The Salers classes at the 2026 Great Yorkshire Show were judged by Patrick Boyd, whose association with the breed spans four decades. A regular visitor to the National Salers Show in France, he has developed his herd using strong French genetics through AI and now runs around 30 pedigree Salers cows and followers.
Leading the championship line-up once again was P.M. & S.M. Donger’s Seawell Tabago, who claimed the Senior Bull Class before being awarded Male Champion, collecting the Watson Trophy, and then going on to secure the Overall Breed Championship, receiving the Rigel Cordelia Cup. Born on 19 February 2023, the son of Impeccable out of Seawell Orella has continued his outstanding 2026 campaign, having already won the Senior Bull Class, Male Championship and Overall Breed Championship at the inaugural Salers classes at the Royal Three Counties Show. Having first claimed the Great Yorkshire Show Championship in 2025, Tabago became a two-time Great Yorkshire Show Breed Champion.
The Reserve Breed Championship, taking the KW Alternative Farm Feeds Cup, went to Gill & Malcolm Pye’s Rednock Viking. The 26 March 2025-born son of Titan out of Rednock Mermaid Poll won the junior bull class before adding the Junior Male Championship, Overall Junior Championship, and standing Reserve Male Champion to complete an outstanding day. Earlier this season, Viking won his class before being crowned Junior Bull Champion, Male Champion and Overall Junior Champion at the Royal Highland Show.
One of the most meaningful presentations of the day was the Stephen Hallos Memorial Trophy, awarded in memory of the late Stephen Hallos to the stockman or stockwoman demonstrating exemplary stockmanship throughout the show. Stephen was renowned not only for his outstanding stockmanship but also for his warmth, humour and generosity. Hard-working, full of life and remembered by many as the heart and soul of every gathering, he had a remarkable ability to bring people together and was a much-loved member of the Salers Society. The trophy serves as a lasting tribute to his passion for livestock, his unwavering commitment to the breed and the high standards of stockmanship that he exemplified throughout his life.
This year’s presentation was particularly poignant, with the trophy being awarded to Anna Hallos of Beeston Hall Farms. For Anna to receive the award established in memory of her father made it an especially fitting and memorable moment.
The show opened with the Senior Bull Class where Seawell Tabago headed the line-up ahead of Beeston Hall Upendo, the 27 September 2024-born son of Nemo out of Beeston Hall Raven, which earlier this season stood second in the Yearling Bull Class at the Royal Highland Show. Rigel Utrillo Poll, by Rigel Podrick Poll, stood third, with the October 2024-born Rigel Utrecht Poll taking fourth.
The Junior Bull Class was headed by Rednock Viking, with Preenbank Victor, by Cleuchhead Ranger, taking second and Approach Farm Vyvyan, by Drumsleed Ricardo, placing third.
In the Cow Class, Approach Farm Odette secured first place before later being tapped forward as Reserve Female Champion. The 2019-born daughter of Seawell Lithium out of Approach Farm Hopscotch also stood Reserve Female Champion at the 2025 Great Yorkshire Show. Seawell Tibby, winner of the Cow in Calf or Milk Class at the inaugural Royal Three Counties Show earlier this season, was placed second.
The 2024-born Heifer Class was won by Seawell Valda, the January 2024 daughter of Seawell Ronaldo out of Seawell Rhemy. Valda has continued an impressive show career after placing second in the Junior Heifer Class at the 2025 Great Yorkshire Show before winning the Heifer Class, Senior Female Championship and Overall Female Championship at the Royal Three Counties Show in 2026. Gentons Unique was second, Approach Farm Utopia third and Beeston Hall Ula fourth.
The youngest female class produced the Female Champion. Gentons Valtra, born on 29 January 2025 and sired by the imported French bull Murphy out of Cleuchhead Jolie 365, headed the class before being awarded Junior Female Champion, Reserve Junior Champion, collecting the Dennis White Cup, and Female Champion, accepting the Bents Farm Trophy. Rednock Beyonce took second to secure the Reserve Junior Female Championship, while Rednock Dame Poll was third, Preenbank Vianna fourth, Seawell Abbie fifth and Approach Farm Vanessa sixth.
The group classes concluded the day’s judging, with Seawell winning the Group of Three, collecting the I’Ansons Trophy, ahead of Rednock and Approach Farm, while in the Pairs class, Rednock took top honours to receive the Jock Watson Trophy, ahead of Gentons, Seawell, Beeston Hall and Approach Farm.
