Darlington Farmers Auction Mart held their Junior Farmers Club Show of overwintered cattle on Sunday 5th April 2026 followed by the sale of overwintered beast in conjunction with their weekly sale of cast cattle, store and breeding stock and also their Spring show and sale of rearing calves on Monday 6th April 2026. Forward were 323 cattle, 235 sheep and 83 calves.
45 Cast Cows/OTM sold to 428ppk or £3093
2 Cows & Calves sold to £2950
20 Young Bulls sold to £2260
88 Store Steers sold to £2530
150 Store Heifers sold to £2550
44 Ewes & Lambs sold to £400
72 Store Hoggs sold to £220
45 Feeding Ewes/Rams sold to £302
16 Stirks sold to £990
83 Rearing Calves sold to £1300
Junior Farmers Show (Sunday) and Sale (Monday)
The next generation once again came up trumps and put on a magnificent display of stockmanship at this important annual event, the beef farming future looks immensely bright in DfAM. Congratulations to all the exhibitors, you can be extremely proud of your endeavours this winter; sincere thanks must go to all the parents, grandparents and guardians who facilitated these young people’s passion, you are raising them well.
Thanks go to our judge, the duties at this year’s show were expertly carried out by former DfAM Chairman Mark Dent, the perfect man for the job, a beef farmer who understands both the industry and also the huge importance of this annual show. With forty-three cattle to preside over the classes were split several ways, dependant on the age of the exhibitor and also if the cattle were halter trained or not. Before we get on to the results you will notice some alterations to the rules for the 2025/2026 competition, most significantly the price limit per animal at the backend sales was reduced to just £1400; this change certainly made our youngsters use their guile and knowledge when bidding and we commend every one of them for doing so well, the grass roots of the industry must surely be based on profit before pride.
The split show initially brought us two champions which would go head-to-head at the business end of proceedings. Firstly, in the halter trained classes the winners sash went to Luke Bell-Percy of Springhill, Masham with a beautiful black Limousin crossed heifer. Surely a classy cow maker one day this tremendous young heifer was a very sharp spot by Luke when he picked her up for £1380 at our October suckled calf sale from E Scott & Sons, Middridge Grange. Champion in the un-haltered section was awarded to Josh Burton of West Common Top, Ettersgill with a stunning British Blonde crossed heifer, great credit must go to the eagle-eyed Josh as this cracker (also picked up in October) cost £1320 hailing from Ian Spedding, Harelaw Farm. The culmination was two very keen and very astute young farmers with two excellent heifers. Congratulations go to Luke Bell-Percy who deservedly took the top spot on this occasion, the best part however is surely seeing the queue of future winners behind him, it looks both long and immensely capable.
Reserve champion accolades went to Michael Brannen, Scar Top, Temple Sowerby in the haltered section and to Charlie Gray, Hundred Acre Farm, Boston in the un-haltered. The old head on young shoulders of Michael found success with a Charolais sired steer which cost just £1260 from J Featherstone, Thornley Park whilst the Lincolnshire based Charlie had his success with a Limousin crossed steer purchased from GH & RG Stobbs, High Wiserley for £1360.
A second nod of admiration goes to the brilliant Michael Brannen as he also scooped the best showmanship award, the dedicated young man had his cattle trained to absolute perfection and deservedly fought off what was some very some stiff competition. No stranger to the winner’s enclosure at this event Michael proved to us all again that he is one of the most promising young stockmen on the circuit.
The award for the best turned out beast went to Jack Sewell of Knavesmire Farm, Hamsterley. Jack is a familiar face here in DfAM with both cattle and sheep and always presents his stock to the very highest level. It was clear to see that so many of the young exhibitors had spent many, many hours presenting their cattle to perfection and high praise indeed must go to Jack for his hard work and claiming this highly sought after award.
Another change in the competition this year brought about a weight gained competition, the plaudits go back down to Lincolnshire as the winner was the above-mentioned Charlie Gray. Charlie’s second entry was again a Limousin steer bought from Messrs Stobbs of High Wiserley on the 27th October 2025, he weighed 302kg at purchase and had gained a remarkable 224kg to tip the scales to 526kg on show day.
In this day and age, one of the most important parts of the whole operation is the paper chase, a costings booklet competition was another refreshing addition this year, our exhibitors were set the task of recording information each month on the progress and cost of their cattle. Congratulations go to Imogen Davies, Lough House Farm who presented immaculate and accurate booklets for both of her cattle, an outstanding presentation, no doubt many reading this report could use an Imogen in their office.
