Two renowned Cumbrian Limousin breeders shelled out top prices for two stylish bulls at a packed sale in Carlisle.

Messrs Ridley, who run the well-known Haltcliffe herd at Hesket Newmarket, paid the top price in a two-way split for the stylish Swalesmoor Liam at the Limousin Early Spring show and sale of bulls.

The October 2015 born bull is an embryo calf by the noted Cloughhead Umpire and out of Nebo Favourite, a cow with a strong show record behind her and purchased for the herd at 9,000gns.

In the summer of 2016 Swalesmoor Liam had stood as a first prize winner at the National Limousin Show and at Carlisle in the pre-sale show he stood second in a strong class to the Reserve Junior Champion.

The Ridley family, along with Richard Harker, who was purchasing for his 60-cow Honeymoor herd at Grayrigg Hall, Kendal, paid 30,000gns for Swalesmoor Liam.

“This bull is a very modern Limousin. He has tremendous length, is clean, and good on his legs. He carries a lot of style and has plenty of depth and quality in his pedigree,” said Richard Harker.

Penrith breeder, Allan Jenkinson, paid 22,000gns for the reserve junior champion, Gunnerfleet Lion, for his Whinfellpark stable of Limousins at Clifton Moor, Clifton.

Born in October 2015, Gunnerfleet Lion is an embryo calf by Gunnerfleet Hicks and out of Gunnerfleet Ilocks. The bull has been described as one of the best-bred bulls at Gunnerfleet for many years and won third prize best young bull in the North West Club Herd Competition. The sale was described as being ‘something for everyone’ with commercial producers out in force at Borderway Mart, and the trade added to with a sprinkling of breeder’s bulls.

Sixteen bulls made five figures and over, with 53 in all making 5,000gns and more.