IT was the senior champion that went on to take the supreme title in the Simmentals, securing a personal best at the Agri-Expo for husband and wife team, Richard and Louise Storersmith from Ashbourne, Derbyshire, who took the senior championship and reserve overall honours here two years ago.

Going all the way to the top for the 20-cow herd was Storersmith Isla, a 13-month-old ET-bred heifer. On her debut outing, she is full brother to the 15,000gns Atlow Dixon which sold at Stirling Bull Sales in 2014, she is by Lisglass Barnabus, out of Kilbride Farm Dora 34A.

Standing reserve supreme was the runner up in the seniors, Denizes Eve's Beauty from Michael Barlow and son John's 50-strong Denizes cow herd at Littlewood Hall Farm, Ridley Lane, Croston, Leyland, Lancs, which has produced three supreme championships here. This August 2017-born heifer is by Denizes Fantastic, a home-bred bull which sold for 10,000gns at Stirling in 2016, bred out of Auroch Eve – a cow which stood breed champion at the Highland Show in 2015 and 2016, and at a number of local shows. She was on her first outing for the Barlow family.

The same home scooped the junior championship with a five-month-old heifer calf named Ashland Lucy Jezebel which was bought privately as an eight-week-old along with its twin heifer from the Ashland herd in Northern Ireland. On just her first outing, she is by Team Celtic 11, out of Ashland Lucy 5.

First time exhibitors, Andrew and Yvonne Leedham, who have made a return to the show ring with their Simmentals, stood reserve in the juniors with Grangewood Diamond's Joy, a January 2018-born home-bred heifer from their 32-cow herd. By the home-bred stock bull, Grangewood Damascus 12, she is out of the Omorga Alonso-sired Grangewood Wanda's Diamond.

LEADINGawards:

(Judge: Miss Laura Green, Corskie, Garmouth).

Bulls – Bull calf born on or between August 1 and September 15, 2017 – 1, PB and JA Borlase's Sacombe Impeccable; 2, F Gwynne's Castlewigg Ifan; 3, JD Loftus' Blackpool Ivanhoe. Bull calf born on or between 16 September and December 31, 2017 – 1, D Gwynne's Castlegwynne Invincibull; 2, JD Loftus' Blackpool Ironbrew; 3, D Lowry's Keeldrum Icon.

Bull calf born on or after January 1 and March 15, 2018 – 1, RL Pennington's Penton Jolly; 2, R and L Storer Smith's Storersmith Jumanji; 3, AK and RJ Steele's Weeton Jackpot. Bull calf born on or after March 16, 2018 – 1, PB and JA Borlase's Sacombe Jaegerbomb.

Heifers – Heifer calf born on or between August 1 and September 5, 2017 ­– 1, reserve senior champion and reserve overall, MA Barlow's Denizes Eve's Beauty; 2, JD Loftus' Blackpool Irma. Heifer calf born on or between September 16 and December 31, 2017 – 1, senior champion and overall champion, R and L Storer Smith's Storersmith Isla; 2, F Gwynne's Castlewigg Empire Girlie; 3, AK and RJ Steele's Weeton Wisteria's Ivy. Heifer calf born or between January 1 and March 15, 2018 – 1 and reserve junior champion, A and YA Leedham's Grangewood Diamond's Joy; 2, JD Loftus' Blackpool Jemma; 3, Miss BA Borlase's Perrywood Jasmine. Heifer born on or after March 16, 2018 – 1 and junior champion, MA Barlow's Ashland Lucy Jezebul; 2, PB and JA Borlase's Sacombe Josie-Bouquette; 3, PB and JA Borlase's Sacombe Hawaii's Jessica.

Pair – 1, PB and JA Borlase; 2, R and L Storer Smith; 3, JD Loftus.

Young handlers – 1, Millie Hendy; 2, F Gwynne; 3, D Gwynne.