WITH a sire called Cornriggs Knight Rider, it was odds on Moralee 1 Novak was going to go places.

And he certainly proved his mettle during his owners’ first outing at the Mecca for his breed, the Hereford Cattle Society’s spring show and sale, when he landed Junior Champion and Reserve Grand Champion male.

Tom and Di Harrison, of Eltringham Farm, Stocksfield, are delighted with the outcome, particularly as Novak only qualified by the skin of his teeth – he was just a week past the minimum “one year old” age of entry.

“So we were really pleased that, in the face of strong opposition, he did as well as he did,” said Tom. “We said we wanted to take a good one for our first trip to Hereford!”

Novak was later knocked down for 6,200gns to David Deaville, of Alderville Herefords, a top-class pedigree herd.

While Novak’s great confirmation and beef-loaded frame had made him a winner in the ring, it was equally his unusual genetic stock that caught the eye of buyers. Tom (pictured centre) said: “He was offering some of the pedigree guys something really different, because we’re doing genetics up here that they just don’t have.

“The bull used to produce Novak was imported as an embryo from America, giving us access to bloodlines that are not otherwise available in Britain.”

The Harrisons sold two of Novak’s sisters, Nigella and Nest Egg, at Shrewsbury in December – and, indeed, they have three bulls from the same stock up for sale now – but they intend to keep a sizeable number of the females for themselves.

“We really like what Knight Rider is producing for us – he’s a good cross on our cows,” said Tom. “He’s producing something special. We’re not only building the herd up, but we’re also going full out for a show team this year, so a herd full of Knight Rider females will be fantastic.”