. The husband and wife team’s next best price of 2800gns was for Olive of Balgray, an incalf heifer who is in calf to Ben Lomond Blackthorn. She is a Ballavair Black Magic daughter and out of Hazel of Balgray which is a Highland Monarch of Gall-Way daughter, she sold to J Common & Son, Crossdykes, Lockerbie which sees a return of Pedigree Galloways after a 20 years absent. Another Ballavair Black Magic daughter - Overseas of Balgray was knock down for 2600gns again in calf to Ben Lomond Blackthorn, this April 2018 is off home with John Tullie, Bowanhill, Selkirk to join his Bowanhill herd. Mr Tullie also purchased Ben Lomond Catalina exhibited by J,M & D Maxwell, Ben Lomond for 2700gns, this Wipa of Romesboech and out of Ben Lomond Yana is in calf to 4000gns Zonda of Kilsntown. Ben Lomond’ s other female – Ben Lomond Cotton was sold for 3000gns, this Carslae Eddie daughter and out of Ben Lomond Rebecca sold to husband and wife team, R & A Maxwell, Howside, Ennerdale, Cleator, Cumbria and will join their 60 head Ennerdale herd.

The McCornick Family, Michael, Willie, Robbie and Mark from Barquhill, Wigtown, Newton Stewart had their best sale to date, their November 2018 born Barquhill Nancy 1026 sold for 3500gns, this Troloss Ring Pull daughter and out of Barquhill Nancy, sold in calf to Barquhill Nancy to R Nixon and E MacPherson, Marbrack, Carsphairn, Dumfries. The couple also purchased Barquhill Noreen 10001 for 2600gns, she is by Barquhill Barney a previous junior champion at the Royal Highland Show and out of Barquhill Noreen F672. These two stylish heifers join at total of 10 Galloways purchased over the two Society Sales and a welcome return of Galloways to Marbrack Farm, as this was once the home famous Marbrack herd belonging to F & J Hunter Blair.

With some of the youngest cattle in the sale, the Ross Family, Romesbeoch, Shawhead had a run of 6 super heifers, billed as their best ever. Their top price of 4000gns was achieved twice for Kalinka 2159 of Romesbeoch and Lady Diana 2180 of Romesbeoch, sired by Penninghame Windward, another calf bought at the Penninghame dispersal and the German sire Holsten Oder Z149 respectively. Their oldest heifer – Kalinka was purchased by new partnership and new members of 3 G Galloways, Stirling comprising of the Graham Brothers, Blair Drummond and Dennis Gall, Lockerbie. Lady Diana was taken home with B Huey, 97 Hillside, Armoy, Ballymena, Mr Huey also secured Hilda 2179 of Romesbeoch another Holsten Oder Z149 for 1800gns. Another new purchaser SL McCarthy, Borgue took home Beauty 2174 of Romesboech for 2700gns. Ansuha 2177 of Romebeoch had a long journey to Islay, this 25 month old heifer by the German sire, was purchased by J Porter, West Carrabus for 2300gns. The last heifer through the ring - Nerys 2249 of Romesbeoch, a Penninghame Windward daughter and goes back to the successful show cow Doon of Urr Nerys 42nd sold to new member James Campbell, Kypehill, Strathaven for 2400gns.

The Society would like to extend our grateful thanks to our Sponsors – Davidsons Animals Feeds, and Nith Valley Constructions for their kind donations to the highest price animal in each section.

Averages
16 Bulls £4,477.19 + £277.19
25 Heifers in calf £3,717 + £1396.00
9 Bulling Heifers £2,460 + £328.00

A full report on our web page to follow.

Lot

Name

Price Gns

Purchaser

1

Avenger of Kilnstown

4200

Exmoor Forest Farms, Simonsbath

2

Kirkstead Commodore

11000

R Galloway, Cardona

3

Craigmuie Queensberry

3200

M Partridge, Newton Abbot

8

Joe of Troloss (Wareham)

3000

C Groves, Bridgewater

10

Ben Lomond Dornoch

2500

B Douglas, Castlegore

11

Ben Lomond Dalmore

7200

Exmoor Forest Farms, Simonsbath

12

Wareham’s Icon

2500

J Reddaway, Restland

18

Wareham’s Saga

1800

D Cole, Henscott

23

Platinum of Balgray

4500

Emblehope Farm, Tarset

24

Bronx of Nether Cleugh

2500

J & M Brown, Bridgemark

25

Blackcraig Bugsy Malone

7000

RA McClyKimont, Kirkstead

26

Blackcraig Big Bear

6500

R McIntosh & Co, Borthwichshiels

29

Barquhill Oscar

2800

SRE Busby, Unthank

30

Dynamite of Over Barskeoch

5200

CJ Baird, Laughtmuirside

31

Danger Mouse of Over Barskeoch

2000

W McCreath, Polquhanity

32

Wareham’s Silver Doller

2800

J,M & D Maxwell, Ben Lomond

34

Kirkstead Blondchen C3

4300

D Henry, Ballymena

35

Kirkstead Nerys Ingrid C5

2100

R Nixon & E MacPherson, Dumfries

36

Kirkstead Amber C12

1500

E Wallace, Fingland

38

Kirkstead Amber C17

2100

R MacKenzie, Granton on Spay

39

Kirkstead Amber C20

3000

B Crawshaw, Broadley Field Farm

40

Craigmuie Lady Derby C44

1700

W McCrath, Polquhanity

47

Overseas of Balgray

2600

J Tullie, Bowanhill

48

Olive of Balgray

2800

J Common & Son, Crossdyke

49

Optic of Balgray

2100

B Huey, Balleymoney

50

Orchid of Balgray

1600

CC & DA Fawcett, Sedbergh

51

Omnipresent of Balgray

2800

CC & DA Fawcett, Sedbergh

52

Ben Lomond Cataline

2700

J Tullie, Bowanhill

53

Ben Lomond Cotton

3000

R H Maxwell, Howside

54

Blackcraig Fay A899

12500

C MacGregor, Stirling

55

Blackcraig Impreza A912

5200

C Barnett, Corsock

56

Barquhill Bertha 998

1800

D Henry, Ballymena

57

Blackcraig Joan A925

7500

C Barnett, Corsock

58

Barquhill Noreen 10001

2700

R Nixon & E MacPherson, Dumfries

59

Countess Adele of Nether Cleugh

4200

J & A Finlay, Blackcraig

60

Kalinka 2159 of Romesbeoch

4000

3 G Galloways, Stirling

61

Barquhill Bertha 1004

2300

SL McCarthy, Borgue

62

Blackcraig Diana A959

4600

C Barnett, Corsock

63

Barquhill Polly 1024

1800

D Henry, Ballymena

64

Barquhill Nancy 1026

3500

R Nixon & E MacPherson, Dumfries

65

Blackcraig Bertha A975

4600

C Barnett, Corsock

66

Beauty 2174 of Romesbeoch

2700

SL McCarthy, Borgue

67

Wareham’s Charity

1700

J Campbell, Strathaven

68

Anusha 2177 of Romesbeoch

2300

J Porter, West Carrabus

69

Hilda 2179 of Romesboech

1800

B Huey, Ballymoney

70

Lady Diana 2180 of Romesboech

4000

B Huey, Ballymoney

73

Foxglove Aster of Nether Cleugh

3000

SL McCarthy, Borgue

74

Nerys 2249 of Romesboech

2400

J Campbell, Strathaven