A WELSH-bred heifer topped a tremendous line-up of baby beef cattle, when Peredur and Llyr Hughes’ Queen Bee was given the winning slap from judge, Craig Malone, Pitcairn, Cardenden, Fife. 
The Hughes, who run the 30-strong Pabo Limousin herd at Llanbabo, Anglesey, alongside 90 commercial cows and just recently topped the sale of Limousin bulls at Carlisle at 17,000gns, were securing a personal commercial cattle best with a May, 2018-born Limousin cross on its first outing. 
Brought out by Ieuan Evans and Robin Roberts, she is an AI daughter of Derrygullinane Kingbull, a bull bought in Northern Ireland, whose own sire has produced a significant number of show winners, while the dam is a Limousin cross British Blue cow.
Speaking of his champion, Mr Malone said: “I have been to this event a few times, so I knew what to expect in terms of quality. I knew that there would be plenty of fantastic calves to choose from but I was looking for a good, sweet correct calf with plenty of potential and character, and I found that in Queen Bee. She had more X-Factor than the rest and proves to have future potential.” 
Northern Ireland’s Pearse McNamee and Aberdeenshire’s Blair Duffton, took the reserve honours with an April-born Limousin cross heifer named Sassy Lassy. 
Bred by Mr McNamee, who sold a half share of this heifer to Mr Duffton, she is an ET-bred calf by the well-known Powerhouse Elite, out of a British Blue Empire-sired dam. The other share has now been sold to Mr Duffton and will be a part of his summer show team next year in the north and North-east circuit.
LEADING awards:

(Judge: Craig Malone, Pitcairn, Cardenden, Fife).

Continental bullock (split by weight) – A (lightest) – 1, A Weir’s Caramel Sundae, Lim cross; 2, P and K Brannen’s Merlot, Lim cross; 3, Barker and Johnston’s Herbet, Lim cross. B – 1, C and A Jackson’s Blue Magoo, Lim cross; 2, S Dick’s Firecracker, Lim cross; 3, R Graham’s Fine and Dandy, Lim cross. C – 1, J Smith-Jackson’s Franky Rose, Lim cross; 2, J Hyslop’s Queen of Hearts, Lim cross; 3, D and A Evans’ Dream of Dreams, Lim cross. 
Continental heifer – A – 1 and overall champion, P and L Hughes’ Queen Bee, Lim cross; 2, J Williams’ One And Only, Lim; 3, J Smith-Jackson’s Chloe, BRB cross. B – 1 and reserve champion, P McNamee and B Duffton’s Sassy Lassy, Lim cross; 2, NE Slack’s Sparks, BRB cross; 3, B Harper’s Miss Hattie, Lim cross. C – 1, JCB Commercials’ Strawberries and Cream, BRB cross; 2, L Allan ‘s Don’t Tell Daddy, Char cross; 3, NE Slack’s Rosie, Lim cross. D – 1, D and Y Hughes’ Bombay, Lim cross; 2, J Hyslop’s Midnight Dream, BRB cross; 3, M Morley and N Chappelhow’s Ruby Red, Lim cross. E – 1, JCB Commercials’ Candy Floss, Lim cross; 2, JCB Commercials’ Liquorice, Lim cross; 3, G Sowerby’s Bramble, Lim cross. 
Native bullock or heifer – 1, S Priestley’s Brontemoor Olive, Gall; 2, JRB Wilson and Sons’ Fluffy Moo.