Taking place at Stranagone Farms in Northern Ireland on Saturday 23 August was the British Charolais Cattle Society’s Youth Development National Stock Judging Finals. Young Charolais enthusiasts from across the UK made the journey for the finals, which also involved an excellent talk from Catherine MacGregor on photography, a visit to Jalex Livestock and a tour of Robert McWilliams’ Stranagone herd.

Scotland was well represented in the junior individual category, as Annie Taylor, Megan Clark and Jessica Barclay took home first, second and third.

Grace Campbell didn’t let Scotland down in the intermediate section either, achieving pole position, followed by Matilda Blyth from Yorkshire in second, with the young Scot Cameron Barclay in third.

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In the seniors, Mollie Cochrane from Northern Ireland was victorious, followed by Charlotte Hitchen from Yorkshire and another Northern Irish girl, Cara Millar, in third.

The pairs class was attained by Yorkshire breeders Charlotte Hitchen and Matilda Blyth, pushing Scottish lads Cameron Barclay and Fletcher Russell into second, with Ruby and Jessie MacDougall, also from Scotland, in third.

James Hudson, breed secretary of the British Charolais Cattle Society, was hugely impressed with the standard.

“It’s been an incredible event. The standard was exceptional and a really positive sign for the future of the Charolais breed in the UK. I would like to congratulate all those who took part, thank all those involved in organising the event and of course a massive thank you to the McWilliams family for hosting the finals.”