Improved demand for Hereford bulls at the Hereford Cattle Society's spring show and sale in Hereford on Saturday led to three bulls topping 5,000 gns and a record average of £2,705.50.

The Reserve Champion, 16-month-old Dendor 1 Cracker (726 kgs), by Topgen 1 Supremo and exhibited by DE, ED and AL Jones, of Dendor Herefords, Newtown, Powys, sold for 5,300 gns and was bought by H Weston & Sons Ltd, Bounds Herefords, Ledbury, Herefordshire.

The Jones family sold two further bulls by Supremo, 19-month-old Dendor 1 Choctaw (768 kgs) for 2,550 gns to GK Powell, Longtown, Herefordshire and the youngest bull in the sale, 13-month-old Dendor 1 Cherokee (580 kgs) for 1,850 gns to TG and EI Thorne, of Glenvale Herefords, Milford Haven.

The second highest priced bull was 22-month-old Broadfield Bellman (882 kgs) by Broadfield Thomas Gore, exhibited by Mrs PM Jones, Broadfield Herefords, Sarnsfield, Hereford, selling for 5,200 gns to Mrs PM Leake, Minton Herefords, Withington, Hereford.

Mrs Jones also sold 23-month-old Broadfield P 1 Banker (868 kgs), also by Thomas Gore, for 1,750 gns to Messrs DD Rowley and Partners, of Hollowseal Herefords, Swadlincote.

Roy Johnson, of Real Herefords, Burton Joyce, Nottingham, paraded the first bull through the ring, 24-month-old Real 1 Baldric (902 kgs) by Dendor 1 Tinker 2nd, selling for 5,100 gns to G Blandford and Son, of Bosa Herefords, Ledbury, Herefordshire.

Taking the Grand Male Championship was first-time exhibitor at a Society Sale, DP Jones Agricultural Contracting, Maxstoke Herefords, Coleshill, Birmingham. Their 23-month-old Maxstoke 1 Lionheart (822 kgs), by Lynsore 1 Undaunted, sold for 2,400 gns to RBJ Vincent of Snipelands Herefords, Wedmore, Somerset.

Fifteen bulls sold for £40,582 to average £2,705.

The continuing demand for breeding females led to an almost total clearance, with only one not finding a home.

In the show section, all 19 on offer sold to average £1,477, the grand female championship going to the 19-month-old incalf Romany 1 Julia R5 C11 by Crickley 1 Figurehead exhibited by JRB Wilson and Sons, Romany Herefords, Kelso, Roxburghshire and selling for 2,400 gns to M Jenkins, Appleridge Herefords, Berkeley, Gloucester. JRB Wilson and Sons have now taken the grand female championship on five out of the last six show and sales.

The Wilson family also sold a second heifer for the top price of the day of 2,800 gns, the 13-month-old maiden heifer, Romany 1 Mink R22 C42, also by Figurehead, to PM and NJ Brown, Bosolo Herefords, Carstairs Junction, Lanark.

The Reserve Championship went to the 25-month-old incalf heifer, Cleland 1 Lady 4th, by Dendor 1 Upbeat, exhibited by AE Nesbitt Farms Ltd, Cleland Herefords, Hungerford, Berkshire, selling for 2,600 gns to SW Clarke, Scotchhills Herefords, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, who also purchased a second show heifer from Messrs Nesbitt, the 25-month-old Cleland 1 Joyful 3rd by Dendor 1 Toff for 2,000 gns and the top price incalf heifer in the for sale only section, 26-month-old Cleland 1 Treat 6th, also by Toff, for 2,400 gns.

The 16 incalf heifers sold to average £1,260 to a top of 2,400 gns for Cleland 1 Treat 6th, as reported earlier, and the eight maiden heifers sold to average £1,255 to a top of 1,500 gns twice - for 20-month-old Kinglee 1 Ruby by Costhorpe 1 Whistler, exhibited by P Cobley of Kinglee Herefords, Stoney Stanton, Leicestershire, selling to M Jenkins, Appleridge Herefords, Berkeley, Gloucestershire, and 13-month-old Lynsore 1 Empress 9th by Fisher 1 Westoner, exhibited by Mrs S Purchese, Lynsore Herefords, Canterbury, Kent, selling to SW Clarke, Scotchhills, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

Judge of the day, Mr John McMordie, of Solpoll Herefords, Co Down, Northern Ireland, commenting on the two classes of bulls stated "there was quality right down the line in both classes".

The auctioneers were Brightwells, of Leominster.