THEY may have never previously won a Limousin championship at Balmoral Show, but the Savage family made up for it at this year's event when they scooped a number of the inter-breed tickets.

Going all the way to stand inter-breed champion was Trueman Lute, a 20-month-old AI daughter of Haltcliffe Hitec bred out of the Wilodge Vantastic-sired Trueman Foxtrot. She caught the eye of inter-breed judge, Orkney's Terry Coghill, who said she was an exceptional heifer and very hard to fault.

The Savages also scooped the junior inter-breed title with Trueman Mozart, the first of the calves by the record holding 140,000gns Trueman Jagger, while the mother of this yearling bulls is another Vantastic daughter in the shape of Trueman Honey.

Sticking with the Savages and they also secured the reserve title in the continental inter-breed pairs and champion title in the equivalent group of three.

Going on the take the reserve individual title, however, was James Porter's Scottish-bred bull, Carlhurlie Epic. This three-year-old Skail Dido son is out of Carlhurlie Epea and was bought at the Carlhurlie dispersal last November.

Will Short's Charolais champion, Woodpark Lottie, stood second reserve. Sired by Deeside Gulliver, this rising two-year-old is out of Woodpark Hattie. 

Young James Smyth had a good outing too when his Charolais heifer, Bessiebelle Millie, stood reserve to the Limmy in the junior championship. She is by Newhouse Bigal and out of Aghyoule Finoula.

In the continental group competition, the British Blue duo won the pairs section ahead of the Limousin pair and the Salers team stood reserve to the Limousins in the group of three section.

Among the natives, the Shorthorn breed won both sections and the Irish Moileds stood reserve, marking a best ever result for the Moileds in inter-breed competitions.

See this week's issue of The Scottish Farmer, out May 20, for a full report and picture special from Balmoral Show.