July 4, 2023 Royal Highland Show 22nd-25th June 2023

Thor Hammers The Highland Show

Judge: R A Owen, Trefaldwyn Herd, Welshpool

The sun was shining over Edinburgh as Charolais breeders once again flocked to the Royal Highland Show over the course of Thursday 22^nd to Sunday 25^th June 2023. The breed had a particularly strong showing, with plenty of well contested classes, all judged by the discerning eye of R A Owen of the Trefaldwyn herd.

Undoubtedly, the star of the show was 15-month old Ricnick Thor, bred and exhibited by R F McCornick of the Ricnick herd in Lochfoot, Dumfriesshire. This young lad is packed full of potential and went on to claim an impressive list of titles including Reserve Junior Beef Interbreed Champion along with Overall Champion, Overall Junior Champion, Male Champion, and Junior Male Champion in the Charolais classes. Thor was sired by Goldstar Gentleman – a trait leader for 200-day weight – and his dam, Ricnick Precious, is by the 30,000gns Dingle Hofmeister.

In reserve for the Overall Charolais Championship was the day’s Female Champion – 3-year-old Newlogie Royaleclipse from AJR Farms in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, exhibited with her sweet 8-month-old heifer calf Newlogie Totaleclipse at foot. This family consists of some sought-after foreign genetics, with Royaleclipse being sired by the French-born Newlogie Nobel, and her calf being by the Irish-born Rosanna Rudolph. Royaleclipse’s dam is Balmaud Eclipse, a daughter of the 26,000gns Maerdy Amontillado.

Standing in reserve to Thor for the Junior Championship, and to Royaleclipse for the Female Championship, was Junior Female Champion Falleninch Suzie. This charming 23-month-old was bred & exhibited by A B Hornall of the Falleninch herd in Stirling. Suzie was sired by the 70,000gns Barnsford Ferny, and her dam Falleninch Lottie goes back to the Irish-born Dereskit Fernando.

The day’s Reserve Junior Female Champion was Formakin Style, a 22-month-old from the McMurrich Partnership’s Stirling-based Formakin herd. This young heifer was born to Formakin Image, a daughter of Balthayock Matthew, and she was sired by the French AI bull Hatenon.

In reserve to Thor for the Male Championship was 3-year-old Tonley Ranald, exhibited by Brailes Livestock of Moreton in Marsh, Gloucestershire. Ranald was bred by N A Wattie of Alford, Aberdeenshire, and boasts some noteworthy names in his heritage. He was sired by the 30,000gns Silver Joss, and his dam Tonley Nancy is a daughter of the 12,000gns Caylers Hustler.

Finally, the day’s Reserve Junior Male Champion was Barnsford Thistle, a promising young 12-month-old bred and exhibited by T & S Gatherer of Inchinnan, Renfrewshire. Thistle is out of Alwent Broom, a daughter of the 10,000gns Elrick Uranium, and he was sired by the 17,000gns Elgin Jagger.

Later in the week, the Charolais team of four went on to take the Reserve spot in the Interbreed Group and 4^th in the Interbreed pairs. 

Thanks must go to the Scottish and Northern Club members, especially Carolyn Milne and Carlene Mackay who stewarded the classes, and assisted in the smooth running of the Charolais marquee.

All Results:

Class 251 – FEMALE, born between 1 April and 31 July 2022
1^st – R A Milne – Elgin Tern – s. Thurso Paul
2^nd – Brailes Livestock – Skysea Tickle – s. Foxacre Memnon
3^rd – I & D Goldie – Solwayfirth Tilly – s. Glenericht Majestic

Class 252 – FEMALE, born on or between 1 January and 31 March 2022
1^st – R Dunlop – Bessiebell Tilly – s. Newhouse Bigal
2^nd – J M Cant & Partners – Panmure Tilly – s. Balmyle Oscar
3^rd – R & C Rettie – Retties Tiffany – s. Balmyle Jasper
4^th – S Gilleard – Gilleard Tuttifrutti – s. Tophill Oscar
5^th – D Muirhead – Firhills Tinsel – s. Gretnahouse Ming
6^th – J M Cant & Partners – Panmure Tangerine – s. Balmyle Oscar

Class 253 – FEMALE, born on or between 24 June and 31 December 2021
1^st – A B Hornall – Falleninch Suzie – s. Barnsford Ferny
2^nd – McMurrich Partnership – Formakin Style – s. Hatenon
3^rd – Brailes Livestock – Gower Sequin – s. Hatenon
4^th – R A Milne – Elgin Sunrise – s. Maerdy Norseman
5^th – R & N Barclay – Harestone Shailee – s. Harestone Monarch
6^th – T Atkinson – Goldstar Saoirse – s. Goldstar Echo

