Claiming the Holstein championship was Newcroft A2P2 Door Quinn shown by Kayleigh Airey. The August 2025 born home-bred calf by Vogue A2P2 out of Newcroft Doorman Quin was reserve champion at the Lancashire Calf Show. The Airey family -David and Julie along with children, Abigail, Jessica, Florence, Caitlin and Kayleigh run 400 Holsteins near Kirkby Lonsdale.
Holstein judge, David Jones of the Wiltor herd, Newport, said his champion calf was very well balanced with tremendous dairyness and strength and was a great example of a modern dairy heifer.
Standing reserve champion in the Holstein section was Grayridge Liege Georgette. The heifer calif is owned jointly the David Gray's Grayridge herd and David Brewster's Boclair herd, Lanarkshire, and shown by Calum Gray, a combination which took the Holstein championship last year.
The December 2025-born calf by Quality Liege P out of Grayridge Chief Georgette was a winner and the Royal Highland Show and at the Scottish Calf Show earlier in the year.
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British Friesians
Heading up the British Friesian championship line-up was Irthingelt Microwave Birch 3 from Thomas Moscrop, Carlisle, shown by Katherine Jenkinson. The May 2025-born daughter of Whinnow Microwave had been a winner at UK Dairy Expo.
The Lawson family, Fife, took both reserve and honorable mention with calves which were being shown for the first time. In reserve was January 2025-born Lismulligan Brandy Lavender 63 by Bankhouse Braveheart which was followed by October 2025-born Lismulligan Shamrock 21 by Lismulligan Demon. They were shown by Orlaith and Struan Lawson, respectively.
Brown Swiss
The top two in the Brown Swiss section came from the Lochhead family's Kedar herd, Dumfries. Claiming the championship was March 2026-born Kedar Brice Sprinkle, a Scherma Bender Brice daughter, led by Nicole Kinloch which had been reserve inter-breed calf champion at Dumfries Show. A sister of the calf's dam has recently been a winner at the International Brown Swiss show at the World Dairy Expo at Madison in the United States.
In reserve was January 2026-born Kedar Cliff Relentless by Terra Daredevil Cliff which was shown by Hattie Lochhead.
Guernesy
Trewarnevas Drone Saphire 3, a May 2025-born calf from the Bottom family, who milk 100 Guernseys near Truro in Cornwall, claimed the Guernsey championship. The Hi Guern View Levi Drone daughter which was making its show ring debut was shown by James Bottom.
Also having its first outing was the reserve champion, Greensfield Coin Bess, a September 2025-born calf by Dairyman Coin Collector owned by M.J. and C.E. Greenslade, Cullompton, and shown by Dolly Boyce.
Ayrshire
Wowcow Challenger Amanda, a January 2026-born calf by Marbrae Challenger from Ben and Lizzie Yates, Frome, and shown by Seth Yates, took the Ayrshire championship.
The home-bred calf has had a successful show season which included winning the breed championship at Bath and West Show and it is one of only two Ayrshires owned by the family.
In reserve was Denmans Paulette 3, an October 2025-born daughter of Beechmount Magic Mike owned by the partnership of Amy and Jake Sayer and Jonny and Jess Lochhead, Dumfries. Its wins this year include the maiden heifer class at the Great Yorkshire Show and champion Ayrshire calf at Dumfries Show.
Jersey
In the Jersey section the championship went to Pete and Lizzie Cotton, Staffordshire, with Valley Bowlers Itaska 2. The November 2025-born calf by Dulet Bowlers which had been reserve Jersey calf champion at Staffordshire Shire and whose dam, Valley Chocchip Itaska had been exhibitor-bred champion at the Great Yorkshire Show.
Rivermead Ferdinand Feater, an April 20226-born daughter of Lightening Ridge Ferdinand shown by Emily Davis, took the reserve title for the Davis family, Tiverton.
