BALMORAL Show kicked off with a belter of a day when thousands headed to Northern Ireland’s leading agricultural show to watch the first of the cattle and sheep classes being judged.

A number of Scottish breeders were in the spotlight as several made the trip across the Irish Sea to judge many of the breeds on show.

The beef and sheep classes were spread between Wednesday and Thursday, and the beef inter-breed competitions will take place on Friday while the sheep inter-breed competition is on Saturday. The dairy judging will also take place on Friday.

Here's a wee list of most of the breed champions and reserve so far, keep an eye out for more as the day goes on.

Texel – Champion – J Gault’s ewe; Reserve – S McCollam’s gimmer; Male champion – J Foster’s shearling ram; Reserve male – C and C Aiken’s shearling ram.

Beltex – Champion – M Burleigh’s two-shear ram; Reserve – Miss E McAllister’s two-crop ewe; Reserve male – Miss E McAllister’s ram lamb; Reserve female – Miss E McAllister’s gimmer.

Hampshire Down – Champion – Miss H Robinson’s gimmer; Reserve – Miss H Robinson’s ram.

Zwartbles – Champion – L Campbell’s aged ewe; Reserve – C and D Cromie’s ram.

Swaledale – Champion – E Haughey’s ewe; Reserve – D McClintock’s shearling ram.

Lleyn – Champion – S Killen’s gimmer; Reserve – B Latimer’s aged ram.

Limousin – Champion – H Savage and Son’s Trueman Lute; Reserve and junior champion – H Savage and Son’s Trueman Mozart; Reserve female – H Savage and Sons’ Trueman Melody; Reserve male – P Murhpy’s Carrickaldreen Maverick.

Aberdeen-Angus – Champion – J Porter’s Carlhurlie Epic; Reserve – Mrs G Matchett’s Cheeklaw Emlyn. Female champion – I Colville’s Belhaven Zephyr; Female champion – F Davidson’s Ember Princess Lil.

Hereford – Champion – JE, RI and W Haire’s Panmure 1 monster; Reserve – W Connolly’s Peartree 1 Ed; Female champion – JE, RI and W Haire’s Dorepoll 1 Catalina; Reserve female – G Watson’s Barnburn 1 Nancy; Junior champion – J and W McMordie’s Solpoll 1 National.

British Blue – Champion – J and S Martin’s Springhill King Kong; Reserve – J and S Martin’s Springhill Karla; Reserve male – T Dodds’ Bavan Knight; Reserve female – T Dodds’ Bavan Lady Rose.

Salers – Champion – J and EA Elliot’s Drumlegagh Hamish; Reserve – J and EA Elliot’s Drumlegagh Galaxy; Reserve male – J and EA Elliot’s Drumlegagh Lucas; Reserve female and junior champion – J and EA Elliot’s Drumlegagh Luna.

Irish Moiled – Champion – N and M Moilies’ Curraghnakeely Sylvia the First; Reserve and junior champion – S Holmes’ Dungallia Bean An Ti. Reserve junior – N and M Moilies’ Curraghnakeely Super-duper.

Dexter (National Show) – Champion – M Bloomer’s Northbrook Atlas; Reserve – Montgomery and McLenaghan’s Ballyloughan Fairytale; Junior champion – A Pearson’s Ballyloughan Edinburgh; Reserve junior – R Lavery’s Deryyola Mighty Mouse.

Charollais – Champion – Mrs D Christie’s gimmer; Reserve – Mrs D Christie’s shearling ram; Reserve female – W McAllister’s gimmer; Reserve male – J Aiken’s ram lamb.

Suffolk – Champion – AJ and NA Robinson’s gimmer; Reserve – GC Beacom’s ram lamb; Reserve female – GC Beacom’s ewe lamb; Reserve male – S Sufferin’s shearling ram.

Ile de France – Champion – E Adamson’s aged ram; Reserve – Glenhoy Ile de France’s aged ewe.

Dorset Horn and Poll – Champion – R Hill’s gimmer; Reserve – A McNeill’s ewe lamb.

Rare breed sheep – Champion – Mrs L Hamilton’s ewe; Reserve – S Kerr’s aged ram.

Charolais – Champion – W Short’s Woodpark Lottie; Reserve – Feeney, Brendan and Grey’s Gretnahouse Lord; Reserve female and junior champion – SJ Smyth’s Bessiebell Millie; Reserve male – GJ Crawford’s Coolnaslee Marlow.

Simmental – Champion – JL and CJ Weatherup’s Lisglass Goddess; Reserve – P Kelly’s Ashland Humdinger; Reserve female – WD and JD Hazelton’s Ranfurly Weikel 18.

Border Leicester – Champion – J Aiken’s gimmer; Reserve – H Dickey’s shearling ram.

Bluefaced Leicester – Champion – B Blaney’s gimmer; Reserve – Mrs J Loughery’s gimmer.

Perth-type Blackface – Champion – S Adams’ gimmer; Reserve – P McEvoy’s two-crop ewe.

North Country Cheviot – Champion – Graham, Robinson and McNeil’s aged ram; Reserve – A McNeill’s gimmer.

Blue Texel – Champion – A and J knox’s ewe; Resereve – A and J Carson’s gimmer.

Jacob – Champion – J Harkness’ gimmer; Reserve – J McGrath’s shearling ram.

Mule – Champion – Miss M Wright’s ewe; Reserve – P Donnelly’s gimmer.

Greyface – Champion – Mrs J Adams’ gimmer; Reserve – Miss M Wright’s aged ewe.

Kerry Hill – Champion – J McClintock’s gimmer; Reserve – W Clark’s gimmer.

Lanark-type Blackface – Champion – S Wallace’s two-crop ewe; Reserve – J and C Harkin’s gimmer.

Rouge de l-Ouest – Champion – AJ Graham’s gimmer; Reserve – IA Montgomery’s gimmer

See next week's issue of The Scottish Farmer (May 20) for a full report and picture spread from Balmoral.