Storm Ciara did not stop trade at NIHBA’s premier show and sale at Dungannon Livestock Mart where prices peaked at 4,500gns for a Solpoll-bred bull.

Leading the money and the show was Solpoll 1 Rambo from John and William McMordie, Ballygowan, Co Down, generating the top price on the day before it was tapped out by judge Williams Smith, Co Meath. At 22 months old, this bull is a son of Moeskaer Upgrade and out of a Panmure 1 Henry sired dam and has the same breeding as December 2019’s champion and top price bull from the Solpoll stud. Backed by exceptional figures, after spirited bidding from suckler and dairy farmers in the sale ring, it was knocked down to Nigel Patterson for his Mullantine pedigree herd, Portadown at 4,500gns.

Solpoll 1 Rambo from John and William McMordie, Ballygowan, Co Down

Taking the day’s second top price of 3,000gns was Solpoll 1 Real Thing, again from John and William McMordie.

A 23 month old son of NBG 69T The Wonderer 36R 3W, it also stood male champion at last year’s Balmoral Show and was knocked down to Lurgan-based suckler farmers, Felix, John and Jack McStavick.

Travelling across the water, JR Whitlow, Abbots Morton, Worcester purchased the day’s next highest priced bull, Drumatee Rocket for 2,500gns, to join the HighHouse herd. This 22 month old male was sired by Cill Cormaic Nevada winner of the best stock bull in the NIHBA herds competition for the last two years for John Conlon.

First prize winner in the last bull class was Brookfield 1 Superstar from Roy and Pat McClenaghan, Holywood, Co Down. This 18 month old Normanton 1 Laertes son had several figures in the top 5 per cent of the breed and sold for 2,300gns to David Hamilton, Rathfriland.

Selling at the same price was the youngest bull in the sale, 16 month old Thornbank 1 Superman. A son of previous sale winner and top price bull, Thornbank 1 Mightyman from Hunter Stewart, it sold to join MH Farms, Comber.

Joining Superman at its new home was the first prize winning female from Adrian and Sandra Irvine. This 17 month old maiden heifer Fingerpost AR Grace, was sired by the Irish-bred Allowdale Rambo which sold for 2,100gns.