THE reserve overall male and junior championships at this week's Hereford Cattle Society Spring Sale went to 12-month-old Moralee 1 Novak (645 kgs) bred by T & D Harrison, of Stocksfield, Northumberland.

He sold for 6,000gns to DJ Deaville, of Belper, Derbyshire, but the top price of the day went to Caroline Fletcher from Appleby-in-Westmorland. Her 25-month-old Barwise 1 Mach One (935 kgs) sold for 6,600gns to Speirs Farms Ltd, of Luton.

"Mach One", a superior carcase sire in the top one per cent for calving ease and retail beef yield, showed the importance of performance results now required by customers of the top bulls.

In the show heifer section, the Grand Female Champion, 15-month-old Pepperstock 1 Butterfly bred by Speirs Farms topped the female trade at 4,100 gns selling to newcomer to the breed, W Shaw, of Kirkbymoorside, who also paid 2.500gns for 19-month-old Fisher 1 Cherry.

Auctioneers – Brightwells, Leominster.