Judging of the cattle classes in the 2025 Royal Highland Show got under way on Thursday 19 June at the iconic Ingliston in Edinburgh, Scotland.

A large contingent of Irish breeders and spectators attended day one of the four-day event at the Royal Highland Centre.

To the delight of those who made the journey across the water, Irish genetics featured well across a number of sections, 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.

Irish genetics

Irish blood was 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.

Solway View Tasmin, overall British Blue champion at the 2025 Royal Highland Show.

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.

Limousin champion

Irish genetics were also 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.

Pick up next week's Irish Farmers Journal for a full report from the 2025 Royal Highland Show.