Limousin leave it all on the line in Balmoral

Limousin cattle dominated the interbreed championships at the 2026 Balmoral Show, hauling the supreme interbreed, junior interbreed, reserve junior interbreed, interbreed group of three and interbreed group of five championships.

Having won the supreme champion Limousin title on Wednesday under judge Keith Redpath, Cranmoney Vee strutted her way to interbreed glory on Friday afternoon, claiming the beef interbreed championship and champion of champions award under judge Vikki Wood of Popes Simmentals in the UK.

A daughter of Graiggoch Rambo and Cranmoney Redlady, this two-year-old heifer made it a dream debut at Balmoral for owner Niall Feeney, who purchased Vee at the Ladies in Red Sale in 2025 from breeder Mark McCartan.

In reserve was the Wilson family from Co Down, with their senior Charolais bull Ballinlare Ultron.

Just over three years old, this powerhouse of a bull is out of the 50,000gns Balthayock Justice and Ballinlare Isis.

This rounded up a magical week for the Ballinlare team, having won the supreme champion Simmental for the fourth year in a row with Ballinlare Farm Nikita, as well as the overall Charolais title on Wednesday.

Junior interbreed double

On Friday, Gareth Corrie claimed the overall junior beef interbreed championship with his January 2025-born Limousin heifer Nugent All Spice.

Having headed up a tremendous show of junior Limousin cattle on Wednesday, she was the pick of the bunch once again under judge Colin Philips. Also purchased at the Ladies in Red Sale, she is sired by Huntershall Nutcracker with her dam Grahams Overlynice going back to the famous Milbrook Gingerspice and Ampertaine Elgin.

Pushing her all the way to take the reserve junior beef interbreed championship was Trevor Shield’s overall commercial champion from Thursday, Armani.

Sired by Ampertaine Elgin, this stunning black Limousin-cross heifer was purchased at the Winter Fair in Carrick-on-Shannon in November 2025 from Cork breeder Noel McSweeney.

Best group of three

As the week went on, things only got better for the Limousin breed, as it also claimed the best group of three and the best group of five continental championships in an absolutely scintillating display.

The best pair of native animals went the way of the Shorthorn breed, which was represented by Leanne Green’s supreme champion Shorthorn from Wednesday Derriaghy Lovely Tess and Cherryvalley Farms, Cherryvalley Victor.

For the best pair of continental animals, Vikki Wood tapped out MCV Competitions’ two stunning commercial black heifers, much to the delight of their owner Conor McVeigh.

Dairy champion

Reigning supreme in the Dairy interbreed on Friday afternoon was the 2022 born cow, Mostragee Vinny Lauren.

The property of Tommy and Mark Henry from Co Antrim, this picture-perfect Holstein cow is bred from Mostragee Vinnie and Mostragee Kingboy Lauren. The Henrys are no strangers to success in Balmoral, having won the same award in 2024 with Mostragee Bomber Louise.

Standing next to her in reserve was the overall champion Jersey, Potterswalls Canadian Club Dawn, bred by the Fleming family.

A daughter of Avonlea Chips Canadian Club, this 2023-born second calver came through a fiercely competitive Jersey contest.

Sheep interbreed

On Friday morning, William Thompson from Kelso presided over the interbreed Sheep championships. For the short wool championship, Michael Graham’s Rouge De L’Ouest Shearling Ewe proved the one to beat, withstanding the challenge from a serious line-up of breed champions.

Taking the long wool interbreed championship was a striking Bluefaced Leicester Shearling Ewe from Rocklynn Farms owned by Robbie Topping, who was making his debut at the famous Royal Ulster Show.

Attention then turned to the overall individual interbreed championship, where Michael Graham’s Shearling Ewe reigned supreme once again, before going on to win the interbreed pairs and interbreed group of three in a phenomenal outing for the Tullyvallen Rouge Flock. Reserve interbreed champion was the Dutch Spotted champion, Craigdoo Iconic.

In Pictures