The first half of the judging in the cattle rings at Balmoral has just taken place with the Limousin Championship heading to a southern breeder. Taking the junior female, overall junior and overall Limousin championship was the January 2018-born Milbrook Nelenya. This stylish young heifer was bred and exhibited by Willie and Mark Smith of Oldcastle, Co Meath. No strangers to success, this marks the Smiths fifth time winning the championship at Balmoral Show. Nelenya is a Vantastic daughter from the Neuf-sired Milbrook Enya. This line is well used to winning with Milbrook Celene taking the overall championship in 2010.

Standing male champion and reserve overall in the Limousin classes was Drumhilla Oscar. This young bull was bred and exhibited by JCB commercials with the sire Ampertaine Lance while the dam came from the Haltcliffe herd, having been purchased in Carlisle three years ago. This marks the first outing for the 15-month-old bull, who’s also entered for next month Royal Highland Show.

Angus

In the Angus ring the overall championship was scooped up by well-known exhibitors, the Matchett family from Portadown. Their January 2018-born heifer, Birches Lady Julie U507, took all in front of her in the Angus classes claiming junior, overall female and overall champion. Sired by former stock bull Carrigroe Fred, she goes back to Carrigroe Lady Jane who also claimed a red rosette on the day for the family, despite being 12 years of age.

Standing reserve to Lady Julie was the two-year-old heifer Ashvale Victoria from Richard and Fiona McKeown. This well-built animal is sired by Carrington Park Time On and out of Old Glenort Victoria.

Belgian Blue

Castletrench Delia took all the plaudits in the Belgian Blue ring securing the overall championship under judge Jonathon Watson. This nine-year-old cow was purchased last year and secured four breed championships on the circuit last summer.

Standing reserve was last autumn's calf show champion Springhill Noelle. Bred and exhibited by James and Sam Martin, this January 2018-born heifer is sired by Solway View Dynamite while the dam is homebred Springhill Karla.

Hereford

Finally, in the last of the major breeds of the morning the Hereford championship was won by Corraback Cherry. This 20-month-old heifer was brought out by Mervyn Richmond and is a daughter of Kye Rodge, a bull originally bred in Ireland who secured champion at the show in 2012.

The reserve championship also went the way of the females with Richmount 1 Poppy taking the second top position. This stylish heifer was brought out by James Graham and is a daughter of Grousehall Poll 1 Premier.