Recently in Great Yorkshire Show Category

In the dairy interbreed it was turn of the Jersey breed to reign supreme and doing the celebrating this week was father and son team Morris and Adrian Harrison, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, who were tapped out by judge Peter Prior, Norfolk to take the top spot.

The champion was Hillside Laser's Ann, a July born homebred three-year old by Willoa Laser currently giving 30kg a day. Having been wiped out by foot-and-mouth disease in 2001, the previous Holstein breeders decided to re-stock with Jersey cattle and now run 130 cows.  Having previouosly taken the junior interbreed championship earlier that morning, this is the first outing for Ann this year and is now scheduled for a few local shows close to home.

Son and showman Adrian told Farmers Weekly that he may even make a special exception and take her to the Dairy Event and Livestock show to be held later this year in September.  

Taking reserve spot was the Holstein leader, Ternbridge Roasaland 90 from Ed Seaton, Adderley, Shropshire. Sired by Roylane Jordan, Rosaland was bought last October from Tim and Brenda Preston's herd dispersal for 3600gns. Having already taken interbreed honours at Shropshire and West Midlands and Staffordshire Show, she is currently giving 45kg a day with 4.1% butterfat and 3.3% protein.

It was a reverse outcome in the interbreed group of five championships, where Mr Proctor tapped out the Holstein group, ahead of the Jersey group.

The Beltex champion, a sweet, showy ewe lamb from Andrew and Becky Bishop, Gloucestershire, has just taken the overall sheep championship here at the Great Yorkshire. This one is  a daughter of Luggsmill Lainey, a tup bred by Mr Bishop's father David in Worcestershire and is out of a homebred ewe by Fern Grandslam.

This ewe lamb already has a successful show career behind her, having been first and reserve breed champion at Three Counties and first at the Royal. She now head's for the Beltex sale at Lanark where she is due to be offered for sale. The Bishops run 100 pure Beltex ewes at home alongside about 1000 commercial ewes and a herd of pedigree British Blue cattle.

Standing reserve overall was the North Country Cheviot tup from Jimmy and Willie Thomson, Hownham Grange, Kelso, which had earlier stood male Hill sheep champion. This one is Carruthers Haribo and is by Gospel Hall Dandy. He was purchased at Lockerbie last year for 5000gns and has previously stood second at the Royal Highland.

The second day of this year's Great Yorkshire Show has arrived and its set to be a mixed day as far as the weather goes here in Harrogate.

Today sees interbreed judging in the sheep, dairy and pig lines, so we'll be chasing out tails to bring you all the latest results as they happen. Alongside that lot, in the beef rings it's the native breeds championship and the groups championships too, so it'll be a busy day for everyone.

Here's hoping the rain which beset Harrogate in the early hours of this morning stays away at least until we've finished judging.

With the interbreed taking place a few moments ago I'm now catching up with the rest of the main results from the rest of the beef  classes here today.

Beef Shorthorn champion was Charles, Sally and Harry Horrell's cow Pode Hole Madeline Zeta, she is by Chapelton Promoter and was breed champion at the Royal Highland last month. Reserve were the same exhibitors with their heifer Pode Hole Beauty Ava. This is a Nevada Warrior daughter.

Lincoln Red honours went to H m Needler with Walmer Lobelia F2, a January 2003-born daughter of Market Stainton Bonus. They also took reserve with their heifer Walmer Lass L5, a January 2008-born daughter of Beverley Henchman.

Taking the Highland championship was A McGilvary with heifer Smeorach of an Sidhean, reserve was K and J Gascoigne with their cow Claire 1 Saljen. She's by Cathach 3 of Millerston.

South Devon champion was M E and T E Broome with cow Welland Valley Adora 2, a Juniper Alex daughter. Reserve was W H D Scott with Grove Wellington 56. This March 2008-born bull is by Rufford Sas Dillon.

Leading the Dexters were I and K Emmerson with their bull Valentine Ignatius a High Marlow son. Taking second spot was C A Raybould with Welland View Blossem a Moomin Prince Royal daughter.

Charolais champion were F and J Andrews with their heifer Holstead Creme de Holly. This September 2007-born heifer is by the noted sire Burradon Talisman. Reserve were Newroddige Charolais with their stock bull Gretna House Archangle, he's a June 2005-born Oldstone Egbert son.

Heading up the Simmental entry was Tom Hill with his senior bull Scotland Viper. He's homebred and by Hockenhull Maverick. Reserve was Boddington Estates with their cow Sterling Krumpet's Roxanne, a September 2004-born daughter of Sterling Flint.

