The Christmas primestock show and sale of cattle and sheep in Darlington this week presented 141 cattle, including 35 bulls, and 927 sheep including 282 cull ewes.

DARLINGTON - Thursday: Cattle: judges were W Piper (Houghton-le-Spring) and J. Higginson (Corbridge).

Overall champion was a Belgian Blue heifer from J T Gibson and Son (Evenwood Gate), 585kg and sold at 234.5p per kg and £1,371.81 to Quality Fare (Leyburn) which won the Wilkin Raw Cup. Reserve champion and opposite sex champion was a Blonde bullock from J K Metcalf (Piercebridge) which won the T B Earle Perpetual Trophy. It weighed 470kgs and sold at 199.5p per kg to Quality Fare (Leyburn).

Class 1: Limousin or Blonde steer 550kg or over 1 J M Hall (Border Grange) at 127.5p to Taylors (Darlington); 2 C. Moralee and Sons (Blackburn at 105.5pm to Messrs Jewitt (Spennymoor); 3 C Moralee and Sons at 105.5p to W Piper.

Class 2: as above under 550kgs: 1 J Metcalf at 199.5p to Quality Fare; 2 M Robinson (Staindrop) at 116.5p to W Piper.

Class 3: Limousin heifer any weight: 1 M Robinson at 161.5p to Taylors (Darlington); 2 M Robinson at 159.5p to Cleveland Meats (Stockton); 3 S Newcombe and Son (Carthorpe) at 144.5p to Quality Fare.

Class 4: other Continental steer 550kg or over: 1 J T Gibson and Son at 169.5p to Taylors; 2 M Robinson at 134.5p to W Piper; 3 C Moralee and Sons at 121.5p to P Honeyman (Hutton Rudby).

Class 5: other Continental steer under 550kgs: 1 Mrs M Metcalfe (Blue House Farm) 157.5p to Taylors.

Class 6: other Continental heifer 500kgs or over: 1 J T Gibson, 234.5p to Quality Fare; 2 W Dodds and Son (Hopewell) 141.5p to A Kitson (Stockton); 3 T J Gibson, 131.5p, to Taylors.

Class 7: under 500 kgs: 1 W Dodds and Son 147.5p to A Kitson; 2 S Newcombe and Son, 161.5p to Cleveland Meats; 3 J K Metcalf, 139.5p to Cleveland Meats.

Class 8: Continental bull: 1 J K Metcalf 129.5p to J Penny and Son (Rawdon); 2 M W Skidmore and Sons, 129.5p to P Honeyman; 3 C Binks and Son (Walworth), 105.5p to Cleveland Meats.

Other best prices: Bulls Limousin 111.5p; Belgian Blue 125.5p; heifers Limousin 129.5p, 128.5p, 125.5p, Belgian Blue 1354.5p, 130.5p, Charolais 115.5p, av 106.5p; steers Belgian Blue 104.5p, av 103.5p; 84 heifers sold av 106.7p; 22 steers av 105.41; 35 bulls av 99.8p.

Sheep: Champion pen of lambs was presented by J M Wise (Little Stainton), they sold at £59 or 140p and weight 42kgs, buyer Quality Fare. Reserve champion pen from J and F Earl (Stockton) sold at £55.80 to J Penny and Sons; 645 lambs sold av 106.5p. Champion pen of ewes, also from J and F Earl, sold at £52.50 to H Haslam; 282 ewes sold to av £32.60.