Marcel Egli made the trip from Switzerland to judge this year's National Holstein show where he said he had the ‘hard task' of judging ‘some of the highest quality cows'.
He explained he was looking for a consistent and balanced cow and his final line up was made up of three Walnutlawn Sidekick daughters.
Making UK Dairy Day history, being the first cow to claim the supreme title for two consecutive years, Evening Sidekick Jennifer was tapped forward by Mr Egli as his overall Holstein winner.
Bred by James Wilson, Carlisle who runs the Evening herd of 450 pedigree Holsteins, this November 2018-born cow is out of Evening Stanleycup Jennifer and classified VG89. The cow gave 15,000kg in its heifer lactation and is now giving 62 litres daily.
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Commenting on the win, Emma Wilson who paraded Sidekick Jennifer in the ring said: "The quality at this show is getting better and better every year, so it is an honour to win once, but we are over the moon to have done this twice and hope to see her in the ring again next year too."
The reserve spot went to a four-year-old cow, Mag Pandor from the Laird family, who run the 500-head Blythbridge herd in Peeblesshire. The cow is owned in partnership with Ferme Blondin, Canada after being purchased privately from France last January.
Out of Mag Nacoby, this cow is giving 60 litres daily. Earlier this year it was the inter-breed champion at the Borderway UK Dairy Expo and the Royal Highland show.
Clydeview Sidekick Matilda, the youngest of the final line up, took the honourable mention spot. From Salvy Esquierdo and Robbie and Margo Scott, Ayr, this second calver bred by Ewan and Emma Kennedy, is out of Clydeview Dreams Matilda and gave 9,700kg in her first lactation.
Red and White champion
This year's Red and White champion made an impression, being part of the final five supreme line up. Brought out by Jack O Neill, Redsky Altitude Jazz is part of John Suenson-Taylor's Grantchester Holstein herd.
The third calver was bought from the Black and White sale in Carlisle and was inter-breed champion at the Royal Cheshire show earlier this year. Jazz resides with Mr Suenson-Taylor's 30 Holstein cows at Seaton Farms, Audlem, and is producing 68.5kg daily.
Jersey
Another cow to make history, also retaining the breed title following last year's win was the Jersey champion, Rivermead Verdi Pixie, from the Davis family, Tiverton. The 2018-born intermediate cow in milk is sired by Futuredreams Valentinos Verdi and was shown giving 34kg daily. The fifth calver calved down in March to Victorious.
Taking on the judging task was, Willie Taylor, Eden Valley, who said: "This cow delivered everything I was after; breed character, power, style all with excellent locomotion when on parade, and is proving to age very gracefully."
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Reserve champion went to Logan Chrome Caribbean, from Brian and Micheal Yates, Castle Douglas. The junior cow in milk was praised for its fantastic udder and marked as one to watch in the future. The VG89 second calver is giving 37 litres daily. Earlier this year this cow claimed reserve inter-breed dairy and breed champion at the Royal Highland show.
Honourable mention went home with Carlisle breeder, Kerry Scott, Layward Divinely Victorious. The 2020-born, third calver is giving 42 litres daily. The cow placed second in its class at last year's UK Dairy Day, third as a heifer and this year was reserve champion at the Great Yorkshire show.
Ayrshire
Under the watchful eye of Yorkshire judge, Ian Collins, it was the junior cow, Swaites Lois 8 from John Adamson, Lanarkshire which took the top spot in the Ayrshire National Show. The Whitecroft Nectar daughter is out of a home-bred cow and is classified at VG85.
Reserve champion was Mid Ascog Patricia 3 from the Lindsey family, Lanarkshire. The VG87 third calver was champion Ayrshire heifer in 2022 and is a Bruchag Starman daughter out of a home-bred cow.
The senior cow and honourable mention, Hunnington Wren 7 came from L. Windows Walker, Birmingham. The EX94 Rosehill Prestige daughter was runner-up at this show last year and has averaged 8,100 litres in her lifetime.
Brown Swiss National show
Regular show winners, the Lochhead family, Dumfries, stood at the top of the Brown Swiss lines at the breed's Nation Show with Kedar Rhappily Ever After.
This 2020-born daughter of Kedar Calvin Rhapsody EX95 was previously reserve inter-breed champion at the 2019 Dairy Expo and won the breed championship and honourable mention inter-breed at UK Dairy Day.
Brown Swiss judge, Blaise Tomlinson, Leicestershire, said his winner was a credit to the breed and was listed as one to watch in the future.