The Stockman’s Progressive Shield recognises a stockman or stockwoman who has demonstrated continued progression and development in their skills through commitment, dedication and consistently high standards. The 2026 recipient was Bronwyn Gowthorpe of Approach Farm.
SHOW RESULTS
Class 126 – Bull, born before 1 January 2025
- 695 – Seawell Tabago – P.M. & S.M. Donger
- 696 – Beeston Hall Upendo – Beeston Hall Farms
- 698 – Rigel Utrillo Poll – Rigel Pedigree
- 697 – Rigel Utrecht Poll – Rigel Pedigree
Class 127 – Bull, born on or after 1 January 2025
- 701 – Rednock Viking – Gill & Malcolm Pye
- 700 – Preenbank Victor – J.F. Robinson & Sons
- 699 – Approach Farm Vyvyan – Angus Gowthorpe
Class 128 – Cow, born on or before 31 December 2023, in milk or in calf
- 703 – Approach Farm Odette – Angus Gowthorpe
- 705 – Seawell Tibby – P.M. & S.M. Donger
Class 129 – Heifer, born in 2024
- 707 – Seawell Valda – Peter Donger
- 706 – Gentons Unique – Gentons Pedigree Livestock
- 708 – Approach Farm Utopia – Angus Gowthorpe
- 710 – Beeston Hall Ula – Beeston Hall Farms
Class 130 – Heifer, born in 2025
- 712 – Gentons Valtra – Gentons Pedigree Livestock
- 716 – Rednock Beyonce – Gill & Malcolm Pye
- 715 – Rednock Dame Poll – Gill & Malcolm Pye
- 714 – Preenbank Vianna – J.F. Robinson & Sons
- 711 – Seawell Abbie – P.M. & S.M. Donger
- 713 – Approach Farm Vanessa – Angus Gowthorpe
Class 131 – Group of Three Animals
- Seawell
- Rednock
- Approach Farm
Class 132 – Pair of Animals
- Rednock
- Gentons
- Seawell
- Beeston Hall
- Approach Farm
Championship Results
Junior Female Champion
712 – Gentons Valtra – Gentons Pedigree Livestock
Reserve Junior Female Champion
716 – Rednock Beyonce – Gill & Malcolm Pye
Junior Male Champion
701 – Rednock Viking – Gill & Malcolm Pye
Reserve Junior Male Champion
696 – Beeston Hall Upendo – Beeston Hall Farms
Overall Junior Champion
701 – Rednock Viking – Gill & Malcolm Pye
Reserve Overall Junior Champion
712 – Gentons Valtra – Gentons Pedigree Livestock
Male Champion
695 – Seawell Tabago – P.M. & S.M. Donger
Reserve Male Champion
701 – Rednock Viking – Gill & Malcolm Pye
Female Champion
712 – Gentons Valtra – Gentons Pedigree Livestock
Reserve Female Champion
703 – Approach Farm Odette – Angus Gowthorpe
Overall Breed Champion
695 – Seawell Tabago – P.M. & S.M. Donger
Reserve Overall Breed Champion
701 – Rednock Viking – Gill & Malcolm Pye
Trophy Winners
Rigel Cordelia Cup – Overall Breed Champion
Seawell Tabago – P.M. & S.M. Donger
KW Alternative Farm Feeds Cup – Reserve Breed Champion
Rednock Viking – Gill & Malcolm Pye
Watson Trophy – Male Champion
Seawell Tabago – P.M. & S.M. Donger
Bents Farm Trophy – Female Champion
Gentons Valtra – Gentons Pedigree Livestock
Junior Champions Cup – Overall Junior Champion
Rednock Viking – Gill & Malcolm Pye
Dennis White Cup – Reserve Overall Junior Champion
Gentons Valtra – Gentons Pedigree Livestock
Arthur Beevers Cup – Best Polled Animal
Rednock Dame Poll – Gill & Malcolm Pye
Jock Watson Trophy – Best Pair
Rednock
I’Ansons Trophy – Best Group of Three
Seawell
Stephen Hallos Memorial Trophy for Stockmanship
Anna Hallos – Beeston Hall Farms
The Stockman’s Progressive Shield
Bronwyn Gowthorpe – Approach Farm
