The Great Annual March Show and Sale of Store Cattle at Bentham Auction attracted both quality and quantity.

For the second year running, David Broadbent, of Luddendenfoot, was named champion by judges Mark Towers, of Ulverston, and William Ketley, of Colchester.

His victorious home-bred 13-month-old Limousin-sired heifer had already won the junior heifer class and was named best animal in the hands of the breeder and the best Limousin-sired heifer.

Later William Ketley backed his judgement by buying the champion animal for £1,680.

Top price of the day was achieved by Alan and Martin Whitaker, of Clapham, for their reserve champion heifer. She sold for the tremendous price of £2,000 to Tom Robinson, of Slaidburn, for further breeding.

Messrs Whitaker’s consignment of 20 quality bulling heifers achieved a full clearance to average £1,360.

Strong store cattle were good to sell, with consignments from local farms topping the steer section at £1,230 for both Charolais and Limousin from Tom Hilton, of Tatham, and John Wharton, of Casterton.

British Blue-sired heifers sold to average of £1,019, with Limousin heifers from Alan and Martin Whitaker topping at £1,720.