Northern Ireland duo Dermot and Gareth Small were again out on top as they secured the overall commercial championship with their Charolais cross heifer Strawberry Blonde at the Borderway Agriexpo in Carlisle.

This homebred heifer is well used to winning, having stood reserve female champion at this year’s Highland show, only beaten by her penmate. Weighing in at 624kg, the 19-month-old Anside Foreman daughter ticked all the boxes to ensure the Down-based breeders headed home victorious.

The Smalls are no strangers to this show, having secured the reserve championship at the Agriexpo last year and the overall championship at the event in 2014. This tops an exceptional year for the outfit which also claimed the number one position at this year’s Balmoral Show and Highland Show with Flo-Jo.

Baby Beef champion 'Queen Bee' from Peredur and Llyr Hughes. \ MacGregor Photography

In the baby beef championship, the overall championship went the way of Queen Bee, a five-month-old Limousin cross heifer from Peredur and Llyr Hughes, Rhosgoch. This champion also comes steeped in Irish genetics with her sire Derrygullinane King Bull bred by Gerry Walsh, Ballina, Co Mayo. King Bull was purchased by the Hughes duo for €11,300 after he claimed the senior championship at the Limousin premier in Roscrea, October 2016.

Reserve Baby Beef also carries the Irish connection having been bred by Pearse McNamee, Co Donegal, and subsequently bought by Blair Duffton for further showing. Sassy Lady is an April 2018-born Limousin heifer by Powerhouse Elite and is no stranger to winning having claimed the all-Ireland calf championship at Strokestown Show.

Mr Duffton also claimed the reserve steer championship with the Belgian Blue sired Mojo. This stylish 17-month-old steer, bred by Jack Smyth, Castlederg, Co Tyrone, was purchased by Blair at the NI commercial cattle exhibitors sale in Dungannon in the spring.