Carlisle auctioneer David Thomlinson had quite a task in front of him at the Great Yorkshire Show, with the best part of four hours of cattle judging to look forward to.
Fortunately for him and the full ringside of spectators the weather was perfect for showing with continuous sunshine over the Harrogate showground all day, but not excessive heat.
Mr Thomlinson, senior auctioneer with Harrison & Hetherington, had first to select a junior beef champion.
After due scrutiny the slap on the rump came for 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, Skye. She was shown yesterday by her breeders Richard and Carol Rettie from 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, Bucks; 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.
“There were some outstanding animals in most of the teams, but the Limousins were best balanced. When I am judging, I like to ask myself which animals I would like to take home and in the case of the Limousins it was all of them!” Mr Thomlinson said.
His reserve award went to the South Devons, much to the delight of the breed enthusiasts around the ring. They had held their national show on Tuesday and were keen to extol the virtues of this large native breed.
Even the most casual of observers had noticed there were only three animals in the South Devon group of four. It turned out that 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 four-year-old Trevassack Mayflower, from A&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-on-Tweed; the bull Marwood Initial from NA Blyth, Hartlepool; and heifer Mowbraypark Icepop from MV and ME 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 heifer Podehole Madeline Glamour from Harry Horrell, Peterborough.
The Blythwood beef pairs, judged in the main ring during the grand parade of livestock saw the South Devons triumph over the Beef Shorthorns in the native section. In the Continental section the Limousins led over the British Blues.
Meanwhile, Aberdeenshire pedigree sheep breeder Willie Ingram was in the hot seat yesterday at the Great Yorkshire with a huge ring of sheep to scrutinise in his search of an interbreed champion.
Eventually he tapped out the Texel leader, a shearling ram from the Sportsmans flock belonging to Boden & Davies Ltd, Stockport.
Mr Ingram, who farms at Logie Durno, Inverurie, 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 42,000gns Tullylaggan Tonka and out of a 6,000gns Knock ewe.
Mr Ingram’s reserve was 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 & Davies and the reserve champion, a gimmer from Gordon Gray, Sunnycroft, Selkirk.
The Zwartbles duo comprised the breed champion, a ewe from AJ Thorburn, Lowthertown, Annan; and the male champion, a shearling ram from Mrs CM Anderson, Ingoe, Northumberland.
The fleece competition saw a notable victory for the Shetland breed with Suzanne Meikle, 4 Dunn Place, Winchburgh, collecting the silverware. Out of 230 entries, a fleece from her two-shear white tup was judged supreme.