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There has being a buzz all around the Royal Highland Show grounds this morning, where half of the cattle breeds have being adjudicated.
Finishing up first, having been given the task of judging the Herefords, was Alistair Smith, Newark.
In total, close to 50 Herefords passed through the ring, with Tom and Di Harrison coming out on top. Their stylish two-year-old Coley 1 Pippa 356 had turned a number of onlookers’ heads when she was awarded the overall female champion. This heifer was shown once already this year, where she claimed supreme championship at the Northumberland Show.
Sired by Days Calibre G74 and out of Frenchstone P 1 Boo, Pippa was originally bred by Heather Whittaker, who followed the Harrisons all the way to the end – claiming reserve female and reserve overall champion with her own heifer Coley 1 Clara 286. The four-year-old Clara 286 is sired by Blakelaw 1 Calzaghe and out of Barbern 1 Claret 2nd.
Hereford champion, Coley 1 Pippa 356.
Charolais
Irish-bred Kilbline 1 Instigator Et claimed the top honour in the Charolais ring. This three-year-old bull was bred by the Sugrue family from Bennettsbridge, Kilkenny, but was shown by new owners, the Irvine family, who run the famous Inverlochy herd.
Sired by Oscar and out of a Doonally new dam, the two-year-old is no stranger to success, having won the male championship at Tullamore Show in 2014 and senior championship at the national Charolais Show 2014, before being sold for €7,200 at the Charolais premier in 2015.However, up until today, Instigator’s top accolade was overall male champion at the Highland last year.
Judge Charlie MacLean, Eastleigh, selected Firhills Lady as his reserve champion. Exhibited by DH Muirhead, this two-year-old Maerdy Greanadier-sired heifer also claimed the overall female champion. While not shown as a calf, lady’s first outing this year also proved successful, as she was awarded overall Charolais and reserve interbreed at the Angus Show.
Charolais champion – Kilbline 1 Instigator Et.
Simmental
David Craig secured the overall Simmental championship with 23-month-old Kennox Tara’s Gem. She is sired by Sowenna Aristocrat and out of Annick Helen’s Tara, an animal that placed second three years in a row at this show herself. Her daughter, however, wasn’t going to follow the same trend, having already secured interbreed championships at Newston and Stewardstown shows.
Reserve championship honours went to the day’s male champion, Blackford Galaxy. Galaxy was bred and exhibited by the MacPherson family, and is sired by Curlieu Knight – a former stock bull on-farm 18 years ago. This one was specially bred to be the next stock bull on Blackford farm.
Simmental champion – Kennox Tara’s Gem.
Blondes
Back on form in the Blonde Aquitaine ring was Balmoral champion Shanvalley Jagger, from the Savage Brothers, Northern Ireland. Having being awarded the male championship by judge Andrew Bailey, Jagger was later tapped forward as supreme Blonde champion.
Jagger is sired by the herd’s stock bull Seaview Barney, a bull who has secured 11 supreme championships to date, along with breeding 33 champions. This bull was purchased a few weeks ago for a new five-figure record Blonde price by the Irish partnership of Des Donohoe and Martin Lyons.
Blonde champion - Shanvalley Jagger.
Shorthorn champion
Top honours in the Shorthorn ring were awarded to Tracy Severn for her stock bull Millerston Jester. This two-year-old bull was purchased from Jack Ramsey and has since clocked up a number of top prizes, including reserve junior and reserve male at this show last year. Sired by Meonhill Charlie Chaplin, he is out of Millstown Gretta Freya.
The reserve champion sash went to Northern Irish breeder James Porter, of the well-known Uppermill herd, for Uppermill Blythesome Kim. Both Kim’s parents were awarded second prize at the Highland in 2012 – his sire Dunsyre Demetri and his dam Uppermill Blythesome Jemma, as a two year old.
Shorthorn champion – Millerston Jester.
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