Exhibitors have being arriving on the 40ha site since Monday to allow their cattle settle and, win or lose, will not be leaving until Sunday.

With over half of the beef championships over, Irish breeding has being rising to the top. Securing the supreme overall championship in the Simmental ring was Auroch Eve. Bred by the late David Wall, this three-year-old with calf at foot was brought out by Michael Barlow, Leyland, Scotland. Eve combines Auroch breeding on both sides of her breeding and this win marks two in a row for the overall championship at the Highland for her new owner.

The reserve junior female also comes from Irish soil in the form of two-year-old Fearna Finesse. Bred by the Neenan brothers, Finesse was secured at Roscommon for the price of €8,100. Sired by Kilbride Farm, Newry, she was brought out by new owner Richard McCulloch.

Securing reserve overall in the Simmental ring was Popes Princess Cleo. This homebred heifer was already second best to the overall champion in the female section. Sired by J H & V G Wood, this five-year-old is sired by Banwy Wonderboy.

Saler

For the Salers, it was Northern Ireland who scooped all the glory, with John Elliot and son claiming both the champion and reserve sash. The champion was the three-year-old Drumlegagh Galaxy sired by Fanfan. Not stopping there, John also went on to secure the reserve junior championship with Drumlegagh Kyra.

Hereford

Catching a lot of people’s attention in the yard was the overall Hereford champion Normanton 1 Laertes. This stylish two-and-a-half-year-old polled bull was bred and exhibited by T & W Livesey. Sired by Romany 1 Distiller, Laertes held off stiff competition in the female champion to secure the top spot. The female champion who then went on to secure reserve overall was Panmure 1 Plum. Brought out J M Cant & Partners, Plum – a two-year-old with calf at foot – was sired by Hawkssbury 1 Volcano.

Shorthorn

It was also the male champion who secured the overall breed championship in the Shorthorn ring. Chapleton Ensign secured the top honour for Glenrinnes farm who purchased Ensign from Mrs D Bigger. Ensign goes back on a Chalpeton-bred cow and is sired by Canvas Yankee. James Porter of Northern Ireland was second to him for the male championships with homebred Uppermill Gladiator.

Blonde

In the Blonde ring, it was the senior male Donaldson Jupiter who stole the show. Bred and exhibited by Melissa Donaldson, Jupiter is no stranger to success having secured the male championship at the Welsh last year, as well as the reserve junior and reserve male at the great Yorkshire last year. Sired by Ark Diego, this marks the start of a great highland show career for the first-time exhibitor.

Charolais

Charolais entries saw an increase of more than 20 cattle this year, with 80 of the finest Charolais in the UK in line for judging. Securing the overall championship was the two-year-old Wissington Jocasta, who was placed top of a 13-strong class. This was breeder Jennifer Rix’s first time exhibiting at the show and the sire behind Jocasta was Thrunton Galaxy. In reserve stood the six-year-old cow class winner from John Irvine and son. This one goes by the name of Ballindalloch Favour and is sired by Lochend Apache.

Highlands

The final beef breed before the break was the native Highlands. Females stole the limelight here, with the female champion Una Ruadh 49th of Pollok going on to claim overall. Owned by Glasgow City Council, this young heifer is sired by Uallach Dubh 5th of Pollok. Clinching reserve overall was Maireared Stuamig 2nd of Borland, who stood second to the champion all the way through. Steddancer 3rd of Glengorm was behind this one and the exhibitor was Mr K Howman.

Further results this evening after the second round of beef breeds take centre stage.