2020 'Virtual' British Simmental Show Champions announced

Taking the crown of Overall Supreme Champion was Vale Royal Heavenly Girlie from James Arnold, Little Budworth, Tarporley, Cheshire.

This four-year-old cow edged out the young bull Mavsey Kinetic, from Jonathan Gunn, Mavsey, Lybster, Caithness.

Judging the Overall Supreme title was the well-known breeder Mr Billy Robson OBE of the Kilbride Farm herd at Ballyclare, Co Antrim, who was quick to praise the champion animals and the success of the 2020 ‘Virtual’ Simmental Show as a whole.

Mr Robson said: “My choice of champion just exhibited all of the attributes that you would go for in a Simmental female.

"She has size, scope, correctness and is very feminine. From the photograph she is in top show condition, being very fleshy and I’m sure would excel in any show scenario.

"I feel she’s a prime example of the breed and came out of a tremendously strong class of 157 cows.

"The young bull in reserve has a lot of quality with both style and correctness. Again, I feel he’s got a great future ahead of him and is certainly one to watch.”

The 2020 ‘Virtual’ British Simmental Show was introduced in the absence of summer shows and also in a year when the Simmental breed was due to celebrate its 50th anniversary with a ‘live’ national show and sale spectacular at Borderway Mart, Carlisle.

Billed as a ‘good fun’ competition, with no professional photographs allowed and animals pictured in the field by breeders, the ‘Virtual’ Simmental Show proved to be highly popular, with a massive 745 pedigree animals entered over the ten classes by 161 breeders from all four corners of the United Kingdom. With class judging and results rolled out on a week by week basis, the competition built up a tremendous following on social media, not only in the UK but from breeders in countries around the world.

Reserve Male Champion: Lisglass Goldstar

READ NEXT: South Molton Market report for Thursday, August 20

Commenting further Mr Robson said: “The standard of entry has been remarkably high and over such a big number of entries. Whilst my champion was well fleshed it has been great to see so many animals on farm in their working clothes, that’s really the way it should be.

"The future of the Simmental breed looks very good and breeders need to keep the focus on producing what the commercial man wants.”

The Overall Supreme Champion, Vale Royal Heavenly Girlie, came out of the cow of any age class which saw 157 cows in all entered and one of two female classes to exceed 100 entries. April 2016 born, Vale Royal Heavenly Girlie is by the imported sire Auroch Ace and is out of the Hockenhull Redrum sired Vale Royal Girlie. It was a very poignant win for James Arnold, whose father Hugo Arnold, the owner of the Hockenhull herd and a legendary name within the Simmental breed, had sadly passed away a few weeks previously.

Prior to the championship judge off, Vale Royal Heavenly Girlie had secured the Female Championship from Robert MacGregor, who runs the well known team pedigree Simmental herd at Kirkton of Mailler, Craigend, Perth.

The Male Championship was judged by Robin Boyd of the noted Slievenagh herd, Potglenone, Co Antrim who put forward the April 2019 born Mavsey Kinetic from Jonathan Gunn, Mavsey, Lybster, Caithness. Mavsey Kinetic is by Omorga Fivestar 14 and is out of Mavsey Desire, a Skerrington Legacy daughter. It was a super show for Jonathan Gunn with Mavsey Kinetic initially taking first in the special class for young bulls, born January to June 2019, and followed by Mavsey Kaizer, another Omorga Fivestar 14 son, in second place.

Reserve Overall Champion: Mavsey Kinetic

Commenting on his Male Champion, Mavsey Kinetic, Robin Boyd said: “This young bull is well grown for his age. He carries plenty of muscle and shape, and has both style and correctness. He’s very much a modern type of Simmental and with a lot of future ahead of him.”

Speaking generally on the bull classes in the ‘Virtual’ Show, Mr Boyd said: “The ‘Virtual’ Show has been a big success and has really highlighted some tremendous Simmental cattle and bloodlines. It’s been great to watch the show of bulls unfold across the various classes and I was delighted to be asked to judge the Male Championship.

Reserve Female Champion: Ranfurly Lady Diana

"There were a lot of good young bulls shown, but the senior class of 57 bulls was I think a stand-out. It really was terrific to see the depth of quality of these working stock bulls in such numbers and in herds across the UK.”

On behalf of the British Simmental Cattle Society, the society president Michael Barlow said: “I’d like to extend congratulations to the champion exhibitors, and to all of those who have won and placed in classes. To have close on 750 entries has way exceeded expectations and the show has had a huge UK and worldwide following.

"We set out to provide a fun event, that would involve our breeder members, and which would showcase the British Simmental breed. I think we’ve achieved that and more, and look out for the society building on this event next year.”

Whilst the ‘Virtual’ Show has been hugely popular the British Simmental Cattle Society is presently looking at options to reschedule the planned 50th anniversary show and sale for 2021.

Winners

Overall Supreme Champion: Vale Royal Heavenly Girlie, Mr J Arnold, Longstone Cottage, Longstone Lane, Little Budworth, Tarporley, Cheshire, CW6 9ET

Reserve Overall Champion: Mavsey Kinetic 19, Jonathan Sinclair Gunn, March Cottage, Mavsey, Lybster, Caithness, Highlands, KW3 6AS

Male Champion: Mavsey Kinetic 19, Jonathan Sinclair Gunn, March Cottage, Mavsey, Lybster, Caithness, Highlands, KW3 6AS

Reserve Male Champion: Lisglass Goldstar 15 Mr G L Clark, Broombrae Farm, Auchtermuchty, Cupar, Fife, KY14 7EE

Female Champion: Vale Royal Heavenly Girlie, Mr J Arnold, Longstone Cottage, Longstone Lane, Little Budworth, Tarporley, Cheshire, CW6 9ET

Reserve Female Champion: Ranfurly Lady Diana 37th K22, Mr WD & JD Hazelton Cohannon House, 25 Bovean Road, Dungannon, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, BT71 6HR