The Salers breed enjoyed another successful Royal Highland Show on Thursday 18 June 2026, where a strong turnout from some of the breed’s leading herds competed before judge Colin Wight, Carwood.
Colin brought extensive commercial cattle experience to the show ring. Farming alongside his wife Fiona and daughters, the family run a large upland enterprise comprising 180 suckler cows and 700 commercial ewes, with Salers genetics playing a significant role within their system. A long-time advocate of the breed’s maternal qualities, fertility and longevity, Colin placed particular emphasis on functional, commercially relevant cattle that reflect the breed’s maternal strengths.
The Overall Championship and the prestigious Swardsman Perpetual Trophy were awarded to Ballykeel Unique, exhibited by Lewis Ralston and bred by Northern Irish breeders Seamus and Christine Connell. The February 2024-born heifer is sired by Mathieu and out of Majestueus. Having first secured top honours in the senior heifer class, she went on to claim the Female Championship before being selected as the judge’s Overall Breed Champion.
Standing Reserve Overall Champion was another outstanding young female, Traboyack Mazy 612 from Jonathan Wright, Traboyack. Born in January 2024 and sired by Lorenzo, she had earlier secured second place in the senior heifer class before being awarded the Reserve Female Championship and subsequently the Reserve Overall Breed Championship.
The junior female section was dominated by the Rednock herd of Gill and Malcolm Pye. Their March 2025-born heifer Rednock Dame Poll, by Titan out of Rednock Duchess Poll, secured first prize in Class 296 before progressing to take the Junior Female Championship. Stablemate Rednock Beyonce, winner of Class 295, stood Reserve Junior Female Champion.
Success continued for the Rednock team in the male section. Their young bull Rednock Viking, a March 2025-born son of Titan out of Rednock Mermaid Poll, topped the junior bull class before securing the Junior Bull Championship, Overall Male Championship and Junior Championship. Another Titan son, Rednock Venom, stood Reserve Junior Bull and Reserve Male Champion.
Farmstock Genetics enjoyed success with Cumbrian Hyacinth 1049 Poll, winner of the cow class, and new exhibitor James Manners stood a respectable third in the female, born between 20 June 2024 and 31 March 2025, with Seamore Vermier brought out by Edwina Stacy-Marks whilst returning veterans Roy and Adam Crockett stood second in the same class with Bacardi Uptowngirl and claimed a fourth prize in the junior bull class with Bacardi Unit. The furthest travelled exhibitors Beeston Hall Farms were second in the cow class with Beeston Hall Raven and claimed a blue rosette in the yearling bull class with Beeston Hall Upendo.
The special classes rounded off an excellent day for the Rednock herd, with Gill and Malcolm Pye securing victory in both the Pairs and Group of Three competitions.
Championship Results
Overall Champion: Ballykeel Unique (Lewis Ralston)
Reserve Overall Champion: Traboyack Mazy 612 (Jonathan Wright)
Female Champion: Ballykeel Unique (Lewis Ralston)
Reserve Female Champion: Traboyack Mazy 612 (Jonathan Wright)
Junior Female Champion: Rednock Dame Poll (Gill & Malcolm Pye)
Reserve Junior Female Champion: Rednock Beyonce (Gill & Malcolm Pye)
Bull Champion: Rednock Viking (Gill & Malcolm Pye)
Reserve Bull Champion: Rednock Venom (Gill & Malcolm Pye)
Junior Champion: Rednock Viking (Gill & Malcolm Pye)
Reserve Junior Champion: Rednock Dame Poll (Gill & Malcolm Pye)
Pairs: Rednock (Gill & Malcolm Pye)
Group of Three: Rednock (Gill & Malcolm Pye)
Class Results
Class 295 – Female, born after 31 March 2025
- Rednock Beyonce – Gill & Malcolm Pye
- Kaimburn Valentine – Edgerston Trading (2006) Ltd
- Cumbrian Camella Poll 1521 – Farmstock Genetics
Class 296 – Female, born between 20 June 2024 and 31 March 2025
- Rednock Dame Poll – Gill & Malcolm Pye
- Bacardi Uptowngirl – R & A Crockett
- Seamore Vermier – James Manners
Class 297 – Female, born on or after 1 January 2023 and before 19 June 2024
- Ballykeel Unique – Lewis Ralston, bred by S & C Connell
- Traboyack Mazy 612 – Jonathan Wright
- Cumbrian Jaconde 1386 Poll – Farmstock Genetics
- Rednock Emerald Poll – Gill & Malcolm Pye
- Cumbrian Jaconde 1477 Poll – Farmstock Genetics
Class 298 – Female, born before 1 January 2023
- Cumbrian Hyacinth 1049 Poll – Farmstock Genetics
- Beeston Hall Raven – Beeston Hall Farms Ltd
Class 299 – Bull, born after 31 March 2025
- Rednock Venom – Gill & Malcolm Pye
Class 300 – Bull, born between 20 June 2024 and 31 March 2025
- Rednock Viking – Gill & Malcolm Pye
- Beeston Hall Upendo – Beeston Hall Farms Ltd
- Lisnamaul Vodka – Edgerston Trading (2006) Ltd, bred by P J Maginn & Sons
- Bacardi Unit – R & A Crockett
Trophy Winners
Stockmans Trophy
Edwina Stacy-Marks
Swardsman Perpetual Trophy
Overall Champion – Ballykeel Unique, exhibited by Lewis Ralston
The Salers Bell
Reserve Overall Champion – Traboyack Mazy 612, exhibited by Jonathan Wright
QET Perpetual Trophy
Female Champion – Ballykeel Unique, exhibited by Lewis Ralston
Lochdougan Trophy
Junior Female Champion – Rednock Dame Poll, exhibited by Gill & Malcolm Pye
Cuil Claret Trophy
Best Junior Bull and Bull Champion – Rednock Viking, exhibited by Gill & Malcolm Pye
Championship Awards
Reserve Female Champion
Traboyack Mazy 612, exhibited by Jonathan Wright
Reserve Junior Female Champion
Rednock Beyonce, exhibited by Gill & Malcolm Pye
Reserve Bull Champion
Rednock Venom, exhibited by Gill & Malcolm Pye
Junior Champion
Rednock Viking, exhibited by Gill & Malcolm Pye
Reserve Junior Champion
Rednock Dame Poll, exhibited by Gill & Malcolm Pye
Special Classes
Pairs Competition
Rednock Herd – Gill & Malcolm Pye
Group of Three Competition
Rednock Herd – Gill & Malcolm Pye
