Trade for the early lots at today's premier Charollais sale at Worcester is a little reserved with the top price so far a brace of 1900gns transactions.

First at this money was Banwy Jetsetter from Arwel Owen. He's by Gawsworth Fieldsman and out of a dam by Rutland Ensign. He sold to a Dutch buyer.

And Arwel's second in the ring was the next to make 1900gns. This was Banwy Just the Job. Again by Fieldsman, he's out of a dam by Southam Easy Rider.

The Royal Highland Show interbreed champion, Logie Durno I'm Yer Man from Willie and Carol Ingram went unsold at 3200gns. But the pre-sale show first prize shearling ram Logie Durno Iron Bru, by Logie Durno Hurricane, sold at 1500gns.

More results and pictures to follow in due course.....

Judging has taken place this morning ahead of today's premier sale of Charollais at Worcester with the championship going to a tup lamb from D J Curran.

This one, from the WernFawr flock, is by good breeding sire Foulrice Eurostar and out of a homebred ewe. Standing reserve was another tup lamb, this time one from Willie and Carol Ingram's Logie Durno flock. He is by Rockvilla Golden Promise, last year's Royal Welsh Show interbreed champion, and out of a homebred ewe. He's a Myomax Gold lamb and is out of a dam by Foulrice Chieftan.

The Ingram's were also successful in the shearling tup class, taking first prize with an entry by Logie Durno Hurricane. This was Logie Durno Iron Bru and is out of a dam by Foulrice Apache.

Next week will inevitably be a sad one for many people with long-term connections to the Royal Show. Not, of course, that I expect many tears to be shed.

It will though be a poignant reflection of the management of the show that it will close its doors in the same year as the Royal Highland has achieved record attendance numbers and the Royal Welsh has record livestock entries and is anticipating a huge crowd too.

Along with that the Great Yorkshire also has record stock numbers, backing its claim to be the best show in England - a title few could argue with.

But back the point. Next week is the last proper Royal Show, no matter what comes in its place - if anything - there will not be a Royal next year or at any point in the future according to RASE and that is a shame whichever way you look at it.

Admittedly to many people the practice of showing stock is an old fashioned and outdated way of assessing animals which does little to reflect their genetic potential. However, showing still has a massive role to play in educating the public about the best of British farming and teaching the stockmen of tomorrow the finer points of a structurally correct beast. As much as I'm a fan of performance recording no computer yet has been able to assess a sheep's jaw or a bull's locomotion.

So, as the industry mourns the passing of its former flagship event it must look to the future and be proud of the stock it still produces. It is no coincidence that many eastern European countries have looked to the UK in recent years for stock to improve productivity.

As for next week's show Taking Stock will be there to bring you all the action from the judging rings and more than likely a little bit of the news from the bars too and with the Shorthorn Society hosting the Royal Wake Thursday night is set to be fair one I'd say!

If you see either myself or Tim rushing about to get results and pictures be sure to stop us, particularly if you're offering a thirst quenching pint.

Wednesday's reduction of the Linstockcastle herd of Holsteins at Carlisle on behalf of Messrs G Wannop and Son saw trade top at 2150gns for a daughter of Sikkema-Star-W Modesto which sold to A and E Johnston and Sons, Wetheral having calved in May.

Second highest price was a 2100gns sale for a Mascol daughter calved eleven days which was taken by M Reid and Sons, Fulton, Lockerbie. Just 50gns less saw Linstockcastle Brad Angela sell to N and S J Sanderson, Lanercost, Brampton. She is by Carp-Pyr Basar Brad.

Top price cow on the day was a Roylane Jordan daughter sold for 2000gns to M J Wilson, Uldale, Wigton.

Averages; 35 fresh cows £1352.11, 33 fresh cows £1659 (Harrison and Hetherington).

Coming out on top spot in the pig interbreed classes this morning at the Royal Norfolk Show was John and Mary Wreakes, South Yorkshire, with their Saddleback sow.

Taking reserve was Paul Churchyard, Norwich, and his Large Black.

Having won the Charolais championship at this year's Royal Norfolk Show, successful show cow Weybread Tiffany from the Harper family has just taken the female championship and overall interbreed title this morning under judge Tom Arnott.

This homebred March 09 cow is by Beauchamp Ferrari out of Weybread Olivia. She has already taken the reserve overall championship at Suffolk as well as interbreed champion at East of England Show.

Taking the reserve spot was Smiths of Bloxham with their senior herd sire and reserve Limousin champion Nebo Viking.

This one has also been on strong winning form for stockman Andy Bishop this year as he picked up the interbreed championship at the recent Lincoln Show.

Coming through to take the top spot in the dairy interbreed class was the Holstein leader Airfield James Miss America from R Patterson, Thetford. This November 2004 born is by Shoremar James.

Standing was the Ayrshire champion Middle Oranje Neuky from Pearn Wyatt and son, Snetterton. This one is born in March 2005 and is by Middle JJ Sublime.

