The Irish Simmental Cattle Society held its premier autumn sale over the weekend in Roscommon Mart. Sixty-nine bulls and 84 heifers were catalogued for the sale, but following drop-outs and pre-sale inspections, this fell to 51 and 71 respectively.

Similar to previous years, UK buyers were again out in force securing 21 lots in total. While this was back slightly on the year, this can be largely attributed to Irish buyers investing in some of the top lots.

Leading trade with a top bid of €12,100 was the day’s yearling heifer champion Clonagh Honey Eyes from Garrett and Lyndsey Behan, Portlaoise, Co Laois.

This heifer is a multiple prizewinner and found a new home with judge Ian Green, who runs the well-known Corksie herd in Scotland. Sired by Kilbride Farm Dragoon, Honey Eyes is out of homebred Banwy T-Rex daughter Clonagh Electric Eyes who is a full sister to two 2017 national champions.

Honey wasn’t the only ingredient in the Clonagh kitchen, as the Behan outfit sold another five young heifers to average €5,600. Securing a price tag of €6,000 was Clonagh Happy Eyes ET who sold to Carlow-based Patrick Meaney.

This heifer is again sired by Kilbride Farm Dragoon and out of the overall 2017 Simmental national champion Clonagh Darling Eyes ET.

Securing the second-top priced animal at the sale was again judge Ian Green who placed a final bid of €10,700 on Tawley Hanna. This December 2016-born heifer was a winner at this year’s Tullamore Show and is a genetic half-sister to the renowned show heifer Tawley Gretta. Sired by old favourite Hillcrest Butcher, she was bred by Declan Oates, Castlegal, Co Leitrim.

The final animal to reach the five-figure sale price was Raceview Helena Charming from Peter and Marion O’Connell, Mallow, Co Cork. This heifer was one of the 14 heifers sold as part of the Raceview herd draft, which saw 13 sell to average €4,250.

Securing Helena Charming with a bid of €10,300 was Christopher White of the Dermotstown herd in Co Dublin. Sired by Kilbride Farm Delboy, she is out of Carnkern Titan from the Matilda line, one of the herd’s most famous.

The O’Connell family was also in line to secure the next top price of €8,300 for Raceview Her Royal Di ET. This heifer entered the ring with her full sister, with the successful bidder given the opportunity to choose whichever heifer they preferred and the remaining one being retained by the Raceview herd.

Sired by Dermotstown Delboy, the dam is Raceview Royal Diamond, the only sister to the legend that was Raceview King. Heading across the border to Lisburn, she was secured by Gavin Hayes.

The Neenan brothers were next in line to reap their rewards when they sold their Fearna Hope ET for €7,200.

Sired by Anatrim Bodybuilder, the October 2016 Hope is out of the Hillcrest Champion-bred dam Fearna Regal. Securing the dark red and white heifer was Galway native Sean Larkin from Loughrea.

Overall, 58 females sold to average €3,525, up nearly €500 on the year. This represented an 82% clearance, which was back 2% on 2016 levels.

Bulls and heifers achieved a number of high prices helping to boost the average greatly on the previous two years. There was an increased number of younger bulls which found it harder sold, leading to a significant drop in the male’s clearance rate.

To put it in perspective, of the last 15 bulls through the ring, 12 went unsold. These bulls ranged from nine to 12 months, with buyers aware it was likely to be some time until the bulls were able to work.

However, there was plenty of money around the ring for bulls which combined quality with age. Overall, the 29 bulls sold to average €3,993, up a massive €875 on the year.

Five of those bulls broke the €5,000 mark, which last year stood as the top bull price. This was led by a €9,400 call for Peter and Marion O’Connell’s Raceview Herman.

Having been tapped out as the day’s senior bull champion by judge Ian Green, the September 2016-born bull was a serious talking point well in advance of the sale as he was the Simmental male and reserve overall champion at this year’s Tullamore Show.

After back and forth bidding, the hammer eventually fell at €9,400 to James Fox, Bray, Co. Wicklow. Sired by Kilbride Farm Delboy and out of a Kilbride Farm Newry-bred dam, Herman again goes back to the aforementioned Matilda line.

Adding to a highly successful day, Garrett and Lyndsey Behan also secured the junior male championship and second-top priced male with Clonagh Hawk Eye ET. This bull is no stranger to success, having secured the weanling bull championship at the society’s national finals this year.

Sired by Kilbride Farm Dragoon 12, he is out of Clonagh Darling Eyes, this year’s overall national champion.

Selling for €7,600, he found a new home with Gordon McFarland, who runs a 200-cow commercial herd in Co Tyrone.

Next in the money were Joseph and James Kelly with their August 2016-born Mount Hawkeye. This Curaheen Dickens son was shown successfully over the summer, including claiming the national bull championship at this year’s ploughing championships.

Sired by Curaheen Dickens, Hawkeye is out of homebred Banwy T-Rex daughter Mount Eve. Carrying five stars down the line, he was secured for €6,800 by Brian Boyle, Dundalk, Co Louth.

Keith Vickery got his first-prizewinner Carbery Hero away at €5,600 to Westmeath man Martin Downes. Sired by Kilbride Farm Delboy, Hero also sees Samark Superman and Carnkern Titan in the back breeding.

Both Dovea and NCBC had the chequebooks out at the sale. Dovea secured John Brady’s Curaheen Tyson son Rabawn Harley at €5,200 while NCBC paid €4,700 for Hugh and Sarah Murray’s Shiloh Hot Rod, a Kilbride Farm Bantry son.