Exhibitors were delighted to be back at the Royal Bath and West Show this past weekend, and celebrations were in full swing as the judges tapped out the cream of the crop.

Kicking off the interbreed championships on Thursday was the dairy stock, with the dairy individual interbreed championship, with the Guernsey breed finally taking the win.

The prestigious supreme championship title went to Yeovil-based Richard Norton and Polly Whetham’s Je-taime Double L Bijou, shown by show ring familiar Neil Sales.

“It’s unheard of – it’s usually between the Holstein and Jersey,” said Mr Sales. “So, we’re all thrilled and it’s great for the breed to come to the fore.”

Yielding 32 litres a day in her third lactation, the supreme champion is homebred - out of show cow, Brymor Bijou 39, and sired by Pine Ridge Double L.

“She’s performing really well at home and in the ring,” said Mr Sales.

“She’s won and been placed at numerous shows, taking reserve champion at the All Breeds All Britain Show.”

This is a shared win for the Norman and Sales families.

Mr Sales said: "I’ve been enjoying the show for the best part of 40 years, but this is mine and Richard’s first interbreed supreme champion at the Royal Bath and West Show; it means a lot to us and the whole team, next stop Royal Cornwall.”

Reserve champion was awarded to Cancourt Peppermint 3 PI, a senior Brown Swiss from Lilylane farms in Somerset. Now in calf, she will compete locally at The Dairy Show in October.

Friday was a big day for the interbreed championships across the four sections and taking the supreme champion beef animal was Chris and Nicky White’s British Limousin cow, Frogmore Nicola.

“It’s our first interbreed win at the Royal Bath and West Show,” said Mr White. “I grew up in Castle Cary, so this feels like a homecoming and to win supreme champion at home is marvellous.”

Homebred in Morton-in-Marsh, Gloustershire, at five and a half years old and weighing in at 1,060kg, Nicola has produced two calves – Frogmore Rebecca and Frogmore Sophie – for the herd, with her third expected in August. The supreme champion comes from a decorated lineage, with her dam Frogmore Helen winning the esteemed interbreed supreme champion at the Royal Welsh Show in 2015.

Reserve interbreed was taken by Vexour 1 Phantom; a five-year-old Hereford bull owned by the Mitchell family in Dorset. Not a stranger to winning, he also boasts an impressive array of achievements, such as native interbreed champion, Hereford male champion and Hereford breed champion.

Moving over to the sheep lines, the supreme champion title was taken by Devon-based family the Alfords, when their Foxhill Charollais shearling ewe was tapped out under judge Brian Dallyn. 

Matthew Gray and Louise Crowther’s homebred Polled Dorset ram lamb, Buckenhill Escobar, took reserve spot. 

National shows were hosted over the course of the event, and there was an impressive turnout for the Zwartbles Sheep Association’s national show.

Under judge and breeder Martin Preston, John Case’s shearling ewe earned national champion, with Sam Inn’s shearling ewe taking reserve.

For the Bleu du Maine Sheep Society’s national show there was the addition of the Millennium Bleus; a Beltex / Bleu du Maine cross.

Seasoned judge Glenn Baird oversaw this competition, tapping out Archie Stamp and Haydon House’s partnership Bleu du Maine ram, Perdi Singy Boy, as the national show champion.

Reserve champion was taken by Kate Esler’s shearling ewe Haydon Viv. Millennium Bleu national show champion was awarded to Richard Pilkington’s ram, while Archie Stamp’s ewe Bowbridge Tia took reserve champion.

Moving over to the pigs, the lineup for interbreed supreme champion included the rare British Lop pig, and even the lesser-known Duroc, a breed originating from the USA.

The Loveless family from Dorset had a successful day, with Hayley’s Duroc boar – Hazeway Thunder – which claimed the top spot as interbreed supreme champion, triumphing over her father’s Large White boar, Portbredy King David, to the post.