Carlisle auctioneer David Thomlinson had quite a task in front of him at the Great Yorkshire Show yesterday.
Mr Thomlinson, who is senior auctioneer with Harrison and Hetherington, had first to select a junior beef champion.
After due scrutiny the slap on the rump came for the 17-month-old Simmental bull, Williams Eddie by Clonagh Tiger Gallant, from Mrs H Clarke, Hevingham, Norwich.
As reserve he placed the 15-month-old Aberdeen-Angus heifer Retties Lady Ruth from Donald Rankin, of Skye. She was shown yesterday by her breeders, Richard and Carol Rettie, of Aberdona Mains. Alloa.
Lady Ruth has an impressive show history having won the interbreed calf competition at Smithfield last year, the junior championship at the Royal Highland and the reserve overall at the Aberdeen-Angus National Show last month. She is by Rawburn Elysium and out of Wall Lady Ruth.
The interbreed groups of four proved a challenge to judge due to the sheer number of animals in the ring but eventually Mr Thomlinson put forward the Limousin quartet.
This consisted of the young bull Brockhurst Elvis from Doug Mash, Chesham, Buckinghamshire; the interbreed champion cow Brockhurst Bolshoi, also from Mr Mash; the heifer Millington Highlight from Millington Grange Estate, Yorkshire; and the heifer Ronick Honey from the Gordon Brook Trust, Earlston, Berwickshire.
His reserve award went to the South Devons.
Even the most casual of observers had noticed that there were only three animals in the South Devon group of four but it turned out the missing member, the breed champion, had been scrutinised earlier before being called away for inspection by the Princess Royal who was touring the show yesterday.
The cow was the four-year-old Trevassack Mayflower from A. and C. Farms, Langham Lodge, Rutland.
The interbreed junior group of four trophy went to the Charolais team consisting of the bull Balmyle Headline from Danny Sawrij, Galashiels; the bull Tweeddale Ivanhoe from Redhead and Watson, Berwick; the bull Marwood Initial from N.A. Blyth, Hartlepool; and the heifer Mowbraypark Icepop from M.V. and M.E. Atkinson, Ripon.
The reserve junior quartet were Beef Shorthorns comprising the bull Meonside Galaxy from Drayton Farm Partnership, Petersfield; the bull Alvie galaxy from Mrs C. Williamson, Alvie Estate, Aviemore; the heifer Millerston Gretta Freya from Jack Ramsay, Ayr; and the heifer Podehole Madeline Glamour from Harry Horrell, Peterborough.
Aberdeenshire pedigree sheep breeder Willie Ingram, of Logie Durno, Inverurie, was in the hotseat with a huge ring of sheep to scrutinise in his search for an interbreed champion.
Eventually he tapped out the Texel leader, a shearling ram from the Sportsmans flock belonging to Boden and Davies, Stockport.
Mr Ingram said: “I couldn’t fault the Texel. It was very good on its legs and very bright in its head.”
The shearling is by the 42,000gn Tullylaggan Tonka and out of a 6,000gn Knock ewe.
Mr Ingram’s reserve was the North Country Cheviot two-crop ewe Hownam Grange Loopsie from Willie and Jimmy Thomson, Hownam Grange, Morebattle, Kelso. She is by Synton Simba and out of a Crookston Firestart ewe.
In the sheep pairs Mr Ingram again chose the Texels with the Zwartbles in reserve.
The Texel pair consisted of the champion from Boden and Davies and the reserve champion, a gimmer from Gordon Gray, Sunnycroft, Selkirk.
The Zwartbles duo comprised the breed champion, a ewe from A.J. Thorburn, Lowthertown, Annan, and the male champion, a shearling ram from Mrs C.M. Anderson, Ingoe, Northumberland.
The fleece competition saw a notable victory for the Shetland breed with Suzanne Meikle, 4 Dunn Place, Wichburgh, collecting the silverware.