DESPITE a bumper line-up of top quality Aberdeen-Angus forward for the World Forum, Limousins proved the star performers when it came to the prestigious inter-breed competitions at the Royal Highland Show, winning both the individual and group sections.

Overall judge, Archie MacGregor, Allanfauld, had no hesitation in selecting the breed supreme in both incidences, with his choice of top individual being Mike and Melanie Alford’s 42,000gns Foxhillfarm Mamamia which stood supreme over the Simmental leader, Kennox Tara’s Gem from David Craig.

Taking all the plaudits and a first supreme overall here for the Alfords, was a 17-month-old heifer that won several shows as a calf. She will next be shown at the Royal Welsh where she will then be handed over to her owner, Bryn Evans, Wales.

Retired Ayrshire joiner, David Craig, also enjoyed his best ever day at Ingliston, winning his second breed title here but his first reserve overall championship, with another young heifer. His show stopper was a two-year-old by the show winning bull, Sowenna Aristocrat.

It was nevertheless Alistair and Doreen Cormack, Fife, who probably enjoyed the show most though, as after a traumatic year, the couple triumphed to win the Aberdeen Angus championship with their sole entry, Carlhurlie Darcie, a yearling daughter bought at the Carlhurlie dispersal.

Not only did she lead the biggest section of the show, she also scooped the second reserve in the individual beef inter-breed competition and provided a first overall win for the couple’s new Largo herd.

The Alford’s Limousins were also to the fore in the inter-breed groups, with two of their heifers, Foxhillfarm Limited Edition and Foxhillfarm Looksthepart, by Kype Interrogate and Guards Boomer, respectively making up the winning team. Also included was Dougie and Lynda Graham’s Burnbank Jojo, by Wilodge Fastrac and her calf, from Blair Drummond, and Harry and Lywen Emslie’s and Meridian Genetics’ four-year-old bull, Whiskey Infinity by Plumtree Deus.

The latter two animals also lifted the reserve inter-breed pairs competition.

A quartet of Aberdeen Angus secured the reserve to include Gordon Brooke Estate’s Linton Gilbertines Rosebud Willabar, by Rawburn Black Hawk (reserve female); Donald Rankin’s Weeton Princess Chartreuse, by Retties JFK, from Skye; Alistair Clark and Sons’ Duncanziemere Jody, by The Moss Mr Eshton, with calf, from Cumnock and James Porter’s bull, Carlhurlie Epic, by Skaill Dido, from Northern Ireland.

Aberdeen-Angus also won the beef pairs competition, with the winning duo made up of the male champion, Balmachie Rodger,  from John Lascelles and the reserve female champion, Gordon Brooke Estate’s Linton Gilbertines Rosebud Willabar, an in-calf heifer by Rawburn Black Hawk.

Galloways also made their mark in the native inter-breed competitions, winning the junior and the group of three sections. Supreme junior was Jason and Sarah Wareham’s Lady Silverbell 12 of Gall-way a rising two-year-old bought privately from her breeder, Dennis Gall, as a calf. 

Making up the winning group was the Galloway champion, Blackcraig Sid from the Finlay family; Balavil Estate’s Blackcraig Bertha and Jim and Selina Scott’s Nerys 1306 of Romesbeoch.

Standing next in line to them was the Hereford trio comprising Heather Whittaker’s Coley 1 Clara; Tom and Di Harrison’s Coley 1 Pippa and Panmure 1 Noah, from the firm of JM Cant and Partners.

Runner-up individual junior was the Angus champion, Alistair and Doreen Cormack’s Carlhurlie Darcie.

For full report and pictures see this week's Scottish Farmer