Profit, well done to everyone involved as the 43 calves sold today showed an excellent increase from purchase to hammer price of £23,475, a brilliant effort to show an average gain of £545 apiece on average. The two champions battled it out for the top spot; roles reversed this time around as despite Luke Bell-Percy selling his stunner at £2500 for a £1120 gain it was Josh Burton’s super British Blonde which claimed the biggest lift when she sold for £2550 to achieve a superb £1230 increase. Honourable mentions in the profit results must also go to Lauren Clark (£1040) plus Jack Sewell (£970) and Mya Giles (£960).
A brilliant couple of days, the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow. A full break down of the show results is listed below and the sale report follows.
Overall Champion – Luke Bell-Percy, Springhill
Haltered Champion – Luke Bell-Percy, Springhill
Un-Haltered Champion – Josh Burton, West Common Top
Haltered Reserve Champion – Michael Brannen, Scar Top
Un-Haltered Reserve Champion – Charlie Gray, Hundred Acre
Best Showmanship – Michael Brannen, Scar Top
Best Turned Out – Jack Sewell, Knavesmire
Highest Weight Gaining Animal – Charlie Gray, Hundred Acre
Costing Booklet Winner – Imogen Davies, Lough House
Biggest Profit Margin (Purchase to Sale)
1st – Josh Burton, West Common Top = £1230
2nd – Luke Bell-Percy, Springhill = £1120
3rd – Lauren Clark, Oakdene = £1040
4th – Jack Sewell, Knavesmire = £970
5th – Mya Giles, West End = £960
Class 1 Haltered
1st – Luke Bell-Percy, Springhill
2nd – Imogen Davies, Lough House
3rd – Luke Bell-Percy, Springhill
4th – Jack Sewell, Knavesmire
Class 2 Haltered
1st – Michael Brannen, Scar Top
2nd – Michael Brannen, Scar Top
Class 3 Haltered
1st – Mya Giles, West End
2nd – Robert Martin, West End
3rd – Edward Day, West End
Class 4 Un-Haltered
1st – Josh Burton, West Common Top
2nd – Erin Tallentire, Carlton Grange
3rd – Grace Tallentire, Carlton Grange
4th – Felicity Gray, Hundred Acre
Class 5 Un-Haltered
1st – Charlie Gray, Hundred Acre
2nd – Charlie Gray, Hundred Acre
3rd – Imogen Davies, Lough House
4th – Ava Tallentire, Carlton Grange
Class 6 Un-Haltered
1st – Jake Farrington, Whitelass Close
2nd – Jake Farrington, Whitelass Close
3rd – Thomas Gregory, Porch House
4th – Thomas Gregory, Porch House
Class 7 Un-Haltered
1st – Robert Martin, West End
2nd – Mya Giles, West End
Class 8 Un-Haltered
1st – Lauren Clark, Oakdene
2nd – Elliot Grieves, Oakdene
3rd – Lauren Clark, Oakdene
4th – Sophie Chapman, Deighton Grange
Sale of Store Cattle
Our brilliant youngsters sold early and set the scene for another excellent store cattle trade, the junior section enjoyed a great day, as did all the other vendors as every shape and size possible found buyers in very good form indeed. Top price of the day went to the class winning 21-month-old British Blonde heifer from Josh Burton, West Common Top when she sold for £2550, the best other heifer was the smashing little 14-month-old black Limousin heifer from Luke Bell-Percy which sold for £2500. Steers sold to £2530 when a really powerful pair of two-year-old Charolais from J Sisterson, Newlands Haugh sold well, a great run of ten from this home averaged an excellent £2458. Yearlings and younger continue in big form, plenty of those destined for grass are selling £1600 to £2000 with a few special sorts even higher. Preceding the store cattle as always were the young bulls, top today at £2260 was a smart British Blue from E Wilson, White Hills, the same home sold a yearling at £2180 whilst a largely dairy and native inspired offering further down the list all still sold at high returns.
Store Cattle Leading Prices
Cows & Calves £2950 £2600 F&JS Gargett.
Store Bulls £2260 £2180 E Wilson. £2040 MH&J Walker & Son. £1840 Copeland Farms. £1780 AF Smith. £1720 £1440 £1420 CR Fawcett. £1640 £1420 I Spedding. £1560×3 £1520×2 Peepy Farm.
