First inter-breed win for Balthayock Charolais at the Royal Highland

Foxhillfarm Naomi took the reserve spot, this was the Limousin champion from M.J. Alford, Devon. The May 2017-born heifer is by Trueman Jagger and was breed champion at both Devon and Cornwall show this season. It is and out of homebred cow, Foxhillfarm Isla, which is out of one of the herds foundation cows, Bankdale Alice, whose progeny has to date amounted to over £1 million. The heifer has been flushed to Ampertaine Foreman and is the only Limousin from the 20-strong herd at the show.

The commercial champion was Darcie, a British Blue cross heifer from third time commercial champion, Hugh Dunlop, Ayrshire. By British Blue bull, Cromwell Fendt, it is out of a Limousin cross cow, it was first in its class at Ayr Show this year. Mr Dunlop’s family have been showing at the Royal Highland for over 25 years, and the heifer is part of his 120 cow herd.

The Simmental champion was Corskie Disco from W.J. and J. Green, Moray. By Islavale Sabre and out of homebred cow, Corskie Swirl. The forth-calved cow was shown with twin bull and heifer calves at foot by Dirnanean Bradley 10, their stock bull which was Simmental champion at the Royal Highland Show in 2014.

Kevin Watret, Annan, claimed the British Blue championship with his homebred April 2017-born heifer, Solway View Milly. By Empire D’Ochaine and out of homebred cow, Solway View Elegance, which won the breed championship at the Royal Highland Show, Great Yorkshire Show and the Royal Welsh Show in 2013, in an accolade known as the Triple Crown. Part of the 80-strong Solway View herd, the heifer was junior female champion at the Great Yorkshire Shows in 2018.

The Highland champion was Skye of Little Ranoch from MacNaughton and Lawrie, Kelty. The January 2016-born cow is by Fearghus of Balmoral, a stock bull bought from the Queen’s herd of Highland cattle. Skye is one of five cows owned by the duo and the first cow to have won the Highland championship for two years running.

Females dominated the inter-breed apart from the Galloway champion which was a seven-year-old bull, from the Waugh family, Kilnstown Farms, Carlisle. The bull, Buccleuch Adonis was bought from Buccleuch Estates, Edinburgh six years ago. By Kirkstead Nancy Boy and out of Dalwhat Moss rose J1, Adonis sired the native champion steer at LiveScot in 2018 and bulls by him have been sold for £4,500. The bull has only been shown once previously and it was the native champion at Northumberland County Show in May.

It was also the junior Charolais champion which took the inter-breed junior honours, this time it was R. and N. Barclay with their homebred heifer, Harestone Natalie. By Thrunton Socrates and out of homebred cow, Harestone Finesse, the August 2017-born heifer has Royal Highland Show champions on both sides of its pedigree. It was shown at Turrif, Echt and Banchory and Stars of the future, it was unbeaten in its class at each show. Last year the family took the breed champion and reserve inter-breed honours at the Royal Highland Show.

The junior reserve champion was the Shorthorn from Tom McMillan, Isle of Bute. This was a September 2017-born heifer, bred by R.J. Baudains, Yorkshire. It was bought as a calf at foot with its mother from Carlisle in 2018. It was the breed champion at Stirling last week and was first in its class at Beef Expo in March.

Winning the teams competition was the Limousins, this was Springsett Nancy, an October 2017-born heifer from McBeath and Jessop, Stirling, Whinfellpark Nerissa, a January 2017-born heifer from Messrs Jenkinson, Penrith, Whinfellpark Jeansjiggle a five-year-old cow with calf at foot from the same home and Redpaths Nobleman, a two-year-old bull from Redpath Farms, Kelso.

The reserve was the Aberdeen-Angus team with entries from D. and K. Graham, Lockerbie, Donald Rankin, Perthshire, David Walker, Nairn and Alistair Clark and Sons, Cumnock.