A constant downpour of rain failed to dampen spirits throughout the first day of a sell-out Great Yorkshire Show, with Scots making their mark as exhibitors in several sections and as judges.
Aberdeen-Angus champion was Gretnahouse Evas Honey, from Mike and Melanie Alford, Foxhill, Devon. Reserve female at the Highland Show, this April, 2023-born heifer was purchased at the herd dispersal as a calf for 8000gns. A daughter of Rodmead Primero and out of Gretnahouse Evas Honey U052, she is destined for the Royal Welsh Show.
Flying the flag for Scotland, Andrew and Emma Hodge’s 16-month-old bull, Rulesmains Pedro, from Duns, scooped the reserve championship. Sired by Blelack Price Camelot, he is bred from Rulesmains Princess.
Matt Auld, Kilmarnock, had the honour of selecting the Highland cattle winners, where there was a double Scottish win. Supreme went to the three-year-old heifer, Lady White 144 of Balmoral from the Coul Estate Partnership, brought out by Allan MacDiarmid, Newtonmore. Purchased privately from Balmoral Estates, this heifer is sired by Prionnsa Dubh 3 of Balmoral and out of Lady White 102 of Balmoral. Reserve champion at Stirling, she is also destined for the Royal Welsh.
Taking the runner-up award was Dexter and Carolyn Logan’s Cameron of Sguir Mhor, owned in partnership with Ewen Macmillan, Lurg. This five-year-old bull was purchased for 10,000gns from Willie Maclean at the breed sale at Oban and took the same title at the Highland. By Eoin Mhor 18 of Mottistone, he is out of Tanya 3 of Mottistone.
Galloway judge, George Harvey, Balfron, found his champion in Jim and Doug Ross’ Kirkstead Lea G11, from Romesbeoch, near Dumfries. Runner-up at the Highland, this heifer was purchased at Castle Douglas in February for 2400gns from Alan McClymont. A daughter of Blackcraig Bugsy Malone, she is bred from Kirkstead Lea D14.
The Finlays, Blackcraig, Corsock, took reserve with their seven-year-old in-calf cow, Blackcraig Blondchen Z850. Due in September to a Canadian bull, Blondchen is backed by home-bred genetics being sired by Blackcraig Xtreme and out of Blackcraig Blondgen.
Shelsleys Kwagga was awarded the Belted Galloway title for David Powell, Worcester. His home-bred, March, 2022-born bull is by Mistral Phoenix, out of Shelsleys Hopscotch, and has already scooped several awards in the south.
A cow and calf outfit from Jason and Sarah Wareham, East Sussex, took the blue and white sash. Their four-year-old cow, Tottingworth May 1, is by the private purchase Shelsleys Eros, and out of Tottingworth Mary. Second at the Highland, she was shown with her May-born heifer calf at foot, Tottingworth May 3.
There was a rollover result in the Herefords, when the champion and reserve winners from the Highland did the same in Harrogate. Supreme was the rising four-year-old cow, Spartan 1 Victoria’s Secret from Simon and Gemma Hartwright, Oxfordshire, with the reserve going to the April, 2021-born bull, Dendor 1 Vodka, from Bethan Hutchinson, Field House Farm, Greatham, Co Durham.
Tom McMillan, Eskechraggan, Bute, had plenty to smile about when his Highland Show Beef Shorthorn champion, Eskechraggan Fairy Sara, did the same at the Yorkshire. This two-year-old heifer bought in utero is by the 20,000gns Millerston Casper and out of Ballylinney Fairy Zara, which was purchased from Derek Steen’s draft sale at Stirling for 3800gns. She was paraded in-calf to Cherryvalley Tyson Fury.
Reserve was the male champion, Highsky Silverside, from North Yorkshire breeders Janet and John Wilson, Settle. Their two-year-old was bought privately as a calf from Millie Birch, Stafford, and is by Napoleon of Upsall and out of Caramba Erin’s Kiss.