In the Salers the champion was Brian Walling with his outstanding bull French import Valiant.

Here are some more of today's sheep results from the Great Yorkshire Show.

Taking the Texel championship was Charlie Boden of Boden and Davies with his aged ram. This one is a Castlecairn tup. Reserve was John Forsyth with his aged ewe which was breed and interbreed champion at the Royal last week and breed champion at the Highland.

In the Suffolks the champion was Messrs Lilburn Estates with their aged ewe, while the Charollais winner was an aged ewe from Herbie Kennedy.

Reserve Charollais was a shearling ewe from Charles Marwood, Foulrice.

Any Other Breed champion in the native breeds was an Oxford Down ram lamb from Geoff Watson and Carol Grain, while reserve was a Border Leicester shearling ewe from E A Stokeld.

Champion in the Rough Fell classes were E and K Bland with a shearling ram, reserve were Messrs T, L, B and J Knowles with a ewe. Leicester champion was C C Mudd with a shearling ram and reserve was B and J Enderby with a shearling ewe.

Champion in the commercial beef cattle section here at Harrogate's Great Yorkshire Show has gone to Neil Slack and his niece and nephew, Bradley and Elizabeth Haughan, with their British Blue cross heifer Sidewalk Sally.

This one, purchased at Penrith in the spring for the monstern prixe tag of £13,000 was bred by John Richardson and family. She weighed 480kg today, having been commercial champion at Northumberland County Show earlier in the season.

Standing reserve were last week's Royal Show winners Andrew Richardson and Jennifer Hyslop with another of their team of beasts, this time a red Limousin cross heifer bred by Keith Dent, Naby View. This heifer was bought from Middleton in Teesdale suckled calf sale this spring for £1600. Today was her first time out at a major event and she tipped the scales at 498kg.

Well, as we suggested earlier the Galloway bull has just taken the Great Yorkshire beef interbreed award to add to the Royal Highland interbreed title he took last month. Blackcraig Zodiac from William MacLean, Oban, is by Glenkiln Dynamite and was a pretty much unanimous choice for the panel of judges in this afternoon's interbreed competition.

Standing reserve was the Limousin champion, Greenhill Viper, from David Cormack and Gaina MacDowell. This one is by Nenuphar and is herd sire to the couple's six cow Dynamite herd based in Lincolnshire.

Taking the second reserve spot was the British Blue champion, Ballygrange Alex from Danny and Jane Wyllie.

Pictures to follow....

Here are a couple of the early results from the sheep judging rings at Harrogate -

In the Rouge classes the champion was an aged ewe from J E Teasdale and Son, with reserve being J F Redfern with a shearling ewe.

Taking the Derbyshire Grtistone title was B Crawshaw with a ram, while reserve was John Pickard with a shearling ewe.

Blackcraig Kodiac, the interbreed champion from the Royal Highland, has continued his form and taken the breed championship here this morning for owner William MacLean. This one by Glenkiln Dynamite was born in January 2003 and could well be odds on to cause a stir in the interbreed later today.

Reserve here was heifer Beauty C548 of Romesbeoch from J and S Ross. She's a December 2006-born heifer by Xerox of Upper Buckna.

Meanwhile, taking the Aberdeen-Angus title were brother and siter team James and Victoria Brooks with Bon Lea Petrinella, a July 2007-born heifer.This one is by Wedderlie Prestiqe.

The Ayrshire championship here at Harrogate this morning has gone to the senior cow class winner Sanderson Buntie 6 from D and C Sanderson. This August 2004-born cow is by ST BVQ Rubens ET.

Reserve was the second place cow from the class Cherrytree Orange Blossom from Messrs Bruce and Partners. She was born in June 1998 and is by Horizon Ranger.

Senior bull, October 2006-born Hallmark Boxter has taken the Blonde title here this morning under judge Pauline Williams, Devon.

He's by Whistley Dollar and stood champion ahead of the female champion, Nick Barrett's cow Doncombe Tanaina. This one is by Druk Lance and was born in July 2002.

One of the most hardfought sections here at Harrogate was always going to be the Limousins with last week's Royal Show champion, Millington Davina, coming up against strong competition. And so it proved, with the heifer being beaten to the breed title by Greenhill Viper from David Cormack and Gaina McDowell. This well known Nenuphar son has picked up a string of titles in the last few years, including a hat trick of interbreeds at Newark.

