RECORDS were set at the British Limousin Cattle Society's May sale at Carlisle on Saturday.

The top price of 55,000gns paid for Aultside Hulk, a December 2012 born bull, matched the record set for a Scottish Limousin bred bull sold at auction.

Hulk, from Gary Patterson of Aultmore, Keith, equalled the price achieved by Graham Samson back in 2003.

He also set a record price for a British Limousin export when he was bought by Dan Tynan of the Ardlea Herd - the largest pedigree Limousin herd in Eire.

In the previous days pre-sale show at Harrison & Hetherington's Borderway mart, Hulk was intermediate champion and reserve overall supreme champion.

An embryo calf by the 50,000gns sire Wilodge Cerberus, he is out of Spittalton Flush a champion Limousin female.

The sale saw 114 bulls sold. Averages were up by £397 to £6,290 for the bulls sold. Three bulls made more than 25,000gns, 17 sold for five figures and more, 34 junior bulls averaged £7,422. The sale had a healthy gross of £717,101.

Michael and Melanie Alford, Cullompton, Devon, achieved the day's second top price of 38,000gns with their reserve junior male champion, Foxhillfarm Irishlad who was jointly bought by BT Goldie, Dumfries, and Jonathan Watson, Berwick.

The Alfords also took the junior male and overall supreme championship with Foxhillfarm Impecabull who made 14,000gns when jointly bought by Michael Massie, Aberdeenshire, and Walter Cruikshank, Grantown-on-Spey.

Impecabull is a son of the 42,000gns Wilodge Vantastic and is out of the 15,000gns Bankdale Alice. He is a full brother to the 38,000gns Bankdale Exfactor and the 35,000gns Bankdale Elizabeth.

Other sales included Garyvaughan Hidget, bred and sold by Colin Lewis, Powys, which made 11,000gns when bought by Wm Reed & Sons, West Biggins Farm, Frosterley, Bishop Auckland.

November 2012 born Hidget is by the 35,000gns Plumtree Deus and out of the Haltcliffe Bruce sired Garyvaughan Fidget.

Another Plumtree Deus son - Paramor Icebreaker - from G&E Conway, Omagh, made 11,000gns when bought by JE Dent & Sons, Lartington, Barnard Castle. A second prize junior bull, Icebreaker was by AI out of the Haltcliffe Underwriter daughter, Craigatoke Adele.

Other leading prices included Ampertaine Hydro who sold for 7,500gns to F and MP Allinson and Son, West Briscoe, Baldersdale.

Averages: 40 senior bulls, £4,526.80; 40 intermediate bulls, £7,091.60; 34 junior bulls £7,422.50; 114 bulls, £6290.36.

Auctioneers: Harrison & Hetherington