Last year saw the Shorthorn breed enter the history books by winning the supreme dairy interbreed championship.

This year, it was the beef Shorthorn's turn, with the breed's champion going all the way to be tapped out as beef champion of champions.

Pole position

Securing the pole position was the four-year-old Ricketstown Lovely from Duncan McDowell.

Originally bred by the Kelly family in Co Carlow, this powerhouse of a second-calver was shown alongside her peach of a January heifer calf. Packed with generations of show-stoppers, Lovely is sired by Nevada Nitetime and out of Mogeely Liriope.

'Flesh, mobility and style'

Speaking about his champion, interbreed judge Daniel Wyllie said: “She has flesh, mobility and style, is full of breed character and is a fantastic example of the breed.”

This mammoth win marks the first time that Mr McDowell has won the Shorthorn and indeed supreme champion.

Taking the reserve position and the title of second-best beef animal in Balmoral was the Irish-bred Milbrook Nelenya.

Bred and exhibited by well-known breeder Willie Smith of Oldcastle, the stylish January 2018-born heifer took all before her in the Limousin ring on Wednesday.

Junior interbeed title

This was Nelenya's second time being paraded on the day, having secured the supreme junior interbreed title earlier in day also.

From the same family line as many of the herd’s previous Balmoral champions, the Vantastic daughter is out of the Neuf sired daughter Milbrook Enya.

Taking the second reserve in the supreme beef championship was the Charolais champion Elgin Nancy.

Owned by Patrick Gallagher, this stylish heifer was also female champion at last year’s Royal Highland Show.

Nancy is a daughter of Woodpark Elgin and Elgin Electra.

Taking the reserve overall spot in the morning's junior interbreed title was the commercial heifer Peppa.

This Limousin-cross heifer was purchased from the Tynan family in Mountrath, Co Laois, last autumn and was the top-placed animal in Thursday's commercial section.

Brought out by the Williamson family, Peppa is a daughter of Craigatoke Jack and goes back to Elite Forever Brill.