Davina, though did win the females and stood reserve breed champion overall.

This morning is the first day of the Great Yorkshire and so far bright sunshine is the order of the day, although its not forecast to last.

Beef judging is the prime concern today, with all breed classes, the interbreed and the commercial classes completed by the end of play today. Elsewhere all the sheep breed classes will be judged, as will the the pig breed classes.

We'll be bringing you results and pictures from throughout the day, so check back later to see who's been doing the winning here today.....

Interbreed S Loveless' Large White sow Port Bredy Jean 1802; res, D Beeby's British Saddleback sow Brydges Babble 159.

AOB Traditonal M Nicholas' Oxford Sandy and Black sow Dukes Claire; res, M Nicholas' Oxford Sandy and Black gilt Dukes Dutchess.

Berkshire F Fieldhouse and Son's sow Grange Farm Royal Sapphire 205; res, C T Impey's boar Fairoaks Peterlad 2.

British Saddleback D Beeby's sow Brydges Babble 159; res, K and K Matthews boar Low Park Rajah 244.

Gloucestershire Old Spots M V Hicks' sow Windmill Princess 11; res, M V Hicks' boar Windmill Gerald 33.

Large Black K and K Matthews' boar Low Park Majestic 136; res, K and K Matthews' sow Low Park Grandeur 140.

Large White S J S Loveless' Port Bredy 1802; res, J Newth's boar Prestleigh Viking 4.

Middle White C H Robinson's sow Aggett's Woodlands Lady 2; res, M Paddock's sow Eaves Yootha.

Welsh C D Vaughan's sow Vinery Willing; res, C D Vaughan's boar Vinery Ivor.

Here are the full sheep results from the Great Yorkshrire Show.

Interbreed G Watson and C Grain's Charollais ewe; res, R Field's Wensleydale ewe.

Interbreed Longwool male A J Fisher's Teeswater ram; res, A E and B W Glaves' Leicester Longwool ram.

Interbreed Longwool female R Field's Wensleydale ewe; res, A J Fisher's Bleufaced Leicester shearling ewe.

Interbreed Hill male M J Wilson and Sons' Dalebred ram; res, M Warburton's North Country Cheviot ram.

Interbreed Hill female N J Bell's Swaledale ewe; res, C A Crowther's lonk shearling.

Interbreed Shortwool male J E Pocock's Poll Dorset ram lamb; res, M A Bishop's Ryeland ram.

Interbreed Shortwool female J F Redfern's Rouge shearling ewe; res, A R and J Smith's Jacob shearling ewe.

Interbreed E T Tomlinson and Sons Ayrshire cow Sandyford clover 10; res, Pavenham Jerseys' Pavenham Iben 9.

Interbreed Pairs Jerseys; res, Holstein.

Interbreed Groups Jerrsey; res, Holstein.

Holstein Messrs Baty and Williamson's senior cow Goostrey Coll 225; res, P J Waring's intermediate cow Cleeton Jordon Glenna.

Dairy Shorthorn I R G Collins and Partners' cow Churchroyd Heather 24; res, I R G Collins and Partners' cow Churchroys Peggy 6.

Ayrshire E T Tomlinson and Son's cow Sandyford Clover 10; res, E T tomlinson's cow Sandyford Mayflower 5.

Jersey Pavenham Jersey's Pavenham Iben 9; Pavenham Jersey's Pavenham Iben 12.

Beef

Interbreed M Holmes' Shorthorn bull Cairnsmore Thrasher; res, J Weatherill's Limousin cow Millington Tangerine.

Interbreed Pairs Limousin; res, British Blue.  

Beef Shorthorn M Holmes' bull Cairnsmore Thrasher; res, R S Johnson's heifer Bilsdale Saphire Zanna.

Aberdeen Angus J B Swires' cow Cragg Minneaplolis Belle; res, D and P A Evans' bull Tree Bridge Pelton.

Among the pigs it was a worthwhile trip north from Dorset for Steve Loveless and his daughter Hayley when they took the interbreed title with their Large White sow Port Bredy Jean 1802.

One of 40 sows the family keep at Skilling, Bridport, Jean 1802 is by Port Bredy Valiant 1457 and was born in August 2007. Mr Lovesless last won the interbreed title at Great Yorkshire in 2006, but said the sow hadn't had a successful season as she had been beaten by her sister at many shows.

"Unfortunately, with the way feed prices have been going we've had to cut back sow numbers from 60, but if pig prices rise and feed prices fall as predicted we'll put numbers back up again."