It was Northern Ireland Hereford Breeders, John, William & Andrew McMordie, Ballygowan, Co. Down, who dominated the Hereford Cattle Society Spring Sale held at Hereford Livestock Market, UK. It was the father and son partnership of John & William McMordie who topped the Sale at 10,800 gns. with their 22 month old bull, Solpoll 1 KitKat (pictured right) by Panmure 1 Henry selling to A.E. Nesbitt Farms Ltd., Cleland Herefords, Hungerford, Berkshire.

Following closely was their 23 month old Solpoll 1 Karate Kid also by “Henry” selling for 10,500 gns. to Oyston Estates Ltd., Lytham, Lancashire.

A third son of “Henry” the Reserve Male Champion, 19 month old Solpoll 1 Landmark, sold for 8,200 gns. to Jan Boomaars, Vexour Herefords, Woldingham, Surry.

One of the youngest bulls in the Sale, 13 month old Solpoll 1 Lamborghini by RLOA R271 Dynasty 37U sold for 4,800 gns. to L. Parry-Jones, Tymawr Herefords, Llangwyllog, Anglesey.  “Lamborghini” is a full brother to the popular Genus bull, Solpoll 1 Ferrari. The Grand Male Champion bred by P.J. & A.C. Allman, Sutton St. Nicholas, Herefordshire, 15 month old Greenyards 1 Legend  by Greenyards 1 Henry sold for 4,500 gns. to M. & M. Roberts, Bromley Herefords, Hoarwithy, Herefordshire.

A&P Massey, Bury, Lancashire, sold their 23 month old, Hollyvale 1 Knight by Barbern 1 Horatio for 5,200 gns.  “Knight”. He was purchased by Atkin Brothers, Barrow-on-Trent, Derbyshire. Also down from Lancashire, G. & M.C. Shepherd, Woodplumpton, Preston, sold their 18 month old Moorside 1 Living-the-Dream by Injemira Advance Z080 for 5,200 gns. to R. Archer, Ashbourne, Derbyshire. West Sussex Breeder, W.J. Hutchings & Sons of Chichester, sold their 22 month old Fisher 1 Klondike by Fisher 1 Cracker for 4,800 gns. to Fir Farm Ltd., Firbosa Herefords, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire. The youngest bull in the Sale 12 month old Dendor 1 Ledley by Solpoll 1 Gilbert exhibited by D.E., E.D. & A.L. Jones, Newtown, Powys, sold for 4,000 gns. to fellow Welsh breeders, T.G. & E.I. Thorne, Glenvale Herefords, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire. The 23 bulls sold, representing a 70% clearance of those offered, averaged £4,286.75. In the Show Female Section it was again the McMordie family who led the way, this time with Andrew McMordie of Ballygowan, Co. Down, selling his 17 month old heifer, Solitude 1 Helen L485 by Panmure 1 Henry for 5,200 gns. to W. & P. Eccles, Rockness Herefords, Tranent, East Lothian. Following on from their success in the bull section, the father and son partnership of John & William McMordie saw their Reserve Female Champion, 25 month old incalf heifer, Solpoll 1 Stardust K20 by Panmure 1 Henry, sell for 4,200 gns. to newcomers to the Breed, Murton Grange, based near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, who also purchased the 25 month old incalf heifer, Solpoll 1 Starlet K23 by Fisher 1 Charlie for 3,900 gns. and 17 month old maiden heifer, Solpoll 1 Amber L8 by the Danish bull, Moeskaer Keno 1222 for 3,800 gns. The Female Champion, 19 month old Dendor 1 Anna Mary 21st (pictured below left) by Solpoll 1 Gilbert, bred & exhibited by D.E., E.D. & A.L. Jones, Newtown, Powys sold for 4,200 gns. to new Breeders, J.S. & A.E. Radcliffe, Swansea, Glamorgan. Messrs. L.R. & A.M. Ayre, South Molton, Devon sold two 14 month old daughters of Dorepoll 1 L499 High Society – Frenchstone P. 1 Etia and Ellen – for 3,900 gns. and 3,700 gns. respectively, both purchased by Murton Grange, North Yorkshire. W.J. Hutchings & Sons, Chichester, Sussex sold a 14 month old heifer, Fisher 1 Susan L390 by Fisher 1 Cracker for 3,500 gns. to G. Thomas. Church View Herefords, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire and 13 month old Fisher 1 Orange L394 by the Danish bull, Bondes i Hubert, to Wiltshire College, Lackham Park Herefords, Trowbridge, Wiltshire for 3,000 gns. All 17 Show Heifers sold to average £3,199.41 (a 100% clearance). Breed Secretary, David Prothero, commenting after the Sale said “the demand for the top quality bulls and the excellent clearance of the females were further signs of the Breed’s resurgence in the commercial marketplace, supported by recent figures released by BCMS which showed of all the Breeds recorded with them last year, it was the Hereford that had the highest increase – up by very nearly 12% on the previous year”.