The first day of this year’s Royal Highland Show is now in full motion. Crowds from the UK, Ireland and further afield have packed around the cattle rings all morning for the first of the breed championships. A total of seven overall beef cattle championships have being awarded so far with a further six set to be awarded this evening.

Featured below are some of the very worthy champions from this morning’s proceedings.

Simmental

The Simmental classes were judged by John Dykes and he found his champion in the form of Michael Barlow’s, Blackford Galaxy. The Highland Show is a well-known showground for the Barlow family, having claimed the overall championship at the show in 2015 and 2016 and Michael having took the helm as judge for the breed at last year’s show.

Galaxy himself, ticked all the boxes that day for Michael, so much so he awarded him champion male, reserve overall champion and purchased him following the show. Sire behind the stylish three-year-old was Curlieu Knight while the dam is Blackford Aero.

Reserve Simmental champion was awarded to Heather Duff with Pitmudie Havana. This two-year-old heifer had earlier claimed female championship before eventually being tapped out second best to the bull. Sired by Corskie Elder, this marks the highest win to date for Miss Duff.

Shorthorn

The Shorthorn class witnessed one of the biggest entry of all breeds and was judged under the watchful eyes of Libby Clarke. Having tapped Mr Andrew Anderson's bull forward as senior bull and male champion, Libby kept his run going by tapping him out as overall champion. Smallburn Jethro, a rising three year is sired by the privately purchased stock bull Lowther Emblem and out of homebred Smallburn Fifi. This year marks the first time Mr Anderson has shown at the Highland Show and what a way to start.

Reserve honours went to the Republic of Ireland-bred Creaga Lexi from Cherryvalley Estate. Originally bred by the Dowd family, Lexi is a genetic full sister to well-known show cow Creaga Heidi, who just last month secured the Shorthorn championship at Balmoral. This first calver was shown alongside her calf and also secured the female championship.

Charolais

Overall Charolais championship went to the French-imported bull Harestone Jaquard from R&N Barclay. This four-year-old bull is no stranger to winning ways, having secured a number of top accolades in France before being imported. Sired by Houblon, this powerhouse of a bull is out of dam Ecossaise.

Reserve championship went to well-known breeders, the Irvine family of Inverlochy. Their five-year-old Inverlochy Ingris had all the female attributes judge Peter Donger was looking for securing female and reserve overall championship. Sire is Maerdy Eryr while the dam is homebred Inverlochy Babe.

Salers

Ray and Adam Crockett had a run of great form in the Salers ring when judge Sophie Donger awarded them both the overall championship and reserve. Securing the overall championship was their cow Bacardi Jessie Jay, a four-year-old daughter of Gulliver. This is their first overall win since 2013 when sire of this year’s champion, Gulliver, was awarded the championship sash. Reserve honours went to the 18-month-old bull Bacardi Ludacris. Picking junior, male and reserve overall championship, this stylish bull is sired by Seawell Diplomat.

Blonde

Overall championship in the blonde ring went to Mr Thor Atkinson for his Felltop Joyce. This four-year-old homebred cow is sired by Ark Diego and was shown alongside her seven-month-old heifer calf. Joyce’s calf the previous year was also in winning ways securing the junior champions. This win marks Mr Atkinson's first major win at the show to date.

Blonde champion from last month’s Balmoral Show continued her winning ways, securing the reserve overall championship. Classic Miss Belle was this one’s name and she was exhibited by Mr William McElroy.

More results to follow this evening.