The 2026 Border Union Show, held at Kelso on Saturday 25th July, proved to be an outstanding day. With several exhibits arriving on the back of successful Royal Highland Show campaigns before Lewis Ralston’s exceptional heifer Ballykeel Unique completed a remarkable day’s competition by securing the coveted Champion of Champions title.
Judging the Salers classes within the Continental Any Other Breed section was Stuart Renton, who found his Overall Champion in the Salers’ Ballykeel Unique, exhibited by Lewis Ralston and bred by Northern Irish breeders Seamus and Christine Connell. The stylish February 2024-born daughter of Mathieu, out of Majestueus, had already enjoyed an exceptional summer after claiming the Overall Championship and Swardsman Perpetual Trophy at the Royal Highland Show just five weeks earlier. Having first secured top honours in the senior heifer class at Ingliston, she continued her winning form at Kelso by taking the 2024-born heifer class before adding the Female Championship, Overall Championship, Overall Interbreed Championship and ultimately the Champion of Champions title.
Standing Reserve Overall Champion in the classes was the Charolais, FSG Violetpoppy from T. & I. Walling.
The Male Championship went to Roy and Adam Crockett’s Seawell Usher, a March 2024-born son of Obelix out of Seawell Inga, bred by P.M. & S.M. Donger. The promising young bull had already attracted considerable attention at the Carlisle Pedigree Beef Day in May, where, after being placed third in a strong intermediate bull class, he sold for 6,000gns, the second-highest priced bull of the day.
The senior female class was won by Cumbrian Hyacinth 1049 Poll from T. & I. Walling. The proven cow had already demonstrated her quality earlier in the summer by winning the cow class at the Royal Highland Show.
The 2024-born heifer class brought together several well-decorated females. Ballykeel Unique once again headed the line-up ahead of Charolais FSG Violetpoppy, the Salers Cumbrian Jaconde 1477 Poll also from Farmstock Genetics and Seamore Vermier, owned by James Manners and exhibited by Edwina Stacy-Marks. Seamore Vermier had also caught the eye at the Royal Highland Show, where she placed third in a very competitive intermediate heifer class.
In the youngest female class, Kaimburn Valentine from Edgerston Trading (2006) Ltd improved on her excellent second-place finish in the youngest heifer class at the Royal Highland Show to head the class at Kelso, ahead of James Manner’s Seamore Wonder Woman brought out by Edwina Stacy-Marks.
Success continued under interbreed judge Ian Wilson, Ballykeel Unique was selected as Overall Interbreed Champion, before going one step further to secure the show’s ultimate accolade as Champion of Champions, under judge Ron Wilson from Cowbog, Kelso. The breed also impressed in the Interbreed Pairs competition, where T. & I. Walling’s Salers and Charolais combination claimed the Reserve Interbreed Pairs Championship.
Young handlers also represented the breed with pride, with Rowan Stacy-Marks securing third place under judge Stuart Renton, continuing another successful day for this rising young stockman.
SHOW RESULTS
Class 179 – Bull, under 2 years old
- Seawell Usher – Messrs R. & A. Crockett, bred by P.M. & S.M. Donger
Class 180 – Cow or Heifer in Milk or in Calf, born before 1 January 2024
- Cumbrian Hyacinth 1049 Poll – Mr T. & I. Walling
Class 181 – Heifer, born in 2024
- Ballykeel Unique – Mr Lewis Ralston bred by S & C Connell
- FSG Violetpoppy (Charolais) – Mr T. & I. Walling
- Cumbrian Jaconde 1477 Poll – Mr T. & I. Walling
- Seamore Vermier – Mr James Manners brought out by Miss Edwina Stacy-Marks
Class 182 – Heifer, born in 2025 or 2026
- Kaimburn Valentine – Edgerston Trading (2006) Ltd
- Seamore Wonder Woman – Mr James Manners brought out by Miss Edwina Stacy-Marks
Championship Results
Overall Champion
Ballykeel Unique – Mr Lewis Ralston
Reserve Overall Champion
FSG Violetpoppy (Charolais) – Mr T. & I. Walling
Female Champion
Ballykeel Unique – Mr Lewis Ralston
Reserve Female Champion
FSG Violetpoppy (Charolais) – Mr T. & I. Walling
Male Champion
Seawell Usher – Messrs R. & A. Crockett
Interbreed Results
Champion of Champions
Ballykeel Unique – Mr Lewis Ralston
Overall Interbreed Champion
Ballykeel Unique – Mr Lewis Ralston
Reserve Interbreed Pairs Champions
Salers & Charolais Pair – Mr T. & I. Walling
Young Handlers
3rd – Rowan Stacy-Marks
