CAPHEATON beef breeders, Ian and Nicky Robinson, took home the overall champion trophy for the second year running at Hexham Auction Mart’s third special autumn show and sale.

Their Bog Hall bullock took first prize in the steer class of the Limousin cross bred sucklers show and it went on to be awarded the overall champion rosette and the George Stappard Memorial Challenge Cup.

The judge, Robbie Wilson, from Aberdeenshire, was impressed by the way the beast was turned out and led on the halter by expert stockman Alan Jackson.

Sired by Low Shipley Fernando, one of the Robinsons’ two stock bulls, bought from Hamsterley, Bishop Auckland five years ago and going back to the renowned Wilodge Tonka, the steer, out of a three quarter Limousin and quarter Blue heifer, notched up another success for the family team and another piece of silverware to adorn their trophy cabinet.

Last Friday the bullock was knocked down for £1,380 in favour of regular heifer buyer Les Bainbridge, of Seamer, who will doubtless ensure the bullock is taken forward, perhaps destined for a North Yorkshire Christmas primestock show.

A total of 979 top quality head of cattle were brought forward for last week’s Hexham sale. And the pre-sale show saw a superb entry of 51 calves presented for judging.

Mr Wilson also awarded the champion pen award and the North Western Limousin Cattle Breeders Trophy to a pen of four jet black bullocks from Richard and Chris Thornton, of Cornhills, Kirkwhelpington.

Standing a deserved second to the champion pen were a quartet from the Hunters, of The Steel who also swept the board with their two pens of heifers.