Wensleydale Black Voltage Y140 proved too hot to handle at the Royal Highland Show in Scotland, last week, claiming the overall champion Angus before going on to secure the supreme beef interbreed championship at the famous Ingliston arena in Edinburgh.
The three-and-a-half-year-old stock bull was brought out by the Alford family who made the long journey from Devon in the south of England.
Bred in Yorkshire by Christopher Timm, Voltage is a son of Gretnahouse Blackboot, while his dam is a daughter of Blelack Ensign L796, going back to a long line of Cheeklaw females. The success continued for the Devon-based team, when Black Voltage teamed up with his herdmates Foxhill Princess Caroline A265 and Blelack Princess Carina X125 to claim the coveted award for the best native team.
It proved an incredible week for the Alford family, as they also reigned supreme in the Limousin ring, lifting the overall championship with Foxhillfarm Vanity. Just two years old, this super stylish heifer is a daughter of Loosebeare Fantastic and Foxhillfarm Limitededition.
Irish-bred heifer
Not stopping there, the same outfit also clinched the reserve champion title in the Charolais section with the Irish-bred heifer, Larahill Vanity ET.
A daughter of Neptune, Vanity was purchased at the Irish Charolais Cattle Society calf show in 2025 for €15,500.
Bred by John O’Connor in Co Westmeath, she showed she could compete with the best in the business, going on to take the supreme junior beef interbreed championship later in the week.
Having their fair say in proceedings was the Simmentals, led by the intermediate bull, Backmuir Rambo 24 ET, who stood overall champion Simmental and ultimately reserve beef interbreed champion. Born in January 2024, this Wolfstar Jackaroo son was exhibited by Reece and Andrew Simmers based in Keith. Rambo then headed up the Simmental team which fought off a terrific field of cattle to win the interbreed best group of four, capturing a great victory for the Simmental breed.
Attracting a lot of attention – as always – was the commercial cattle classes, which featured some high-profile cattle from across Ireland and the UK. In top spot was a striking red Limousin-cross heifer from Andy Ireland and JCB Commercials. Sired by the impressive Graiggoch Rambo, she was bred by Brian Harper in Greenwells.
Dairy interbreed
Taking all the plaudits in the dairy section was the magnificent Holstein Friesian cow, MAG Pandor.
Jointly owned by Blyth Farms and Ferme Blondin, this five-and-a-half-year-old cow was overall champion Holstein Friesian and supreme interbreed champion at the same venue in 2024 and 2025, as well as standing supreme champion at the UK Dairy Expo in both years. The Walnutlawn Sidekick A242 HMWF daughter imprinted her name into the history books once again this year, becoming the first cow to win the dairy interbreed title at the Royal Highland Show for three consecutive years.
Blackface triumph
In what was a stunning show of sheep, the Ramsay family from Milnmark came out on top, taking home the Blackface championship before being crowned overall interbreed champion with their exceptional ewe. This year’s win marked the Ramsay’s 10th breed championship at the Highland Show.
Overall, it was an enthralling week for spectators, with over 6,000 livestock in attendance, including 700 cattle and 2,000 sheep. The dairy cattle category experienced its highest number of entries in over 10 years, with the Highland breed remaining the largest cattle breed with over 100 entries, followed by the beef Shorthorn and Aberdeen Angus.
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