Standing supreme in the sheep interbreed ring today was Jonathan and Carol Barber with their Charollais shearling ewe.

Taking reserve spot was Graham Allenby's Hampshire Down shearling ewe.

Carrying on her winning form from East of England Show, Kevin Ludgate's Limousin cross heifer Sex Kitten has won the commercial beef cattle classes today at Norfolk.

Standing reserve was Mike and Jean Dickens with their homebred Limousin steer Bisto. This one is out of a Blue cross steer.

In the Limousin classes, it was another win for Peter Gooderham with his young cow Sundale Bon Bon.

Smiths of Bloxham stood reserve with their senior stock bull Nebo Viking.

In the Simmental section, Boddington Estates won with their cow and calf, while Abram Farms were reserve.

Results are beginning to trickle in for today's classes at the Royal Norfolk Show and on winning form again is Aynho Prince Kincaid from alex McLaren and Sons, Brackley, Northants. his three year old bull was tapped out champion under judge Robert Venner and is by Belvin Kincaid out of Aynho Princess.

Taking reserve champion was Shadwell Estates with their two year old heifer Shadwell Pam. This one is by Lockerley Bruno out of Shadwell Blackbird. She had to be shown last minute by haulier and showman Mark Harrison as stockman Tony Miller suffered a dislocated shoulder on the eve of the show while out exercising one of the show team.  

Pictures to follow shortly.....

Leading trade for prime stock at Dingwall this week was a 570kg British Blonde cross steer from Findon Mains, Culbokie, whihc sold for 185p/kg to Fraser bros Butchers.

Steer trade averaged at 174.9p/kg for 47 sold.

In the heifer section, a Limousin cross fromBridgend Farm, Dingwall led trade at 183p/kg and averaged at 175.4p/kg for 30 sold.

Working dogs and pups sold to a flying trade to buyers from all over the country at Bentham Auction Marts Inaugural Sale of Sheep Dogs this week.

Three quarters of the 44 forward sold to a top of 1400gns for Working Dogs and 880gns for unbroken dogs & pups.  Local farmer Nigel Barker was unsuccessful with a bid of 2700gns for 'Wenndale Nell', a 3 year old bitch with a pedigree of field trial champions from local trainer and breeder Richard Briggs, Wennington.

Nigel did, however, secure 'Mist' a three year old Black and Tan bitch from Mr Belfield, Macclesfield, for the top price of the day. Seven trained dogs exceeded the 1000gns mark and an 8 month old tri-coloured unbroken dog named 'Jim', just beginning to work, with lots of potential from Richard Briggs sold to Frank Brennand, Chapel-le-Dale for 880gns.

The sale generated a great deal of interest from farmers both locally and nationally, with dogs sold into Wales and as far south as Devon and Cornwall. We also had buyers out of Scotland and sold dogs onto the Isle of Luing and more locally the Isle of Man.

A good number of prime cattle, bulls and cows were forward with plenty of buyers in attendance at Borderway Mart, Carlisle this week.

Quantity of buyers and quality of stock reflected in the prices paid, with heifers topping at 199.5p/kg. Consigned by Len Skelton, Low House, they sold to Jim Mulholland, Great Orton.

Mr Mulholland also purchased the next top lot, a limousin heifer consigned by Messrs Dodd, West Way, which sold for 193.5p/kg. A Limousin bullock consigned by Messrs Jenkinson, Clifton Moor Farm sold at 186.5p/kg to Pioneer Foods.

Prime bulls With more than 85 prime bulls up for auction, prices remained firm. Topping trade was Messrs Little, Greenhill Farm, with a British Bull bull selling for 189.5p/kg to Owain Llyr. Messrs Wheatley and Son, Home Farm, sold aa Limousin bull for 173.5 to Bowland Foods.

A run of bulls from Messrs Carruthers, Glenzier Foot topped at 172.5 also purchased by Bowland Foods.

More than 2000 sheep were forward for sale, with 11 active bidders ensuring a competitive trade, with many l,ab achieving £25 to £30 over the weight.

Better fleshed sorts fetched between 180-200p with an overall average of 160.36p being achieved. Top price a head was 3106 for a Suffolk lambs consigned by Mr I R Barbour, Beech Grove, Annan, purchased by Rob Skelton.

Pedigree Guernsey's topped 1100gns for a second calver at the Nuthurst dispersal last week. The Myown Shot Blastoff bred cow, Nuthurst Serena calved in April and is currently producing 28kg daily. She joins the Kenprest herd, Dereham, Norfolk.

The top price bulling heifer on the day was from the last of the renowned Princess family, Nuthurst Princess 610^th, selling for 800gns at eighteen months.

The Serena family was also keenly sought after with the unserved heifer-Nuthurst Serena 3^rd also being taken by Mr Prestidge, Norfolk for 500gns at six months old.

Top price of the day was the very well bred heifer Dunnerdale Drake Aldina from Wilson Boow of Millom, Cumbria; this daughter of Drake is bred from 7 generations of cows classified VG/EX and has a VG88 sister. She was the choice of Jimmy Hodge of Eyemouth, Berwickshire who had to pay 3100 gns to secure this very well bred heifer.

