The Aberdeen-Angus and Charolais breeds reigned supreme at the Royal Highland Show lifting all the top beef titles.
In the overall beef championship, a five-year old Aberdeen-Angus bull – Rawburn Jester Eric – from Alistair Clark and sons Alistair and Brian, of Avisyard Farm, Cumnock, Ayrshire. Bred by John Elliot at Roxburgh Mains, Kelso, this 1,650kg beast is by The Moss Beautiful Man and out of Rawburn Joy Erica. He was bought from the Lockerley herd in Test Valley, Hampshire in a private sale 18 months ago.
The family, who keep 60 pedigree Aberdeen-Angus cows and around 500 pedigree Bluefaced Leicester breeding ewes, said the Highland win followed taking the Aberdeen Angus championship at the Ayr Show. Rawburn Jester Eric will now retire from showing and return to work as the farm’s stock bull.
The reserve overall went to a Charolais cow and calf outfit from the north-east.
Messrs M Bruce & Partners from Mains of Logie, Ellon, Aberdeenshire, took the reserve title with four-year old Balmaud Eclipse with a nine-month old bull calf by Goldies Gold Dust.
Shown by Andrew Reid, Balmaud Eclipse is by Maerdy Amontillado and out of Balmaud Beauty.
She was bred by Mr Reid, who previously sold the grandsire for 9,000gns and bought Balmaud as a calf at foot with her mother for 2,800gns.
Judge Ian Anderson from Cumnock said: “I have been judging and showing cattle here for over 40 years. The cattle put in front of me were all worthy champions in their own right.”
He said he awarded the top ticket to the Aberdeen-Angus because he was a “well-fleshed bull and really good on his legs”.
“He has tremendous character, and for the weight that he was carrying, he could move like a fairy,” said Mr Anderson.
Also judging the interbreed teams competition, Mr Anderson awarded the Aberdeen-Angus the top title.
The leading team included overall champion – Rawburn Jester Eric – alongside Nethetron Karama from Messrs W&D McLaren, Cardona Evon from Donald Rankin and Retties Lady Ruth From Donald Rankin.
Taking reserve in the interbreed teams competition was a group of Beef Shorthorn. The team comprised Meonhill Highland Centurion from Neil Massie & Sons, Uppermill Rothes Joan from James Porter; Millerston August Foxy from Jack Ramsay and Uppermill Gipsy Robyn from James Porter.
In the junior beef competition, the Charolais breed reigned supreme.
Top title went to Gilbert Crawford, from Tamneymartin Road, Co Londonderry, Northernireland with Goldstar Hugo.
This 21-month old bull is by Jumper, bred by Martin Ryan and bought at the Tullimore Show. This was his first outing this year.
Reserve junior beef went to a 17-month old Limousin heifer from S & H Illingsworth, Eaglesfield, Lockerbie.
Glenrock Illusion is by Goldies Comet – she was junior champion at the Stars of the Future Show last year and Interbreed at Cumbernauld. She will travel down to the Great Yorkshire next month and then head back home for breeding.
Judge Robert Adam from Forfar said the champion was an “easy winner and an outstanding beast”.
In the beef pairs competition, top title also went to the Charolais breed.
The pair was made up of the reserve overall champion – Balmaud Eclipse – and four-year old bull Rumsden Fawkes from Patrick Gallagher from Gallaran Charolais, Maghera, Derry.
Reserve went to a pair of Aberdeen-Angus beasts including the overall champion – Rawburn Jester Eric – and a cow and calf at foot – Old Glenort Black Bianca – from James Porter from Upper Ballinderry, Lisburn, Antrim.