The Royal Highland Show 2023, proved to be an historic one for Limousin, with a clean sweep across the board taking all five Interbreed Categories.
Overall Interbreed Champion – Grahams Ruth, with calf at foot Trixie
Interbreed Junior Champion – Maraiscote Tangerine
Beef Breed Champion – Glenrock Terminator
Interbreed Champion Pair – Grahams Ruth and Pabo Procters
Interbreed Group of 4 – Pabo Procters, Grahams Ruth, Maraiscote Tangerine and Sarkely Sabella
On Thursday 22nd July, in front of a packed ringside, spectators were treated to a spectacular line up of Limousin as Judge Mr Michael Cursiter, Orkney, confidently worked his way through the classes.
After nearly four hours of judging in glorious sunshine, it was the standout Grahams Ruth who was tapped out to claim the prestigious overall Championship, skilfully shown by the notable Lynsey Bett. A three-year-old cow with French breeding, out of dam Gigue (homozygous polled, F94L/F94L) and by Claragh Franco, who in turn was sired by Wilodge Vantastic, Ruth is from Robert and Jean Graham, Bridge of Allan, Stirling, and was shown with her strong, October born heifer calf, Trixie as foot.
For his Reserve Champion Judge Michael Cursiter selected another mature animal, in the form of the four-year-old Pabo Procters, who was exhibited by AW Jenkinson Farms, Penrith, Cumbria. Bred by WP Hughes and Son, Llanbabo, Anglesey, this bull who is sired by the Irish-bred Derrygullinane Kingbull and bred out of Pabo Jympa, a daughter of Sympa, showed all the desired characters of the Limousin breed with power, stretch and presence.
Commenting on his selection, Michael said ‘it was like splitting hairs but the cow (Grahams Ruth) was exceptional on her legs, well balanced, smooth fleshed, feminine with plenty of breed character. Her lines were good, top, and bottom with a good bag of milk. She’s an outstanding example of the breed and the best polled animal I’ve ever seen’.
Females were at the fore of the champion stakes with the Overall Limousin Junior Champion going to Maraiscote Tangerine, from Ian Nimmo, Wishaw. By the Irish sire Sliabh Felim Mourinho and out of a dam by the 50,000gns Bassingfield Matchoman, this 14 month old heifer who was summed up by Michael as a heifer that ‘oozed class, held her head stylishly and had perfect top and bottom lines’.
Michael selected his Limousin quartet for the interbreed team, Grahams Ruth, Pabo Procters, Maraiscote Tangerine and Sarkely Sabella, which proved a masterful medley with them winning every class there was.
Grahams Ruth continued her outstanding winning streak to claim the overall beef interbreed title with judge Keith Redpath, Kelso, describing his champion as an outstanding cow with a calf that had grown to a super-size.
Keith went on to comment he had witnessed “one of the greatest spectacles in the showing world and couldn’t go past the Limousin quartet for the overall title”.
The Commercial championships were also dominated by Limousin with the Limousin cross heifer Starlight, from James Nisbett, Ayshire, taking the championship title. Bought out of Pateley Bridge market from breeder James Huck, the February 2022 born heifer is by the Limousin sire, Gallaber Leo and out of a Limousin cross cow. The reserve overall champion Top Boy from Andrew and Kathryn Gammie was also a Limousin cross, sired by Johnstown Premier.
Results
Class 273 Female, born on or after 1st April 2022
1st 2954 Maraiscote Tangerine J & J F Nimmo
2nd 2952 Sarkley Talani Amy Vance
3rd 2950 Glenrock Tigerlily S & T Illingworth
4th 2948 Meadowrig Tina Renton & Redden
Class 274 Female, born on or between 1st January and 31st March 2022
1st 2961 Thorninghurst Tida G & S Gilleard
2nd 2963 Foxhillfarm Touch of Class M Alford
3rd 2966 Whinfellpark Temptation A W Jenkinson Farms
4th 2964 Castlemill Tia-Maria Andrew Weir
Class 275 Female, in Calf or Maiden born on or between 1st July and 31st December 2021
1st 2973 Wilodge Sapphire H C Jewitt
2nd 2975 Corsairtly Sugarbabe R & K Davidson
3rd 2976 Ernevalley Sweetheart R & J Graham
4th 2974 Burnbank Symphony D & L Graham
Class 276 Female, in Calf or maiden born on or between 1st August 2019 and 30th June 2021
1st 2985 Sarkley Sabella Wilodge
2nd 2988 Allanfauld Sunqueen A MacGregor (Allanfauld) Ltd
3rd 2982 Grahams Scarlett R & J Graham
4th 2981 Lowflan Suzie Aileen Ritchie
Class 277 Female in milk with calf at foot born after 1st January 2020
1st 2989 Grahams Ruth R & J Graham
2nd 2990 Whinfellpark Roxanne A W Jenkinson Farms
Class 278 Female in milk with calf at foot born on or before 31st December 2019
1st 2991 Crajan Melody C W & J E Johnston
Female Champion
2989 Grahams Ruth R & J Graham
Reserve Female Champion
2954 Maraiscote Tangerine J & J F Nimmo
Junior Female Champion
2954 Maraiscote Tangerine J & J F Nimmo
Reserve Junior Female Champion
2973 Wilodge Sapphire H C Jewitt
Class 280 Bull, born on or after 1st June 2022
1st 2992 Baileys Trooper R & J Graham
2nd Wedderburn Tank James K Hunter
Class 281 Bull, born on or between 1st April and 31st May 2022
1st 3004 Foxhillfarm Titan M Alford
2nd 3000 Maraiscote Tiptop J & J F Nimmo
3rd Westpit Thiago A & J Gammie
4th Grahams Trademark R & J Graham
Class 282 Bull, born on or between 1st January and 31st March 2022
1st 3016 Glenrock Terminator S & T Illingworth
2nd 3012 Whinfellpark Troy A W Jenkinson Farms
3rd Whinfellpark Titan A W Jenkinson Farms
4th 3006 Corsairtly Troy R & K Davidson
Class 283 Bull born on or between 1st July and 31st December 2021
1st 3018 Meadowrigg Superstud Renton & Redden
2nd 3020 Ronick Sabotage Ronald Dick
3rd 3021 Ernevalley Slimshady Andrew Ewing
Class 284 Bull, born on or between 1st July 2020 and 30th June 2021
1st 3023 Seisiog Rio Tecwyn Jones
2nd Wedderburn Stormzy Thor Atkinson
Class 285 Bull, born before 1st July 2020
1st Pabo Procters A W Jenkinson Farms
Male Champion
Lot 3025 Pabo Procters A W Jenkinson Farms
Reserve Male Champion
Lot 3004 Foxhillfarm Titan M Alford
Junior Male Champion
Lot 3004 Foxhillfarm Titan M Alford
Reserve Junior Male Champion
Lot 3000 Maraiscote Tiptop J & J F Nimmo
Overall Junior Champion
2954 Maraiscote Tangerine J & J F Nimmo
Reserve Overall Junior Champion
3004 Foxhillfarm Titan M Alford
Overall Champion
Lot 2989 Grahams Ruth R & J Graham
Reserve Overall Champion
Lot 2954 Maraiscote Tangerine J & J F Nimmo
