A large contingent of Irish breeders and spectators attended the 2025 Royal Highland Show at the iconic Ingliston in Edinburgh, Scotland, where judging of the cattle classes got underway on Thursday 19 June.

To the delight of those who made the journey across the water, Irish genetics featured well across a number of cattle breeds, with the overall commercial champion going to an Irish-bred heifer.

Commercial champion

Winning the overall commercial champion was the Belgian Blue-cross heifer Ebony, owned by Allan and Susan Campbell from Galston, Scotland.

This stylish black heifer was purchased for €4,000 at the Winter Fair in Carrick-on-Shannon in November 2024, from Co Donegal breeder Tony Morning.

Born in June 2024, she is a daughter of the Bova AI sire Rathlyon Paulo ET and a Adajio De Bray-bred cow.

Hornall double

It proved a hugely successful event for Andrew Hornall from the outskirts of Stirling, as he claimed the overall beef Interbreed champion of the show with Falleninch Tommy, who was crowned overall champion Charolais earlier in the week.

Falleninch Tommy, champion Charolais and overall interbreed champion of the show. \ MacGregor Photography

A son of the French sire Magicien, this December 2022- born stock bull goes back to a long line of home breeding on the dam’s side.

Hornall’s success did not stop there, as he went on to win the overall junior beef interbreed championship with his Charolais heifer, Falleninch Valentina. This 14-month-old maiden heifer is a daughter of Falleninch Sesame and a Barnsford Ferny bred dam.

Aberdeen Angus

Angus eyes were smiling with joy as the overall Angus champion Mosshall Red Essence Y436 exhibited by George Taylor was tapped out as reserve overall beef interbreed champion.

Mosshall Red Essence Y436, overall champion Angus and reserve beef interbreed champion. \ MacGregor Photography

A daughter of Galcantray Red Samson V252, this March 2022-born first-calved heifer was shown alongside her January 2025-born bull calf, Mosshall Red Eddie B733. Red Essence is the first ever Red Angus to be awarded the overall Angus champion at the Highland.

Limousin triumph

Irish genetics were to the fore in the Limousin ring, as Anside Ufo was crowned overall Limousin champion for the Irvine family from Banffshire.

Sired by Gunnerfleet Lion, his mother Anside Owena is a daughter of the Irish-bred bull Powerful Irish.

Anside Ufo, overall champion Limousin and reserve junior beef interbreed champion. \ MacGregor Photography

This 19-month-old bull then went on to stand reserve junior beef interbreed champion of the show.

The Limousin breed had a fantastic week, as they teamed up to win the beef interbreed team of four and pairs championships. Claiming the best group of four for the Limousin was Grahams Umandy, Crajan Unison, Maraiscote Sherlock and Rednock Togo. Meanwhile, Crajan Unison and Anside Ufo fought off the other breeds to snatch the beef interbreed pairs championship, wrapping up a momentous week for the Limousin breed.

Boherard Overdose

Irish blood was also behind the overall British Blue champion Solway View Tasmin.

Exhibited by Annan-based breeder Kevin Watret, Tasmin is a daughter of Dovea Genetics’ Boherard Overdose ET.

Born in April 2023, Tasmin has been the go-to girl at many of the major UK shows, standing overall British Blue champion at the 2024 Royal Welsh and reserve overall British Blue champion at the 2024 Great Yorkshire.

Solway View Tasmin, overall champion British Blue. \ Sam Hutchinson

Watret also secured the reserve junior female champion with another daughter of Overdose, Solway View Taffy.

Native Teams Champions

Coming out on top in the native teams championship was the Highlands, with Cuailean 4th of Isle of Bute, Banrigh 16th of Hyndford and Cameron of Sguir Mor. Reserve to them was the beef Shorthorns.