THERE was a pretty even split between native and continental breeds sharing the top prizes at Ingliston, with a first for the British Blue breed when they took the team award and a cracking Hereford brought that breed back to the fore in some style in the individual championship.

Judge Gerald Smith, from Laurencekirk, was the man in the middle for both of those contests and in picking out the Hereford certainly backed up a lot of the ringside thoughts. “That Hereford bull is almost perfection. I had picked him out in the group judging – he’s got power, plenty of character and he’s clean, walked well and well-muscled. I’d say he’s one of the best Herefords I have ever seen,” he commented.

In giving the prestigious UA trophy for the best team of four to the British Blues for the first time, he said: “They were very well balanced and were led by an exceptional bull, with a strong cow and a good calf at foot. They stood out for me as soon as they entered the ring.”

It was certainly a red rosette and letter day in the singles for father and son team, Tim and Will Livesey and their outstanding Hereford bull, Normanton 1 Laertes, from Leicestershire. Related to Rob Livesey, the NFUS livestock committee chairman, they have already enjoyed a lot of success with this 2½-year-old youngster.

Standing next to him in the final line-up was the Limousin champion, Whinfellpark Glittered, from Allan Jenkinson, Whinfellpark, Penrith. This five-year-old was following on from a champion of champions win at Cumberland before going to the Highland and she was shown with a heifer calf at foot by last year’s breed champion, the 35,000gns Foxhillfarm Jasper.

The overall junior title, chosen by judge, Michael Robson, from Northern Ireland, was a belter of a 17-month-old Simmental bull from Jimmy and Iain Green, Corskie, Fochabers. Their Corskie Gingersnap is off the breed’s record breaking bull, the 45,000gns Bel Dhu Capercaillie and he’s out of Corskie Winola.

Further success for the Limousins came in the juniors, when the reserve spot was taken by Michael and Melanie Alford’s Foxhillfarm Lord of the Ring, all the way from Devon. This son of Guards Boomer had already earned his spurs by being inter-breed champion at Devon County Show and male champion at the Royal Cornwall this year.

Heading up a great year for the British Blue breed was their inter-breed win in the group of four and also their reserve spot in the pairs contest. Picked out in the teams were the breed champion and Balmoral Show inter-breed beef champion, Springhill Golden Girl, from James and Sam Martin, from Northern Ireland; the male champion Cromwell Ironman, from Devon-based EC Haste; plus two heifers, Solwayview Jessie and  Solwayview Illusion, from Kevin Watret, of Maulscastle, Annan. The breed champion and her male counterpart were also chosen by judge, Jim Goldie, to be reserve in the pairs.

The Beef Shorthorn breed picked up the reserve team of four title with a well-matched team of roan animals. They were made up by the fourth-placed senior bull, Beautry Excalibur, from Mrs Sarah Wilkins, of East Sussex; with three from Northern Ireland’s James Porter – the second-placed cow, Uppermill Gipsy Robyn, and two heifers, Uppermill Secret Sandra and Uppermill Blythsome Jana.

That latter heifer joined up with the bull and the cow to pick up reserve in the native teams of three contest in front of Ulster-based judge, Victor Wallace, who picked out the Hereford team as top. These included the Liveseys’ breed champion, along with the Cant family’s 2½-year-old in-calf heifer, Panmure 1 Plum L7 and W and R Kemp and Sons’ Auckvale Lively, a five-year-old cow from Co Durham.

See this week's bumper issue of The Scottish Farmer, out July 2, for all the action from the Highland.