Devons Soar to 9200gns at Sedgemoor
March 2025
The Devon Cattle Breeders Society held their annual Spring Show and Sale at Sedgemoor Auction Centre on Tuesday 25th March. Trade got hotter as the sale progressed with a packed ringside of prospective purchasers from across the Southwest and beyond. A clearance rate of 85% was achieved for the bulls resulting in the average soaring by £1072 on the year.
Topping the day at 9200gns was the second prize, born April 2023 Trebarfoote Agamemnon from Mrs Pamela Idelson-Smith who made the worthwhile trip up from Bude, Cornwall. Sired by Goldings Governor and out of Trebarfoote Betsey 4th, who goes back to the notable Barton Devon Air 2nd, he headed home to Tiverton, Devon with P Morris.
Following at 8200gns was the first from the Champson pen of G Dart and Sons, South Molton, Devon. Champson Apollo 2nd is sired by the herd’s notable sire Colleton Thorven and is out of Champson Maggie 30th, a daughter of Yeomaden Jasper. Born April 2023 this bull caught the eye of R E Richards, Helston, Cornwall.
Close behind at 8000gns was the second from the Dart family, Champson Zeus. Another Colleton Thorven son, this time out of a Knowstone Fitzroy 4th daughter, Champson Clara 318th. Securing this March 2023 born bull was A Holloway, Tiverton, Devon.
Hitting the 6500gns mark was the pre-sale champion, Stonegrove Major from Worcester-based Stonegrove Livestock. After winning the youngest class of the day, Major then went on to secure the male championship under the watchful eye of David Martin of the Elmford herd. Born May 2023 and by Bollowal Invincible, he is out of a homebred Thorndale Assirati daughter. Taking him home to Exeter, Devon, was K H May and Partners.
The next highest price tag achieved was 5800gns for Rocknell Rupert 2nd from G J Summerhayes, Tiverton, Devon. This February 2023 born son of Knowstone Showboy EX92 goes back to the noted Yeomaden Ferdinand 2nd. He was knocked down to S Lister and heads to Tavistock, Devon.
A 5200gns call secured the reserve male champion, Larkbarrow Woodland 3rd from H Rawson, Minehead, Somerset. Sired by Bollowal Back Row and out of a homebred Wellshead Governor daughter, he now heads to Kintbury, Berkshire, for C and A Hartwright.
Females hit a ceiling of 3400gns for April 2023 born Cutcombe Peach 74th from M Elliott, Dulverton, Somerset. Sired by Pusey Farms Otto and out of a homebred Ashott Barton Marquis daughter, she was secured by Chard, Somerset based Hillcombe Farms.
A top call of 3300gns was then realised for the cow and calf outfit Kingsbury Willow with her heifer calf, Kingsbury Chloe at foot from M and L Parsons, Norton-Sub-Hamdon, Somerset. Born May 2021, this daughter of Warson Goliath is out of a homebred Ebbesbourne Oria daughter. She caught the eye of North Molton, Devon based T Irwin.
Another from the Kingsbury pen was Kingsbury Aphrodite at 2700gns. After securing the female championship, this February 2023born daughter of Ebbesbourne Utah went home with Messrs Dyer and Co, Bridgwater, Somerset.
Averages: 15 bulls sold in ring £5453.00; 2 show heifers £2467.50; 6 non-show heifers £2152.50; 2 cows and calves £2625 (Greenslade Taylor Hunt).
