After a challenging day judging at this year's UK Dairy Day, the Holstein judge, Gary Jones, Northern Ireland, credited the stockmen and women before presenting the major awards.
He said: "This judging task has been a life's ambition to carry out and it has not disappointed. "I have been delighted with the consistent quality and would like to thank, not only those in the ring, but those working out in the shed and on the farms at home which allows for these shows to happen."
Echoing last year's championship, it was the Berryholme, Riverdane and Blythbridge herds which completed the final line-up, but were selected in a different order.
Going one better than last year's reserve champion position, to receive the prestigious champion Holstein award at this years National Holstein show was Berryholme Chief Rose from the Wright family, Kendal.The five-year-old second calver, a Stantons Chief daughter out of Berryholme Unix Rose 2, classified VG87 as a two-year-old. It calved down in March and gave more than 13,000 litres. Standing reserve in the Holstein section was Riverdane D-L Beauty from Riverdane Holsteins, Cheshire.
Another five-year-old cow, it is a Farnear Delta-lambda daughter out of Riverdane Strong Beauty. In its last lactation it gave 13,200 litres and at last year's show was second in its class.
Honourable mention was awarded to last year's champion, the six-year-old cow, Mag Pandor from the Laird family, who run the 500-head Blythbridge herd in Peeblesshire. A Walnutlawn Sidekick daughter, earlier this year it claimed the Royal Highland Show championship for the third year running and in its last lactation gave more 14,700 litres.
Mr Jones said: "The final line-up was a tremendous group of cattle, but my champion shone on the day and had everything I wanted. She presented width, dairy strength and showed such free movement."Top placed Red and White cow was exhibited by Crossfell Holsteins, Kirkby Thore, who run 100 pedigree Holstein cows, alongside a team of 15 pedigree Holstein and Jersey show cows. The four-year-old cow, Firstlook Jones Lexi Red is a Stgen Doral-red daughter.
The National Ayrshire show, judged by Matthew Service, Stranraer, was dominated by DM Lindsay, Lanark, who run the Haperfield herd. The champion was Middle Elkin KM6, bought from the Middle reduction sale in September 2025 for 4,500gns. It is a 2023-born Whiteflat King Marty daughter which gave 7,000 litres in its first lactation.
Reserve from the same stable was last year's breed champion, Harperfield Queen of the South 60. The eight-year-old cow by Arran View, calved down in June and gave 11,000 litres in its last lactation.
Honourable mention went to Cuthill Towers Gusty Mandy from J.C. and A.M. Sayer, Prestwick. Classified VG88, the Brieryside Gusty-sired cow was bred by the Lawries, Milnathort.
The Jersey judge, Phil Arrell, Shropshire, took a shine to Rivermead breeding which dominated the section. Champion and reserve both came from the Davis family, Exeter, but it was Rivermead Ferdinand Candy 2 that took the top spot for the second year running. The March 2023-born Lightening Ridge Ferdinand daughter also took the dairy championship at Devon County Show earlier in the year.
Reserve was the heifer in-milk, Rivermead Victory Pixie, a River Valley Victorious daughter out of the home-bred cow, Verdi Pixie.
Honourable mention went to Erie Lonestar Gorgeous by Lost-brooke Hg Lonestar owned by the partnership of Kev and Sian Rickard, Newport, and Iwan Morgan, Carmarthen, which had stood second in its junior cow class to the overall champion.
It was Richard Thomas, Carmarthen, who stepped up to judge the Brown Swiss section, where the Lochhead family, Dumfries, claimed championship with Kedar Nescardo Snickerlicious. Classified as EX96, it is by Kalingen Nesta Nescardo out of Kedar Snickerdee, and was reserve breed champion at the show in 2023.
Reserve also came from the Lochead family, with Kedar Sanchy Baby by Jolahoffs Sascha Apple, which had been champion calf at the All Britain All Breed Calf show in 2022.
Honourable mention went to Toi Toi BC My Mums A Hoover from Toi Toi Genetics, Cheshire. Sired by Cozy Nook Daredevil Toby, it is out of home-bred cow Prima Donna. The EX92 classified cow gave 14,000 litres in its last lactation.
Leicestershire based, Blaise Tomlinson, took the judging reins for the Dairy Shorthorn section, where the Churchroyd herd, run by IRG Collins and Partners, Dewsbury, took the top honors with Churchroyd Strawberry 16 selected as champion. The EX93 classified 2021-born cow is home-bred on both sides, being by Churchroyd Pharaoh out of Churchroyd Strawberry 11. Earlier in the year, it was reserve champion at UK Dairy Expo.
Reserve went to 2024-born Churchroyd Bronte Wildeyes 82, winner of the heifer in-milk class. It is by Churchroyd Hurcules and out of Churchroyd Bronte Wildeyes 66.
Completing the home-bred line-up and claiming honourable mention was last year's champion and senior cow, Churchroyd Bronte Wildeyes 51. The six-year-old cow is classified as EX93 and by Treeton Pingerley.
Wearing a different breed hat, Richard Thomas, re-entered the ring to judge the Guernsey section. He awarded the championship to Edgehill Latimer Okapi from Michael Dawes, Devon. The 2022-born cow is out of show cow, Glanmor Levi Okapi and by Coulee Crest Fame Latimer and gave 6,500 litres in its last lactation.
Taking reserve spot for the second year in a row was the Greenslade family, Cullompton, Devon, with Greensfield Dandy Dan Dollys Star. No stranger to the show ring, the Greensfield Dandy Dan-sired senior cow, gave more than 8,000 litres in its last lactation.
Honourable mention went to Trewarnevas Princess Whippy from Messrs Bottom, Cornwall. The first calver calved down in May and is by Trewarnevas Victor Prince and out of Trewarnevas Victor Whippy.
Results
Holstein (Judge, G. Jones, Northern Ireland) Supreme, D. Wright, Berryholme Chief Rose; reserve, Riverdane Holsteins, Riverdane D-L Beauty.
Ayrshire (M. Service, Stranraer) Sup., Lindsay family, Middle Elkin KM6; res., Lindsay family, Harperfield Queen of the South 60.
Guernsey (R. Thomas, Carmarthen) Sup., Michael Dawes, Edgehill Latimer Okapi; res., Greenslade family, Greensfield Dandy Dan Dollys Star.
Jersey (P. Arrell, Shropshire) Sup., Davis family, Rivermead Ferdinand Candy 2; res., Davis family, Rivermead Victory Pixie.
Dairy Shorthorn (B. Tomlinson, Leicester) Sup., I.R.G. Collins, Churchroyd Strawberry 16 ; res., I.R.G. Collins, Churchroyd Bronte Wildeyes 82.
Brown Swiss (R. Thomas, Carmarthen) Sup., T. Lochhead, Kedar Nescardo Snickerlicious; res., T. Lochhead, Kedar Sanchy Baby.