At just 50 gns less was the first prize junior heifer, Lachstone Drake Princess from father and son team, John and Jeremy Platt of Lach Dennis, Northwich, Cheshire. This is also a daughter of Drake and sold for 3050 gns to John and Nesta Jones for their Emeraldgrove Herd at Boncath, Ceredigion.

 The champion female from Enchanted Holsteins, Rendham Dante MT Model who has two VG dams and a VG86 12000 kg sister, was the next in the price list selling at 3000 gns to Peter Andrews for his Herefordshire based Ruckhall Herd.

A further fifteen female sold for prices ranging from 2900 gns down to 2400 gns and these included the top priced cow Bidlea Paddington Lily (VG85-2yr), a second calf daughter of the homebred Bidlea Paddington from Ray Brown and Partners of Holmes Chapel who sold at 2600 gns to the volume buyers of the day, T Smith & Sons of Hinckley, Leicester who purchased 18 head.

Other volume buyers were R & F Holliday of Silloth, Cumbria who purchased 14 animals, JH & J Salt & Sons of Checkley, Staffordshire who bought 10 and RJ & HD Hugo of Bodmin, Cornwall who purchased seven.

Averages; 24 cows £2025.63;  91 calved heifers £2182.50 (Wright Manley).

Dairy cattle were in demand at Bentham last week when six of the 24 entries forward sold for £2000 or more. Topping the trade were a brace of pedigree heifers from R M Lawson's Deerslet herd. These two, both by Weeton Jackson sold to J b and J B Lawson, Cockerham.

Coloured cattle topped at £1800 for a first cross Brown Swiss heifer from R A Clowes, Capernway. (Richard Turner and Son).

Having got back to the south again I'm just catching up with the last of the Royal Highland results.

In the beef lines the Galloways continued their winning ways, taking yesterday's interbreed pairs title to add to the individual, quartet and native team of three awards they'd already collected at the event. Standing reserve in the pairs were the Limousin duo.

Across in the sheep lines the pairs title went to the Hampshire down brace from Jim and Patsi Cresswell, Wattisfield, Diss, while reserve were the Texel pairing from the Wights of Midlock and John Forsyth, Glenside.

The sheep championship at this year's Royal Highland Show has just been awarded to the Charollais champion, a shearling tup from Willie and Carol Ingram, Logie Durno, Aberdeenshire. This one is by Crogham Hannibal and out of a ewe which is full sister to Logie Durno Eral Dunbar and is by Glyn Cloch Chippendale.

He is in the top 10% of the breed for performance and is a March born shearling from the commercial portion of the couple's flock and is now destined to be sold at the breed's premier sale at Worcester on 4 July.

Standing reserve overall was the Suffolk leader from Barclay and Lucy Mair's Deveronside flock. Their ewe, bought from Scott and Gavin Brown is a two crop female which is by Cairness Kingdom and out of a dam by Stockton Storm. She was breed champion at Ingliston in 2007 and reserve in 2008.

In third spot was the Beltex leader, the ewe lamb from Mary Dunlop, Biggar. Interbreed judge John Sinnett said the Charollais stood out a mile from the rest of the breed winners and was exceptionally well fleshed and caught the eye early in the day. "He's stylish, up and active and is exactly what the modern industry needs."

Taking the silverware home in the dairy interbreed section at this year's Royal Highland Show was Alistair Laird and Frank Lawson, Peebles, with their Holstein champion Almondene Whitney. This November 2004 senior cow was bred by Mr Lawson and is by Oseeana Astronomical.

This second calver gave 10,000 litres as a heifer and is one of 500 cows run by Mr Laird and was tapped out as champion by Jersey and Limousin breeder Robert Graham.

Taking reserve was the Jersey chamion from Robert Hunter, Lanarkshire. Clydevalley Julian Flora is homebred and is sired by Valleystream Julian and is out of Clydevalley Sambo Flora and is predicted to give 8600 litres in her now third lactation. She is one of 25 Jerseys run alongside 75 black and whites.

As a loud cheer and applause greeted Peter Donger as he tapped out the Galloway bull as his overall interbreed champion it was evident many ringsiders agreed with his selection.

This power house of a bull had been selected by many as a potential and worthy champion. Blackcraig Kodiac, bred by J and A Finlay, is by Glenkiln Dynamite out of Blackcraig Bertha D1.

Described as the judge as "simply the best Galloway I have ever seen", Mr Donger remarked on the bull's immense power, locomotion and style.

Previous to the interbreed championship, the Galloways had already started celebrating as they took the interbreed Group of Four championship under the same judge ahead of the Simmental group.

Taking reserve interbreed was Messrs J F Lascelles and Pippa Robson and family, with the two year old Aberdeen-Angus bull Balmachie Keystone. This one is by The Moss Mr Eshton out of one of the breed's most successful breeders Kim of Fourdafourie.