Although Covid-19 restrictions are slowly beginning to ease, it was still not possible to have the much-anticipated pre-sale show before the British Charolais Cattle Society at Welshpool in April.

The breeders did, however, have the opportunity to parade their bulls shortly before the sale, with the auctioneers providing an informative commentary for each bull forward.

We saw a steady trade with 23 bulls selling to average £4,419.13, with a 58 per cent clearance. The demand for a modern Charolais bull continues to remain strong and this was reflected in the sale.

Caylers Charolais of Caylers Farm, Nuthampstead, nr Royston, Hertfordshire, secured the top price of the day at 7,600gns with their bull Caylers Peroni. This 15-month-old bull is sired by First and out of Caylers Neeve, a daughter of Rosanna Jupiter. Peroni will be heading to his new home with E G Morgan of Blaencar, Brecon.

Brampton Pancake, bred by Mr G W Turner of Brampton Hall, Skelton On Ure, Ripon, North Yorkshire secured the second best price of the day, selling for 7,300gns. A son of Border Jamboree out of Brampton Nala, and a daughter of Brampton Hamish. This September 2019 born bull heads off to Shropshire.

The hammer came down at 6,000gns for the 23-month-old Montgomery Prelude, bred by Roberts and Jones of Parc, Llangadfan, Welshpool. Sired by Gretnahouse Jugular, who goes back to the easy calving Blelack Digger. Prelude is out of a Balmyle Harlequin daughter, Montgomery Meirwen. This bull caught the eye of Morgan and Son of The Farm, Dutlas, Powys.

Selling at 5,600gns was Oakchurch Rustic, one of the younger bulls in the catalogue and bred by J and A Price of Oakchurch Farm, Staunton-On-Wye, Herefordshire. This 14-month-old bull is a son of the 18,000gns bull Thrunton Fairfax out of Oakchurch Glamourgirl, a daughter of the easy calving Blelack Digger. This lad was purchased by R I and G Davies of Penlanlwyd, Powys.

Two bulls went under the hammer at 5,000gns. First up was Chameran PATTON, bred by Highfields Park Farm, (Mr D Ross) Highfields, Beech Green Lane, Withyham, Sussex. Fully parent verified to Chameran Icarus and Edenhurst Louise, a daughter of the 10,000gns bull Ratoary Ferguson. This October 2019 born bull heads off to start work at Richards and Co of Maenllengen, Newtown.

Next to be knocked down at 5,000gns was Caylers Prince, another bull from the Caylers Charolais stable. Born in November 2019, this lad is sired by the 22,000gns bull Maerdy Ignition and out of Caylers Lime, a daughter of Gretnahouse Ultimate. Securing the winning bid was C J Jones of Brondrefawr, Pantydwr, Powys.

The gavel came down twice at 4,500gns with Sportsmans Premier the first to get this price. This 18-month-old bull is bred by Boden and Davies Ltd, Mellor Hall Farm, Mellor, Nr Stockport. Sired by the 40,000gns bull Maerdy Newman and out of Sportsmans Nadia, a daughter of the 70,000gns bull Barnsford Ferny. This lad was snapped up by G W Williams of Panygwyn, Pwllheli.

The second bull to bang down at 4,500gns was Chesham Potemkine, bred by Mr B Harman, Grove Farm,Grove Lane, Chesham, Buckinghamshire. Born in October 2019, this bull is sired by the easy calving Balthayock Musketeer and out of Chesham Leona, a daughter of the 18,000gns bull Thrunton Fairfax. Davies Bros secured the bid and Potemkine heads to the home of Gelli Lwca Fach Farm, Pontydwei.

Six bulls reached 4,000gns. First up was the May 2019 bull Maerdy Proplan, bred by Mr D E Evans of Monfa, Gwernaffield Road, Mold, Flintshire. A son of Maerdy Figaro-W and out of Maerdy Enid, a daughter of Vald'Or-Ra, another to go under the hammer to RI and G Davies of Penlanlwyd, Powys.

Trannon Parker followed, this time bred by Mr J A Williams of Llechwedd Ddyrys, Caersws, Powys. Parker is by Tutbury Napoleon and out of Trannon Juicy, a daughter of Wesley Evolution. This August 2019 born lad heads off to J E and S J Roberts of Pantybriallu, Welshpool.

Chesham Prometheus, also from the stable of Mr B Harman, was the third bull to go under the hammer at 4,000gns, also born in October 2019 and sired by the easy calving Balthayock Musketeer. This bull is out of Chesham Juniper, another daughter of the 18,000gns bull Thrunton Fairfax, with JLC and G Williams of Ysgubor Goch, Gwynedd securing the bid.

The fourth bull to go at 4,000gns was Hendy Pope, bred by Mr J A W Rees of Nantyrhendy, Llangurig, Llanidloes. This 17-month-old bull is sired by Lisnagre Nero and out of Hendy Gentle, a daughter of Killadeas Contact. His new owners D A Williams will be taking him home to Nant Y Ffin, Llandilo.

MAERDY PATHOS followed, again bred by Mr D E Evans. Born in November 2019, this bull is sired by the easing calving Blelack Fabulous, his dam Maerdy Meirwenwen is another daughter of Vald'Or-Ra. This lad will be making his way to B G Clarke of Premier Barton Farm, Exeter.

The last of the bulls to reach the bid of 4,000gns was PENFOUND RALLYTALLY, a son of Burradon Talisman and out of Penfound Grandgirl, a daughter of Cargriff Caesar. This January 2020 born bull is bred by R S and S M Hopper of Penfound, Poundstock, Bude, Cornwall and will be heading to his new home at E and H Chapman of Morfodion, Llanidloes, Powys.

There were two in-calf cows with calves at foot to follow the bull trade, both bred by Mr G G Morris. First to come into the ring and the top price female of the day was the 2015 born Cargriff Liberty with her heifer calf at foot Cargriff Rona. Liberty is sired by Cargriff Homer and out of Tynewydd Sonia, a daughter of Gower Nautical. This unit went under the hammer at 3,100gns and was purchased by R W L and J E George of Middle Hasguard Farm, Pembrokeshire

Concluding the sale was Cargriff Lavender, also born in 2015 and with her heifer calf at foot Cargriff Rosemary. Lavender also sired by Cargriff Homer, is out of Blelack Angela, a daughter of Thrunton Socrates. This unit was purchased for 2,600gns and will also be heading to the home of Morgan and Son of The Farm, Dutlas, Powys, their second purchase of the day.