DARLINGTON Farmers' Auction Mart carried out the farm clearance sale of Throstle Nest Farm, Walworth Gate, on behalf of Doug and Marie Etherington who are retiring from farming.

The weather may not have been kind as all four seasons descended upon us during the day, but a tremendous crowd gathered in support of the sale.

The sale was of a selection of very well-maintained equipment. The 211 lots were met by enthusiastic bidding from buyers who had travelled from across the UK, from Scotland to Shropshire, so that the immaculate Throstle Nest tractors and machinery are now spread far and wide.

The top-priced lot was the spotless 160hp 4WD 2008 registered Valtra T151 with headland management, electric spools, cruise control, cab suspension and front suspension, selling for £28,000.

A second Valtra T151 sold well on the day when the 57 plate reached £21,000 and a 52 Plate T170 sold for £20,400. The 140bph 1997 registered Valmet 8450 was the first of the modern tractors to sell for £15,800. The K registration Massey Fergusen Combine sold for £9,000 and the 3100ltr Primas 35 digi-read Lemkin 24m trailed sprayer sold for £5,700.

The trailers, spreaders, cultivation equipment and small tools all sold extremely well as the sale ended with a remarkable 91 active buyers.

Other highlights included: 16T Grain Trailer £5,300; Lemkin Rubin 9 with siscs and crumbler £4,500; Amazon ZAN3001 Fertiliser Spreader £4,100; 2WD 1976 Massey Fergusen 165 £4,000; Cambridge 6.3m Maxi Rollers £3,800; 1987 Manitou Maniscopic £3,300; 9T Grain Trailer £2,400; Vaderstad Super Rapid 300 £2,300; and Ferris IS1000 Ride on Mower £2,200.

The mart would like to wish the Etheringtons all the very best of luck in their well-earned retirement.