Limousin carry off the most coveted trophies

Queen’s Cup goes to the Alfords from Devon

Outstanding Limousin cattle swept all other breeds before them in the Royal Highland Show’s beef interbreed rings, and carried off the event’s most coveted trophies.

The prestigious Queen’s Cup was presented to Michael and Melanie Alford from Devon for their 17-monthold heifer, Foxhillfarm Mamamia, whose pedigree surely equipped her for glory. Her dam is the 125,000gns world record price dam, Glenrock Illusion, and her sire, Foxhillfarm Irish Lad, sold for 38,000gns three years ago.

Winning the Royal Highland’s interbreed award was the highest-ever achievement for the Alfords’ 15-strong pedigree Limousin herd.

Two of their animals went on to share the glory in the interbreed team competition, one of the greatest spectacles of the entire show.

The winning team was judged by Kilsyth master breeder Archie MacGregor from Allanfauld, who told the crowds he was looking for a balanced team of exceptional cattle.

He found it in Whiskey Infinity, a three-year-old bull shown by Aberdeenshire breeder, Harry Emslie; Burnbank Jojo, a three-year-old cow from D&L Graham, Mains of Burnbank Farm, Blairdrummond; and two heifers from the Alfords, which included the breed’s reserve champion, Foxhillfarm Looks the part and Foxhillfarm Limited Edition.

The Aberdeen-Angus team took reserve place. Their line-up included three-year-old bull Carlhurlie Epic from Lisburn, Antrim breeder, James Porter; six-year-old cow Haughton Justine Erica from Temple Farm (Chedzoy) Ltd, Bridgewater, Somerset; Donald Rankin, Duntulm, Skye’s Weeton Princess Chartreuse; and Linton Gilbertines Rosebud Willabar from Gordon Brooke Estate, Earlston.

Reserve overall in the singles contest was the Simmental breed champion from David Craig, Kennox Cottage, Stewarton. She was the rising two-yearold heifer, Kennox Tara’s Gem by Sowenna Aristocrat out of Annick Helen’s Tara, fresh from her interbreed win at Neilston and Stewarton shows.

Meanwhile the show’s junior championship was won by a Galloway heifer from Jason and Sarah Wareham from Heathfield in East Sussex.

The Warehams, from Little Tottingworth Farm, travelled for 10 hours to parade Lady Silverbell 12th of Gall-Way, a 21-month-old heifer by Lochnagar of Gall-Way from their 10-cow pedigree herd.

As well as keeping Galloways, the Warehams run a 100-cow commercial herd, some British Blue cattle and a slaughterhouse and farm shop.

Taking reserve place in the junior award were Fife breeders Alistair and Doreen Cormack’s Aberdeen-Angus champion, the 13 month-old heifer, Carlhurlie Darcie which is kept at Carskerdo Farm, Cupar,