THE ring was packed or the Charolais sale at Welshpool on April 29 driven by the Charolais success in the store ring earlier in the week.

Bulls averaged £4417.50, an increase on last year of £288 and clearance rates were also up on the year by 9% to 85% with 11 bulls selling for 5,000gns and above.

Society chairman Andrew Hornall commented: “The commercial traders were out in force today looking to secure a Charolais bull which reflects the recent trend in the store markets where Charolais sired suckler calves are topping the markets on weight for age”.

The sale leader at 6,400gns was the reserve champion Brynffanigl Math from the delighted Bob and Huw Roberts, Abergele, Clwyd. Math was the youngest lot at the sale at just 13 months old, is sired by the 22,000gns Newhouse Bigal and out of the homebred dam Brynffanigl Fion.

She goes back to the 17,000gns Alsnow Almighty and whose last calf sold for 4,400gns this time last year. Math stays local as Arthur Williams of DC Evans and Co, takes him back to work at his 120 strong suckler herd in Abergele, Clwyd.

Close behind and the first of two to sell at 6,000gns was the day’s champion. Bred and exhibited by Mr Gareth Jones, Cwmtirmynach, Gwynedd, the December-2015 born Esgob Lionking is sired by the proven high performing short gestation and easy calving Blelack Digger and his home-bred dam is sired by the 26,000gns Carlisle junior champion Anside Excalibur. Purchasers TWA Jenkins, Llandysul, Ceredigion agreed with the show judge Ian Goldie who had selected Lionking as champion and commented that “he is a very correct fleshy bull with good character”.

Also selling for a 6,000gns ticket price was the 21-month-old Maerdy Llawes who was snapped up by DS Tudor, Corwen, Clwyd. The breeding here includes sire the 26,000gns Maerdy Hearthrob and dam Maerdy Happiness, a daughter of the 13,000gns Highland Show junior champion Kelton Trident and Llawes was bred and exhibited by Flintshire Vet Esmor Evans.

Mr Evans had another in the money later in the sale with his February-2016 born class winner Maerdy Mastermind who is sired by the French born Maerdy Gouverneur. JR Jones, Caernarvon, Gwynedd was the man with his hand in the air as the hammer went down at 5,300gns on this one.

Dan Harman, Chesham, Buckinghamshire also had a profitable day selling two of the top priced lots both sired by the 12,000gns Wesley Equinox. The highest priced at 5,600gns was Silver Montecristo, a 14-month-old whose home-bred dam goes back to the 13,000gns Blelack Crusader and was purchased by M Griffiths and Co, Pwllhelli, Gwynedd and minutes earlier M Jones, Lledrod, Aberystwyth paid 5,400gns for the 15-month-old Silver Maximus.

Two bulls sold for the next highest price of 5,200gns. The June-2015 born Trannon Likelylad from John Williams, Caersws, Powys was the first, he had been awarded a yellow ticket in his class at the pre-sale show and DM Jerman and Co, Llanidloes, Powys were the purchasers of this Wesley Evolution son.

Then David and Bernadette Stacey, St Austell, Cornwall also secured 5,200gns from DA Jones and Co, Llanidloes, Powys for their 14-month-old entry. Polgoda Mackenzie who had placed second in his class earlier in the day is sired by the Cornwall Show champion Balbithan Eria.

Three bulls were knocked down at 5,000gns a piece with the first coming from Billy and Sarah Turner, Skelton on Ure, North Yorkshire. Brampton Limelight, a March-2015 born son of the 22,000gns Burradon Goldenballs caught the eye of AK Watkins, Kentchurch, Herefordshire.

The second to sell for 7,000gns, this time going home with Premier Barton Farms to work in Exeter, Devon, was the 23-month-old 10,500gns Midas Furious son Brestbaily Legend from WJ Lewis and Son, Brecon, Powys.

Matching the 5,000gns price tag was Carrigbeg Longjohn from exhibitor Richard Butler, Barbers Bridge, Gloucestershire and JT Davies, Llandrindod, Powys were the purchasers of this November-2015 born 18,000gns Thrunton Fairfax son.

Averages: 29 bulls: £4,417.50; one cow and calf: £2,835; one heifer: £1,890

Auctioneers: Welshpool Livestock Sales