THE ULTIMATE SUCKLER BREED

SHOW CHAMPION GENTONS TOMMY LEADS WELSHPOOL

November 6, 2025

CLEARANCE: 60% (3 Bulls)
TOP PRICE: 5,800gns
AVERAGE: £4830 +£1680 on 2023
CLEARANCE: 80% (4 Pedigree Females)
TOP PRICE: 4,500gns
AVERAGE: £3990 +£2304 on 2023
CLEARANCE: 40% (2 Commercial Females)
TOP PRICE: £3600
AVERAGE: £3350, +£1787 on 2023
JUDGE: Ian Bell, Hallbankgate

The Salers Cattle Society of the UK staged its Autumn Show and Sale at Welshpool Livestock Market on Thursday, 6th November 2025, where a quality entry of cattle was forward for judge Ian Bell of Hallbankgate, North Pennines.

Tasked with judging the pre-sale show was Ian Bell, Hallbankgate, who runs an extensive 7,000-acre hill enterprise on the edge of the North Pennines, ranging from 700ft to 2,037ft — technically classed as a mountain. His enterprise comprises 170 cows, including a pedigree herd of 30 Charolais alongside 140 hill cows, all put to the Charolais, and a flock of 1,000 ewes. Mr Bell commented on the impressive standard of stock presented, praising the uniformity, correctness, and natural fleshing of the top entries.

Stealing the spotlight and taking home the Overall Championship was Gentons Tommy from B. Facon’s Gentons Pedigree Livestock. This stylish young bull, born in February 2023, impressed the judge with his length, breed character, and balance. He is a son of Murphy, the renowned French National Show Champion in 2019, and out of Gentons Oracle, a Whitebog Kracker daughter. Tommy later went on to lead the trade at 5,800gns, selling to H. E. Powell, Brecon.

Standing Reserve Overall Champion was Seawell Uberto from the noted Northamptonshire breeders P. M. & S. M. Donger, whose Seawell prefix is synonymous with the Salers breed. This February 2024-born son of Norbert is out of Seawell Owena, an Inka daughter. Uberto caught the eye of pedigree breeder G. Griffiths, who secured him for 4,000gns to join her Parys herd at Cenmaes, Anglesey.

Third place in the bull class went to Seawell Understudy, another February 2024-born youngster by Impeccable out of Seawell Opal, while Seawell Utopian, also by Impeccable and out of Seawell Ogigi, claimed fourth. Utopian also made 4,000gns when snapped up by A. L. Davies & Son, Llangammarch Wells, Powys. Fifth place was taken by Seawell Umpire, rounding off a strong team from the Donger family.

The female section saw solid demand, with 80% clearance and averages showing a marked lift on the last autumn sale herd at Welshpool in 2023. Leading the pedigree female trade at 4,500gns was Gentons Thumberlina, again from B. Facon, and sired the same way as the day’s Champion by Murphy. Out of the imported dam Opale, she was sold running with Gentons Topgun ET and sold to regular Welshpool consignors, pedigree breeders, J. F. Robinson & Sons, Preenbank, Shropshire.

Close behind at 4,250gns was Gentons Twilight Poll, another daughter of Murphy out of Cumbrian Ladybird Poll, who caught the attention of G. Jerman Ltd, Newtown, Powys. The Jerman family also went on to purchase Gentons Tilly, a February 2023-born daughter out of Seawell Maggi, for 3,450gns. Rounding off a successful day for the Gentons team, Gentons Umber, by Murphy and out of Manor Lane Nectar, found a new home with J. B. Morris, Presteigne, Powys, at 3,000gns.

Trade for commercial females mirrored the pedigree enthusiasm, with the section average £3,350, up £1,787 on the last autumn sale held in 2023. The best pen of commercial Salers was awarded to B. Facon, Gentons Pedigree Livestock, whose winning heifer, sold in-calf to Gentons Simba, achieved the top price of £3,600, selling locally to G. Jerman, Newtown, Powys. Standing Reserve in the commercial section was A. & K. Gowthorpe, Approach Farm, York.