A SENIOR bull secured the Simmental championship and marked a best result at the Agri-Expo for auctioneer David Lowry, who has shown here for a number of years since judging the very first Expo 11 years ago.

That was his Thursford Hero which was bought at the Thursford dispersal as a calf at foot along with his dam, Thursford Holly 3, for 4200gns in the spring time. This 14-month-old son of Scotland Hill Cairo, which was shown once previously and won the junior bull class at Biggar Show, will potentially be retained as stock bull in David's 80-cow Keeldrum herd at Newsteadings, Cartland, Lanark.

Standing reserve supreme was the junior leader, the April-born Denizes Impressive from John and Michael Barlow, Littlewood Hall, Ridley Lane, Croston. Marking a good debut show appearance, Impressive is by the home-bred Denizes Fantastic that sold for 10,000gns last February, while the mother is the Auchorachan Wizard-sired Denizes Trixie-Belle 6, which won here back in 2012.

Reserve to Hero in the senior section was David Loftus' Blackpool Harper, a similarly aged son of Blackpool Ely which stood second in the same class to follow on from his second at Eccleston Show. He is out of Blackpool Bluebell, from the herd at Mount Farm, Carr Lane, Singleton.

Paving the way for the females to stand reserve junior champion was Newbiemains Impressive, a January-born heifer from Jim and Patricia Goldie, brought out by Jim's sons Neil and Andrew, Newbie Mains, Annan. Another on her show debut, she is among the first crop by the privately purchased Woodhall Fantastic, while the mother is Newbiemains Empress.

LEADING awards:

(Judge: Robin Boyd, Slievanagh herd, County Antrim, Northern Ireland).

Bulls – Bull calf born on or between August 1 and September 15, 2016 – 1, senior champion and supreme champion, D Lowry’s Thursford Hero; 2 and reserve senior, JD Loftus’ Blackpool Harper; 3, N and N Gwynne’s Chestermann Heston. Bull calf born on or between September 916 and December 31, 2016 – 1, D Gwynne’s Castlegwynne Huw; 2, JD Greenop’s Bridgedale Hamish; 3, JD Loftus’ Blackpool Humbug. Bull calf born on or between January 1 and March 15, 2017 – 1, I and M Steele’s Blakewell Idol; 2, Messrs Smith’s Barmurrie Icon; 3, R Loftus’ Clearwater I’m Yer Man. Bull calf born on or after March 16, 2017 – 1, junior champion and reserve supreme, MA Barlow’s Denizes Impressive; 2, I and M Steele’s Blakewell Idahow; 3, R Loftus’ Clearwater International Playboy.

Heifers – Heifer calf born on or between September 16 and December 31, 2016 – 1, JD Loftus’ Blackpool Hosanna; 2, AK and RJ Steele’s Weeton Crocus’s Honeysuckle; 3, JH and VG Wood’s Popes Tatiana. Heifer calf born on or between January 1 and March 15, 2017 – 1 and reserve junior, J and P Goldie’s Newbiemains Impressive; 2, MA Barlow’s Denizes Cadette 35; 3, J and P Goldie’s Newbiemains Ice Queen.

Pair – 1, JH and VG Wood; 2, N and N Gwynne; 3, D Lowry.

Young handlers – 1, Frank Gwynne; 2, Hannah Wood; 3, Katie Steele.