Store Steers £2530×2 £2490×2 £2480 £2470×2 £2450 £2340 £2330 J Sisterson. £2280 L Clark. £2240 £2200×2 JG Wilkinson & Son. £2220 E Grieves. £2210 £1950×3 £1920×4 £1910×3 P Leese. £2180 £2020 C Gray. £2180 £1980 £1970 £1920 £1890 £1860×5 GA Willey. £2120×4 D Clemitson. £2040 £1980 E Taylor & Son. £1970 W Wearmouth & Son. £1950 £1910 £1890×2 W Love Ltd. £1920 I Newton & Son.
Store Heifers £2550 £1900 Josh Burton. £2500 Luke Bell. £2380 £2360 £2280×2 £2240 RL Walker. £2180 MH&J Walker & Son. £2180 W Wearmouth & Son. £2100 £1880 £1840 E Wilson. £2050 M Brannen. £1950×3 P Leese. £1940 £1880 JG Wilkinson. £1910×2 Wilkinson & Son. £1900 L Clark. £1890×2 GA Chapman. £1880 £1860 K Sayer.
Spring Show & Sale of Rearing Calves
A cracking Easter show today with quality calves in attendance, making this week’s sale average a fantastic £590. First of all, a huge thankyou to our judge, Ben Cowton from Low West House Farm, for a terrific job of judging the calves this morning, to which he placed Champion to an outstanding Limousin bull from Wilkinson & Son, Carrsides, which made a record price in the calf ring of £1300 and bought by the judge himself. Reserve Champion was given to JT Forster & Son, Killerby Farm, with a terrific Angus Bull, making £950, again going home with the judge.
Topping the British Blue bulls today was Wilkinson & Son, Carrsides, making £895, whilst British Blue heifers reached £870 and Hereford heifers at £710 from the same home. Inra95 bulls from Baysleap Dairy Farm Ltd reached £840, whilst the same home had Angus Heifer calves to £590. Friesian bulls topped at £520, from R Tookey & Son, South Side and WK Wilkinson & Sons, Mains House Farm, also achieving joint place in this section at £520.
Calf Show Results-
Class 1 – Native Bull
1st – JT Forster & Son, Killerby Farm
2nd – Baysleap Dairy Farm Ltd
3rd – Baysleap Dairy Farm Ltd
Class 2- Native Heifer
1st – Baysleap Dairy Farm Ltd
2nd – Wilkinson & Son, Carrsides
3rd – Baysleap Dairy Farm Ltd
Class 3- Continental Bulls
1st – Baysleap Dairy Farm Ltd
2nd – Baysleap Dairy Farm Ltd
3rd – Deerness Valley Dairy, High Hedley Hope
Class 3 A – Continental Bulls (Older)
1st – Wilkinson & Son, Carrsides
2nd – Wilkinson & Son, Carrsides
Class 4- Continental Heifer
1st – Deerness Valley Dairy, High Hedley Hope
2nd – Deerness Valley Dairy, High Hedley Hope
Class 4 A – Continental Heifers (Older)
1st – Wilkinson & Son, Carrsides
2nd – Wilkinson & Son, Carrsides
Class 5 – Black & White Bull
1st – Luke Turnbull, South Farm
2nd – WK Wilkinson & Sons, Mains House Farm
3rd – WK Wilkinson & Sons, Mains House Farm
Champion – Wilkinson & Son, Carrsides (£1300)
Reserve Champion – JT Forster & Son, Killerby Farm (£950)
Leading Prices
Bulls:
Limousin- £1300 £890 Wilkinson & Son.
Aberdeen Angus-£950 £860 £780 JT Forster & Son. £700 x2 £675 Baysleap Dairy Farm Ltd. £700 x2 £690 x2 R Tookey & Son. £600 £500 x2 £470 Deerness Valley Dairy. £485 x3 RW Raper & Sons. £350 RG Johnson & Son.
British Blue- £895 £885 £865 Wilkinson & Son. £680 £650 £640 £620 £590 £565 £500 Deerness Valley Dairy. £480 RW Raper & Sons.
Hereford- £880 Wilkinson & Son. £480 £460 x2 £410 x2 John Archer. £440 Baysleap Dairy Farm Ltd. £390 RG Johnson & Son.
Inra95- £840 £620 £550 Baysleap Dairy Farm Ltd.
Friesian- £520 R Tookey & Son. £520 £450 WK Wilkinson & Sons. £460 £350 Deerness Valley Dairy. £435 x3 Luke Turnbull. £310 RW Raper & Sons.
