CHRISTMAS came early for renowned Limousin breeder, Stephen Nixon when he made the journey with his chosen Hunters Hall Limousins to Carlisle for the annual gathering of the Red Ladies Derby.

For Stephen of Southerfield, Wigton,watched as his young Limousin stole the show when she went under the hammer at 20,000gns. Huntershall Rowena, an August 2020-born daughter of 32,000gns Millgate fame and out of Dinmore Luxurious, who has a French dominated pedigree, and is one of the two flushing cows at Hunters Hall, dominated the ring. Rowena carries two copies of the NT821 myostatin gene and heads across the water to County Down with her new owners Mr P McKeag and Ms C Ferris who purchased her in shares.

But the day to remember didn't end there for Stephen, who established his famous Hunters Hall Limousin herd in 2007. For another heifer from the aforementioned herd to make the leaderboard was Huntershall Rachelriley, achieving 12,000gns. The July2020-born heifer is a full sister to Rowena, sired by Millgate Fame and out of Dinmore Luxurious. A beef value of LM41 and myostatin of NT821 and Q204X, Rachelriley was the star of the show for A & J A Iveson, Hawes North Yorkshire heading to the Eastshaw herd.

And third time lucky saw another heifer bred by a delighted Stephen sell for 7,000gns. Huntershall Roslyn. Roslyn is a July2020-born Huntershall Gladiator daughter, the first daughter to be offered for sale from Baliea Juniorchamp. Roslyn carries myostatin traits of F94L and Q204X. Another heifer heading across the water, Roslyn was purchased by Mr M McKinstry, Crumlin, County Antrim.

A crowd of pedigree and commercial breeders alike herded to Borderway Mart for the annual gathering of the Red Ladies Derby. Christmas spirits were high for the last Society sale of the year, attracting a large gathering for both the show and sale. Breed Secretary, Will Ketley commented “‘It was good to be back to a busy and buzzing Borderway for the Red Ladies show and sale. Some outstanding heifers being shown under the lights in the exhibition hall that continued into the ring to achieve the top prices. In keeping with the rest of the year confidence in the Limousin female continued today. The weaned calf section again saw extremely strong returns for members for both young bulls and females.”

Another renowned local breeder who scored high was Messrs Jenkinson of Penrith who sold Whinfellpark Royalty for 15,000. Royalty won her class and went on to be crowned Reserve Female Champion to the joint top price heifer, Ruby. The September2020-born heifer is a daughter of Gunnerfleet Lion and out of homebred cow, Whinfellpark Flair, who also bred Royalty’s full brother, Whinfellpark Poldark who went under the hammer for 18,000gns in May 2021. Displaying an impressive beef value of LM50 and carrying myostatin of F94L and Q204X. Royalty was the top choice for the Seisiog herd, purchased by Mr Jones, North Wales.