TRADE for Aberdeen Angus bulls at Perth was decsribed as "phenomenal" with a top price of 28,000gns for the supreme champion, and an average of £4177.50 - £519 up on last year - for 147 bulls sold.

Showing at Perth for the first time, Yorkshire breeder, David Wellock, and his partner, Wendy Hoare, of Otterburn, Skipton, were showing at Perth for the first time and Mr Wellock paraded his 21-month, homebred bull, Hurries Eric B024, to win the reserve intermediate championship.

Eric sold for 6,200gns in a joint purchase by P B Scanlan and Partners, Montrose, Angus, and Glenbervie Home Farm, Stonehaven, Kincardineshire.

"It is a dream come true to do well at Perth and compensates for the disappointment of losing all my stock in the contiguous cull three years ago," said Mr Wellock. "It is particularly pleasing that the bull has been sold for use in two pedigree herds."

Mr Wellock and Mrs Hoare have only six cows and three in-calf heifers in their new pedigree herd, founded as part of their re-stocking programme at the end of 2001.

Hurries Eric's dam was bought as an in-calf heifer from Alastair Fraser, owner of the Idvies herd at Forfar, Angus, and he is a son of Jeremy Eric of Bridgefoot.

David and Penny Evans, Tree Bridge Farm, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, sold their 22-month, homebred bull, Tree Bridge Prospector B028, for 6000gns.

Prospector is a son of their Orkney-bred stock bull, Skaill Duplo, and his mother was home-bred.