Dairy Shorthorn
Calves from Jonathan and Joanne Fisher's Mossrigg herd, Armathwaite, shown by their daughters, Ellie and Abbie, led the way in the Dairy Shorthorn section. Taking top spot was January 2026-born Mossrigg Barrington Iris 31 by Hardington Phonenix. In reserve was Mossrigg Phoenix Marcia 7, a March 2026-born calf by the same sire.
Results
Holstein (Judge, D. Jones, Newport) Supreme, Airey family, Newcroft A2P2 Door Quinn; reserve, D. Gray and D. Brewster, Grayridge Liege Georgett.
Ayrshire (A. Rimmer, Cheshire) Sup., B. and L. Yates, Wowcow Challenger Amandap res., A. and J. Sayer and J. and J. Lochhead, Denmans Paulette 3.
Brown Swiss (S. McLoughlin, Southern Ireland) Sup., J. and J. Lochhead, Kedar Brice Sprinkle; res., J. and J. Lochhead, Kedar Cliff Relentless.
Dairy Shorthorn (J. Lochhead, Dumfries)
Guernsey (D. Christopers, Cornwall) Sup., N. Bottom, Trewarnevas Drone Saphire 3; res., M.J. and C.E. Greenslade, Greensfield Coin Bess.
Jersey (J. Arrell, Shropshire) Sup., P. and L. Cotton, Valley Bowlers Itaska 2; res., Davis family, Rivermead Ridge Ferdinand.
British Friesian (W. Williamson, Cumbria) Sup., T. Mosscrop, Irthingelt Microwave Birch 3; res., B. Lawson and Son, Lismulligan Brandy Lavender 63.
Showmanship championship
After taking honourable mention last year, 25-year-old Emily Davis, Devon, this time won the Holstein showmanship championship after winning the mature class. Emily works on the family farm where they milk 450 Jerseys alongside a few Holsteins.
After taking top spot last year, Calum Gray, 19, from the Scottish club had to be content with the reserve Holstein title after winning the section for handers aged between 16 and 20 years old.
It was a good day for the Davis family, with Emily's 16-year-old nieces, Izzy, winning the Jersey showmanship section, and Ruby aged eight also winning a Jersey class.
In the other coloured breed sections, Grace Hoare was the British Friesian winner, Ellie Frampton, the Dairy Shorthorn winner, James Bottom took the Guernsey title, Iwan Thomas was the Brown Swiss winner and Zoe Walters headed up the Ayrshires.
Louise Hartley award
The Louise Hartley Award was launched in 2017 to honour Louise Hartley, a member of the Farmers Guardian livestock team who died in 2016. In celebration of her life a memorial fund was set up to give a youngster with an interest in agriculture the opportunity to further their career and goes to a Holstein Young Breeder (HYB) member who has made an outstanding contribution to the breed, HYB and their own club.
The winner this year was Charlotte Moore of the Western Club who receives funding for a place on the Lely Journeys programme which provides an insight into the development of technology and will include a tour around Holland.
Charity raffle
North Midlands Shorthorns held a charity raffle in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust on behalf of member Lorna Preece who had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 2024 at the age of 19, but is now in remission.
Rob Kite, Staffordshire, donated a Dairy Shorthorn calf, Cotonhall General Dairymaid, as the prize and the winner was Jo Burrows of Coldeaton Jerseys, Ashbourne. The current total raised is just short of £4,500 with donations still coming in.
Holstein Young Breeders competition results
Tidy Lines; Supreme, Lancashire; reserve, East Midlands
Best presented stand; Sup., Lancashire; res., East Midlands
Overall stand competition; Sup., Lancashire; res., East Midlands
Club Choice award for best stand; Sup., Lancashire; res., East Midlands
Showmanship team award; Sup., Border and Lakeland
Calf team award; Scotland
Champion team award; Sup., Scotland; res., Border and Lakeland
Dick Stapleton award; Harry Woodington
Little Stars award; Annabelle Tomlinson
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