Class 254 – FEMALE, born on or between 1 January and 23 June 2021
1^st – A J Taylor – Rutherston Sienna – s. Balmyle Oscar
2^nd – Brailes Livestock – Skysea Serenade – s. Foxacre Memnon
3^rd – T Atkinson – Goldstar Sally – s. Infidele
4^th – S Gilleard – Gilleard Savannah – s. Tophill Oscar
5^th – J Irvine & Son – Inverlochy Sarah – s. Caylers Napoleon
6^th – D F W H & N R Walter – Balthayock Shona – s. Elrick Paragon

Class 255 – FEMALE, born on or between 1 January and 31 December 2020
1^st – AJR Farms – Newlogie Royaleclipse – s. Newlogie Nobel
2^nd – R & N Barclay – Harestone Rapunzel – s. Harestone Nano Sc
3^rd – Brailes Livestock – Burradon Raquel – s. Clenagh Lyle
4^th – D Russell – Airthmains Rosie – s. Thrunton Lachlan

Class 256 – FEMALE, in milk or in calf, born on or before 31 December 2019
1^st – A B Hornall – Falleninch Orla – s. Falleninch Imperator
2^nd – McMurrich Partnership – Formakin Ladybird – s. Blelack Digger
3^rd – Brailes Livestock – Bassett Orange – s. Whitecliffe Lacroix
4^th – D F W H & N R Walter – Balthayock Pamela – s. Balthayock Loyalist
5^th – R Aitken – Lourie Panache – s. Tweeddale Lookout

Class 257 – BULL, born on or between 1 April and 30 June 2022
1^st – T & S Gatherer – Barnsford Thistle – s. Elgin Jagger
2^nd – I & D Goldie – Solwayfirth Tierney – s. Glenericht Majestic
3^rd – AJR Farms – Newlogie Topprize – s. Newlogie Nobel

Class 258 – BULL, born on or between 1 January and 31 March 2022
1^st – R F McCornick – Ricnick Thor – s. Goldstar Gentleman
2^nd – D Russell – Airthmains Torpedo – s. Mowbraypark Torpedo
3^rd – R F McCornick – Ricnick Turbo – s. Harestone Hercules
4^th – AJR Farms – Newlogie Transformer – s. Maerdy Impeccable
5^th – J Rix – Wissington Trent – s. Wissington Observer

Class 261 – BULL, born on or before 31 December 2020
1^st – Brailes Livestock – Tonley Ranald – s. Silver Joss

Championship Results:

Class SP01/SP02 – Best Charolais Pair
Champions – R & N Barclay – Harestone Shailee – s. Harestone Monarch
                        R & N Barclay – Harestone Singsong – s. Goldies Oasis
Reserves – R F McCornick – Ricnick Thor – s. Goldstar Gentleman
                    R F McCornick – Ricnick Turbo – s. Harestone Hercules

Class SP03/SP04 – Best Charolais Female
Champion – AJR Farms – Newlogie Royaleclipse – s. Newlogie Nobel
Reserve – A B Hornall – Falleninch Suzie – s. Barnsford Ferny

Class SP05/SP06 – Best Junior Charolais Female
Champion – A B Hornall – Falleninch Suzie – s. Barnsford Ferny
Reserve – McMurrich Partnership – Formakin Style – s. Hatenon

Class SP07/SP08 – Best Charolais Bull
Champion – R F McCornick – Ricnick Thor – s. Goldstar Gentleman
Reserve – Brailes Livestock – Tonley Ranald – s. Silver Joss

Class SP09/SP10 – Best Junior Charolais Bull
Champion – R F McCornick – Ricnick Thor – s. Goldstar Gentleman
Reserve – T & S Gatherer – Barnsford Thistle – s. Elgin Jagger

Class SP12/SP13 – Overall Charolais Champion
Champion – R F McCornick – Ricnick Thor – s. Goldstar Gentleman
Reserve – AJR Farms – Newlogie Royaleclipse – s. Newlogie Nobel

Class SP15/SP16 – Overall Junior Charolais Champion
Champion – R F McCornick – Ricnick Thor – s. Goldstar Gentleman
Reserve – A B Hornall – Falleninch Suzie – s. Barnsford Ferny

Class BIC01 – Beef Interbreed Team Championship
Reserves – AJR Farms – Newlogie Royaleclipse – s. Newlogie Nobel
                     A B Hornall – Falleninch Suzie – s. Barnsford Ferny
                     Brailes Livestock – Tonley Ranald – s. Silver Joss
                     McMurrich Partnership – Formakin Style – s. Hatenon

Class BJI01 – Junior Beef Interbreed Championship
Reserve – R F McCornick – Ricnick Thor – s. Goldstar Gentleman