Harveybros top Hereford heifer, Crocus Rose, proved her worth at the National Poll Show at Moreton-in-Marsh, securing the breed championship, before going on to win the inter-breed honours.

The father and daughter double act, George and Sophie Harvey, Balfron, Glasgow, have enjoyed a successful show season with their 17-month-old heifer, Harveybros 1 Crocus Rose. Before taking the inter-breed at Moreton-in-Marsh, this youngster was champion at the Scottish National and reserve inter-breed at Perth, as well as being crowned reserve native at the Scottish beef champion of champions at Keith Show.

Bred from former champion winners, Crocus Rose is the first calf out of Sophie's own Harveybros 1 Crocus N1, which was reserve female at the Great Yorkshire in 2016 and reserve junior female champion at the Highland the same year.

Sired by Normanton 1 Laertes, she will be retained within the Harveybros herd for future breeding.

Overall show judge Richard Rettie, Perthshire, found his task of picking a supreme inter-breed winner a difficult one.

“The standard of cattle throughout the day was unbelievably good, with quality extending in every class, from top to bottom, without any tail end…” Richard commented.

“Crocus Rose was the stand-out winner of her class, oozing style and breed character. She has such tremendous width for such a well-grown heifer, remaining very feminine, despite her size.”

After commenting that the intermediate female section was ‘the pick of the show’, Mr Rettie found his reserve Hereford champion, in Coley 1 Clara 418, jointly owned by AG Whittle, Lancashire and Heather Whittaker, Yorkshire. She stood reserve intermediate female and reserve female champion on the day, as well as previously scooping the female title and supreme champion at the Royal Highland Show, in June.

Champion male was Moralee 1 Rebel Kicks KS R12, from Tom and Di Harrison, Northumberland. Born in April 2018, he is a son of SMH Kingsize 87K, out of Romany 1 Dawn D1 M6, and has previously stood male champion at the Royal Welsh Show this year.

Receiving reserve male honours was Heather Whittaker’s Scottish-bred bull, Romany 1 Prime Time BL P62, bred by Ronald and Robert Wilson, Kelso, which is a former champion at the Royal Norfolk Show, as well as male champion at the Great Yorkshire and Royal Highland. He is a son of Barwise 1 Lancer – the current Hereford Sire of the Year.

Securing the overall junior title and junior female was Tom and Di Harrison’s heifer, Moralee 1 Kylie KS S3. This October 2018-born heifer, is out of the home-bred dam Moralee 1 Kimberly and is sired by the Danish-bred sire SMH Kingsize 87K.

Heather Whittaker’s 11-month-old bull, Coley 1 Sebastian, a son of Rosenkaer Messi 410M, out of Coley 1 Pippa 355, was tapped out as junior male.

Tapped out as senior female champion was Kinglee 1 Polly 554, from Peter Cobley, which is sired by Panmure 1 Karl and out of Kinglee 1 Polly 285.

The young handlers’ competition, held over the two days of the show was won by 18-year-old Isla Soutter.