NEWBROUGH farming family the Gibsons are celebrating following their triumph at the third annual Limousin Bull and Female Show and Sale organised by the North Eastern Limousin Breeders Club.

It was their home-bred two-year-old, Thorntontower Monty, that topped the sale at 4600gns in spite of not being entered into the show on the day.

Thorntower Monty was the AI progeny of Lodge Hydro and was purchased by Messrs D. A. and M. A. Teasdale, of Grindon Hill, Haydon Bridge.

Following the sale, Andrew Gibson, of Thornton Tower Farm. said: “It’s good for Hexham, a price like that and we’re very pleased with it.”

The Gibsons run about 170 commercial cattle with 30 pedigree Limousins. A total of 21 bulls – four more than last year – sold to an average of £3350.

Two other bulls hit the 4000gns mark. Cornsay Marquis, from Messrs W I Suddes and Sons of Cornsay Village, County Durham, was second placed in his class in the pre-sale show, which was judged by Mr Ian Sedgewick of the Gallaber herd in Lancashire. Marquis is a November 2016- born Goldies Comet son out of Cornsay Audrey.

He went to the Walton family of Penpeugh, Bardon Mill.

Meanwhile, Goldies Nestor, from Bruce and Jim Goldie, of Mouswald, Dumfries and Galloway, made the same price. The January 2017-born bull was by Ampertaine Foreman out of Goldies Fragrance. This one went to Messrs W. Rutherford & Sons of East Mill Hills, Haydon Bridge.

The male reserve champion, Naby Mirauder, came next at 3800gns. From Messrs J. W. Dent and Sons, of Barnard Castle, County Durham, Mirauder is by Naby Jaguar and out of Naby Farah. He was bought by a Richmond farmer.

Male champion at the pre-sale show was Romford Magnum from the Gordon Brooke Estate.

There was a great show of heifers this year and, as with the bulls, there were more forward to the pre-sale show than last year.

Topping the sale was an in-calf heifer, Swalesmoor Morven, who had been tapped out as the female reserve champion in the pre-sale show.

This Dinmore Goldeneye daughter sold in calf to Lowerffrydd Umpire and realised 3500gns for Kedzlie Farm Ltd, Blainsie, Lauderdale.