The 60th Annual Wexham Cup Show and Sale of Holstein Bulls for members of the Western Holstein Club attracted an entry of 69 superbly bred animals for this year’s event at Beeston Castle Auction Cheshire of which 62 were forward on the day.

The judge this year was that well known breeder Peter Waring of the noted Winton Herd based at Beverley, East Yorkshire. The Champion bull on Inspection was Woodmarsh Salvo, a son of Sicy Knowledge from M & J C Gould Ltd of Bomere Heath, Shrewsbury and the Reserve was Bidlea Appleton, a son of Riverdane Roses Reflection from Ray Brown & Partners of Holmes Chapel.

The Wexham Cup, where the bulls compete on their individual inspection for which points are awarded and these are then added to points gained for pedigree, index and dam’s production was won this year by Holmland Varon ET, a son of Long-Langs Oman Oman exhibited by Steve Bell of Penrith and Paul Findley of Wrexham. In reserve was Wintersell Million Miles by England-Ammon Million from John Downing of Edenbridge, Kent.

A huge crowd assembled in the sale ring ready for the sale, probably as large a crowd as had been seen for many years. Trade started out a little steady to begin with but soon gathered momentum with bidding at times being fast and furious as buyers competed to acquire the best genetics on offer. The overall result at the end of the day rewarded vendors with a record average in excess of £2500 with 13 bulls selling for 3000 gns or more and many intending purchasers going home empty handed.

Yet again it was the Gould family who took many of the top prices with six bulls from their Woodmarsh Herd averaging £4445.00. They had the two top sellers with their Woodmarsh Mastermind, a son of Sicy Knowledge from the Melody family selling for the top price of 7500 gns to Betholt Ltd of Dunston, Stafford. The second top seller was the Champion from the Goulds which was also a Knowledge son but bred from the Sallie family. Salvo sold to join the Medhurst Herd of EC & J Yarwood & Sons at Medhurst Green, Congleton.

Richard and Ruth Pilkington of Aintree Holsteins Ltd. at Hope Nr. Wrexham also had a good day claiming two of the leading bids of the sale; their top seller which was the third highest price of the day, was Aintree Notch, a son of Schillview Oman Gerard born last November and bred from 4 generations of VG/Ex dams from their renowned Nugget family. He sold for 4500 gns to WP & JP Davies of Abergele, Denbighshire. They also sold Aintree Ninja, a son of Macomber O-Man Bogart also from the Nugget family for 4000 gns to R H Lewis & Son of Crickheath, Oswestry.

John Downing made the long journey from Edenbridge, Kent and was rewarded with two of the top prices; his Reserve for the Wexham Cup, Wintersell Million Miles bred from the outstanding Mila family sold for 4400 gns to W R Wilson of Ellonby, Penrith. Another from the same stable Wintersell Mandrake by Million and bred from eight successive generations of VG/Ex dams from the Amanda/August line; he sold for 4000 gns to John and Ruth Edge of Wimboldsley Holsteins, Middlewich.

Matt Fisher of Eamont Bridge, Penrith entered just the one bull for the sale and achieved one of the top prices selling his Newtonmoss Edward, by Shottle from the Elegance family for 3800 gns to RE & J Roberts of Whitford, Holywell,Flintshire. At just 100 gns less was another from the Goulds; Woodmarsh Platinum, by Atlas from the Pledge family sold for 3700 gns to L Hadfield & Sons of Buxton, Derbyshire.

The Wexham Cup winner from Bell and Findley, Holmland Varon, also from the Pledge family sold for 3200 gns to F Jackson & Son of Oswestry whilst another from the same home, Holmland Emilio, by Bolivia Allen from the Oralie line sold for 3600 gns to TG & DM Watchorn of Melton Mowbray, Leicesterhire.

TOP PRICES: GNS

AVERAGES: 53 Bulls £2516.52

WRIGHT MANLEY of Beeston Castle Auction, Cheshire were the Auctioneers.