Heifers:
British Blue- £870 £840 £780 £770 x2 Wilkinson & Son. £630 £610 £600 £570 £560 x2 £550 £450 Deerness Valley Dairy. £535 £450 £430 RW Raper & Sons.
Hereford- £710 Wilkinson & Son. £680 £520 Baysleap Dairy Farm Ltd.
Aberdeen Angus- £590 £560 £550 £540 £530 £520 £490 £450 x2 Baysleap Dairy Farm Ltd. £455 £430 RW Raper & Sons. £420 R Tookey & Son.
Shorthorn- £380 RG Johnson & Son.
Stirks – £1280 £1220 £990 £980×2 £970 £950×3 £830×2 £820 R Martin. £940×3 £900×3 RG&RG Findlay.
Cast Cattle
The cow trade goes full throttle in to April as a light show on the Bank Holiday rewarded those in attendance handsomely to average 290ppk and £1869 with half of the show arriving straight from the parlour. Top per kilo at 428 pence was a smart British Blue OTM heifer from GC & KJ White & Son, Rigg Farm, two tidy OTM heifers from G & JH Tomlinson & Son, Sunniside followed at 404ppk. Top of the gross values at £3093 was a cracking Limousin cow from JC Johnson, Beanley Carr Farm; further Limousin’s followed when S & J Dent & Son, Great Burdon Farm sold at £2910 and WJ & AS Bowes & Sons, Stainton Hill House sold at £2909. Native breeds were led by the aforementioned G & JH Tomlinson with Aberdeen Angus to a top of 320ppk. Friesian cows topped at 286ppk and £1996 from Deerness Valley Dairy, Montbeliarde cows sold to 302ppk and £1974 from A Willey, Broomfield Farm. Ayrshire cows sold to 242ppk and £1904 from JD & IW Sayer & Tallentire, Town Farm and Fleckvieh cows reached 274ppk and £1849 once again from Deerness Valley Dairy.
Cast Cattle leading PPK – 428 334 322 GC & KJ White & Son. 404(x2) 320 G & JH Tomlinson & Son. 384 GA Willey. 370 JC Johnson. 364 322 308 T & DI Allen & Son. 326 318 304 WJ & AS Bowes & Sons. 322 319 S & J Dent & Son. 302 A Willey. 300 J Dixon. 298 F Fabi.
Cast Cattle Leading Gross – £3093 JC Johnson. £2910 £2670 S & J Dent & Son. £2909 £2823 £2692 WJ & AS Bowes & Sons. £2609 £2052 G & JH Tomlinson & Son. £2143 £2006 T & DI Allen & Son. £1996 Deerness Valley Dairy. £1962 Stanners Farm. £1957 A Willey.
Store & Breeding Sheep
The ewes and lambs are an absolutely stunning trade thus far. Top of the day at £400 were a pen of nine tidy Suffolk Mule ewes with Texel crossed twins at foot from A Pennell, Home Farm. Following very closely at £398 were three continental ewes with twins from W Wearmouth & Son, Rose Hill. Ewes with strong single lambs are often trading either side of £150 per life as the Spring finally threatens to wake up and the sheep are certainly in high demand.
Store hoggs remain in fine form too, best today of £220 went to a big Charollais from A Bloomfield, Aeolian House; the same feeding followed at £210 as the biggest remain dear and the littler ones look frankly absolutely off the clock.
Feeding ewes are flying, all the fleshy lowland ewes are £200 plus and sold to a top of £302 for a pure Suffolk from JJM Lonsdale, Smailsburn. Mule ewes to a top of £195 with plenty in the £150’s and £160’s and a fine pair of Herdwick tups impressed at £172.
Leading Prices
Ewes & Lambs – £400 A Pennell. £398 £348 £332 £320 £315 £290 £268 W Wearmouth & Son. £350 £320 £292 RA Patterson & Son. £340 £300 £290 £250 G & L Wood. £295 £270 £268 £258 Jack Sewell.
Store Hoggs – £220 £210 £188 A Bloomfield. £192 £186 £176 £152 £142 £132 £126 Turner Richardson Farming. £186 J Waters. £156 £140 J Brougham. £154 £152 £116 L Fowler. £148(x2) Brad Valks. £140 John Dickinson.
Feeding Ewes – £302 £195 JJM Lonsdale. £290 A Carr. £275 £175 £172 NG Beveridge. £230 £162 John Dickinsion. £210 £188 £160 RA Patterson & Son. £202 £178 £152 £142 MC Rutter. £172 J Weighell.