South Devon breeder, David Irving, Dumfries-shire, was another in the tickets, taking reserve with his four-year-old cow, Enterprise Juin. A daughter of Aurora Storm, she is bred from Enterprise Jenna.
The final judging in the cattle rings on Tuesday saw Stewart and Lynsey Bett’s multi-award-winning commercial heifer, Electra, take supreme. Their 15-month-old black Limousin cross heifer is sired by Ronick Red Hot. A big show winner, she boasts numerous championships including the supreme from the Highland Ayr, Drymen, Gargunnock, and Stirling Shows.
Adding to the Scottish celebrations, Alister and Liz Vance, Bridgehouse, Stranraer, took the reserve with Shamboozy, a home-bred black Limousin cross, shown by daughter Amy. Previously unshown, she is sired by Homebyres Norham and out of the ex-show cow, Too Glam to Give a Dam.
First day highlights from the sheep lines
A gimmer from Charles Sercombe, Melton Mowbray, took top spot in the Charollais – his third championship in six years. Winner was the home-bred gimmer, Dalby Betty Boe – a grand-daughter of the female breed record holder, the 12,500gns Dalby Tutti Frutti.
Hannah Jackson and the Sloan family, Dumfries, took reserve with a December-born ewe lamb that took the same award at Ayr and Lesmahagow. Sired by Logie Durno Ultimatum, she is out of a Wernfawr ewe.
There was more success for Hannah when she won the Zwartbles championship with the home-bred gimmer, Topnotch Lasting Light. She is by Stainmore Highlight and out of Topnotch Jilly.
Scottish judge, Ally Baird, Dunblane, found his reserve in the second prize gimmer, Hayberries Lauralie, from Peter and Susan Addison, Barnard Castle. This home-bred gimmer is by Hayberries Lauralie and out of Saltire Ellie.
Scottish breeders topped the Blue Texels judged by Angus Brisbane, Castle Kennedy, Stranraer, who found his supreme in the tup lamb Dunrod Jimbob, from Cameron Cormack, Jedburgh. His February-born lamb is a son of Beili Blues Euphoric and out of Trisant G-licious.
Kevin Watret’s one-crop ewe, Solway View Gold, from Maulcastle, Dumfries, took the reserve. Brought out by Ali Jackson, the ewe is sired by Sunnybank Exchange Rate and out of a Falklands-bred ewe.
Andrew Morton, Denny, placed the Beltex and tapped out a three-shear ram from Harry Askwith, Crook, Co Durham, as supreme. This Logie Durno-bred ram by Buckles Fury was bought at the breed sale at Carlisle.
Runner-up were first-time exhibitors Joe and Oliver Barker, Scarborough, N Yorkshire, with a gimmer, bought privately from the Matt’s flock.
Galashiels Border Leicester breeder and judge, Alex Watson, found his champion in a two-crop ewe that was securing a third consecutive championship here for Tori and Ben Stanley, Derby. Purchased as a lamb from Tom Nelson, Kilphin, at Lanark, she is by Knockglass Johnny Be Good.
Young Robbie Aiken, Lancaster, took the runner-up title with his home-bred February-born ewe lamb. Sired by Intock Eyecatcher, this lamb is out of a Clola-bred ewe.
Dumfries Berrichon breeder, Frances Barbour’s Newark flock, Sanquhar, won breed honours with her three-shear ram, Glynoch Wagner. Fresh from his Highland win, he was bought at Carlisle as a lamb from Adrian Mansel Davies. He is by Glynoch Usain, a former champion at the Royal Welsh and out Glynoch Rebecca.
Reserve was a home-bred two-shear tup from Richard and Jade Bett, Lincolnshire.
There was a double in the Valais Blacknose for Tom Blackwood, Stewarton, Kilmarnock, when he secured the champion and reserve honours. The tri-colour went to the privately purchased two-year-old ram, Kinneff Jacobsen, by Highland Glen. Reserve was the home-bred two-crop ewe, Ayrshire Jasmine, by Shoemakers Victor.
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