Kedar breeding also featured in reserve with a heifer in milk, Kedar Aldo Snogging, taking the rosette for J. Wilson and A. Clough, Appleby. The 2022-born Aldo SG daughter is out of Kedar Blooming Smooches.
Honourable mention, Toi Toi My Mums a Hoover from Toi Toi Genetics, Shrewsbury, stood second to the champion in their junior cow class. At the 2023 UK Dairy Expo this cow was the breed junior champion.
Dairy Shorthorn
The junior cows caught the eye of Northumberland dairy farmer, Paul Harrison who cast his eye over the Dairy Shorthorn classes. His champion, Churchroyd Heather 123 was brought forward by the Collins family, West Yorkshire. This cow is a 2019-born Churchroyd Wildcard daughter, which is classified at 87. "This cow delivered style, length, and rump structure. There was exceptional quality, but it was difficult to split my champion and reserve," said Mr Harrison.
The reserve champion, Shaunlea Geri 25, stood next to her champion all day, being second in the same class. The Marleycote Tripple Blend daughter, which placed second at the Great Yorkshire show earlier this year, was exhibited by Shaun Dixon and Grace Holliday, County Durham.
Churchroyd's heifer in milk, Churchroyd Heather 141, claimed the honourable mention spot after claiming this year's Great Yorkshire show maiden heifer champion.
Kimcote Brogdon Fragrant 8 stood out for Guernsey judge Ian Collins among the ‘outstanding line up because of her phenomenal udder'. Bred and exhibited by A. and R. Thomas, Leicestershire, this cow stood reserve champion last year and is a daughter of Kimcote Legend Fragrant 4, which herself was was champion at UK Dairy Day in 2018.
The Thomas family also took the reserve spot with 2022-born, Kimcote Penney Susan 6. This heifer stood champion at last year's All Britain All Breeds calf show and is a daughter of Springhill JC Penney and is out of Kimcote Claret Susan 2.
The junior cow in milk, Trewarnevas Curley Amanda, a Briddlesford Harebells Victor daughter from P. Bottom, Truro, was awarded honourable mention.
Heifer championships
There were 12 heifers competing for the Holstein heifer title, with Logan Latenite Shania Red taking the top spot, topping off a successful day for Brian and Micheal Yates, Castle Douglas. The December 2021-born, Avant Grand-Latenite daughter led the South West Scotland Holstein summer herd competition.
Standing in reserve was Boclair Lambda Hope 18, from the partnership of David Brewster, Glasgow and Greentower Farms, Lanark. The VG87 first calver was shown giving 40 litres.
Honourable mention was Firstlook Jackpot Sara, from James and Stephaie Doherty, Shrewsbury. This heifer was the winning winter milking yearling at the UK Dairy Expo and it has a pedigree boasting five generations of show winners from the UK, Switzerland or Canada.
In the Ayrshire heifer championship, Bigginvale Buttermilk 130 came out on top from the Billings family, Derbyshire. Mr Collins credited the heifer for her clean lines, femininity and quality throughout.
The August 2021-born Blackaddar B B Kellogg daughter, Hunnington Naomi 8 from L. Windows Walker, Birmingham stood reserve.
While Llanelli breeder, Iwan Thomas was pulled up as honourable mention with Paith Hawaiian Eclipse 2. The December 2022-born Pam Ayrs Hawaiian daughter placed third at the 2023 All Britain All Breeds calf show.
Results
Holstein (Judge, M. Egli, Switzerland) Supreme., J. Wilson, Evening Sidekick Jennifer; res., Blyth Farms, Mag Pandor.
Jersey (J. Waller, Yorkshire) Sup., Davis family, Rivermead Verdi Pixie; res., B. and M. Yates, Logan Chrome Caribbean
Ayrshire (I. Collins, Yorkshire) Sup., J. Adamson, Swaites Lois 8; res., L. and C. Window, Hunnington Wren 7.
Brown Swiss (B. Tomlinson, Leicester) Sup., T. Lochhead, Redar Rhappily Ever After; res., A. Clough, Kedar Aldo Snogging.
Dairy Shorthorn (P. Harrison, Northumberland) Sup., I. R. G. Collins, Churchroyd Heather 123; res., S. Dixon and G. Holliday, Shaunlea Geri 25.
Guernsey (I. Collins) Sup., A. and R. Thomas, Kimcote Brogdon Fragrant 8; res., A. and R. Thomas, Kimcote Penney Susan 6.
