Two bulls from Derbyshire topped the prices at the annual Welshpool Charolais sale during November.

With Covid restrictions still heavily in place it was not possible to hold the normal pre-sale show but it did not deter breeders and the demand for Charolais bulls continued to rise.

David Thornley of the Dooley herd from Hartshorne, Derbyshire, who is an avid supporter of the Welshpool sale, once again secured the top price of the day with Dooley Pringo, selling for 6,000gns.

This 15-month-old lad is sired by the 31,000gns bull Whitecliffe Highlight, his dam Balnuith Honesty, is a daughter of the well-known, easy calving Blelack Digger. Pringo went under the hammer to H Edwards, a'i Gwmni, Bwlch-y-Mawn, Corwen.

From the same stable, Dooley Polo seized the second top price of the day selling for 5,200gns. This bull is a son of Balmyle Nathan, his dam Dooley Jazzy is by the 15,000gns Goldies Dynamite. This 14-month-old bull heads off to Hereford and was purchased by D J Cleland of Glebe Farm.

Twenty-five bulls sold to average £3,878.70, up £262.76 on the year with a 66 per cent clearance

Three bulls went under the hammer at 5,000gns. First up was Wissington Philippo, bred by Mrs J Rix, Wissington Grove Farm, Essex. Sired by Davally Igolo who is in the top 1 per cent for calving ease direct. His dam Wissington Hazel is sired by Goldies Cassanova. This 19-month-old bull was purchased by P Edwards & Co of Tredomen Farm, Mid Glamorgan.

Next to be knocked down at 5,000gns was Esgob Prince, bred by G M Jones of Gwynedd. Born in May 2019, this bull is sired by the 12,000gns bull Caylers Hustler and out of a Anside Excalibur daughter Esgob Hiphop. A C & DT Hughes secured the winning bid, and Prince heads to his new home at Brychyni, Pwllheli, Gwynedd.

I Davies of Bedlwyn, Tredegyr Newydd, secured the last to reach 5,000gns, when the hammer went down for the last time for Belan Persistance, this stylish bull is bred by Mr J S Abel of Hendreaur, Cwmbelan, Powys. This lad, also born in May 2019 is sired by Tweeddale Marcus, and out of Belan Lily, a daughter of the 18,000gns bull Thrunton Fairfax.

Another from the Dooley stable went on to reach 4,800gns, this time it was Dooley Purdy, one of the last bulls through the ring and also from the same breeding as Dooley Pringo. This August-2019 born bull caught the eye of Meistri Williams and heads off to Parcybryncelyn, Ynys Môn.

The gavel came down three times at 4,500gns, with the first being offered for sale from by Mrs J Rix, Wissington Grove Farm, Essex. Wissington Pavarotti, also sired by Davally Igolo and out of Wissington Fancy, a Thrunton Aristocrat daughter. This 20-month-old lad was snapped up by J&R Vaughan-Jones of Caethle, Gwynedd.

The second to sell at 4,500gns was Seawell Panther, bred by P M & S M Donger of Seawell Grounds, Towcester, Northamptonshire. This April-2019 born lad is sired by the 13,000gns bull Balthayock Jonathan, his dam Seawell Icassia is a daughter of the 20,000gns Maerdy Flambeau. B & M James captured the bid and Panther will start his work at Upper Black Hill, Powys.

The hammer went down to T & M Lewis of The Lands, Llandrindod Wells, who take home Sportsmans Punch after securing their bid of 4,500gns. This July-2019 born bull is a son of the 26,000gns bull Goldies Jerry, his dam Sportsmans Isis is a daughter of the Royal Welsh 2013 Supreme Champion Barnsford Ferny, who sold at Stirling for 70,000gns in 2011.

Seawell Pretender was not far behind, banging down at 4,200gns, another bull presented by P M & S M Donger of Seawell Grounds, Towcester, Northamptonshire. This 19-month-old lad is also sired by the 13,000gns bull Balthayock Jonathan and out of Seawell Gita, a daughter of Seawell Compact. Pretender also heads off to A C & DT Hughes, Brychyni, Pwllheli, Gwynedd, their second purchase of the day.

Montgomery Pedr, bred by Roberts & Jones of Parc, Llangadfan, Powys. A son of Gretnahouse Jugular, out of Montgomery Iarll, a daughter of the famous Dingle Hofmeister who sold for 30,000gns in 1994. Born in June-2019, Pedr sold for 4,000gns to R E Griffiths and heads off to his new home at Llywn-Y-Mafon, Criccieth, Gwynedd.