It’s a summer that just keeps on giving for young Simmental breeder Finlay Soutter, 17, from Ashby De La Zouch, Leicestershire who won the Overall Simmental Supreme Championship before going on to place Overall Reserve Interbreed Supreme, on day one of the 2023 Royal Welsh Show with his February 2021 born heifer Brandane Millie.

Millie is the foundation female in Finlay’s newly established Millennium Simmental pedigree herd, and was bred by well-known breeder and stockman Jimmy McMillan, Bradwell Ash, Bury St Edmunds.

Full of pedigree Brandane Millie is by the AI bull Sterling Gino 15, and out of the noted Sterling Candy’s FCUK, a female bought at the Sterling Sale. As a young heifer Millie was successfully shown in 2022 by Jimmy McMillan and where she won a number of awards including the Junior Female Championship at the Royal Highland.

Finlay is believed to be the youngest Simmental breeder to have won one of the ‘major’ Royal titles!

Beyond the Simmental judging Brandane Millie moved on to represent the breed in the Overall Individual Interbreed.

Judge Owain Llyr, Denbighshire, cast his eye over the champions from some 14 breeds. Brandane Millie wowed the crowds with her quality, class, presence, and natural style and was duly tapped out as the Reserve Overall Individual Interbreed Champion.

Rounding off a superb week, on the fourth day of the show Finlay powered through to win the prestigious Royal Welsh Young Handlers competition and the second such win in the summer and following on from the Royal Norfolk.

Back in the Simmental judging and taking the Reserve Overall title was Cwarre Naughty’s Nettle from Richard Cumming, Blaencwarre, Hermon, Carmarthenshire.

This January 2022 born heifer’s calf is by Clonagh Frosty King and is out of Cwarre Hyacinth’s Knautia who goes back to the herd’s noted Rosie’s Cadette line.

A small herd of some six breeding females, the Cwarre herd are consistent exhibitors at shows and sales, and have previously won the Reserve female title at the Royal Welsh with Cwarre Cinderella’s Firefly in 2015.

Winning the Male Championship was the June 2022 born Pistyll Nightrider from GA & HM Francis, Pistyll Uchaf, Abergorlech, Carmarthen. This calf is by the noted Team Celtic and is out of Pistyll Frances VG87, a Brookwood Alla King daughter.

The Pistyll herd who hold the Welsh Simmental record for a bull sold at sale, the 26,000gns Pistyll Kingsman at Stirling in February 2021, have also previously won the Reserve Female Championship at the Royal Welsh Show.

Taking the Reserve Male Championship was the winner of the first bull class Ebbsley Nice Guy from first time exhibitors at the Royal Welsh, Mr O & Mrs E Jewell, Llwyn-Y-Fynwent, Llangwyryfon, Aberystwyth. This February 2022 born bull is by Gwilli Kallum, and is out of Ebbsley Ingrid 19th, a Crackley Flash Harry (P) daughter.

RESULTS

Judge: Michael Barlow, Denizes Herd.

Bull, born on or before 1st January 2022 and 31st March 2022: 1st OC & E Jewell Ebbsley Nice Guy; 2nd A & R Davies Hirwaun Nos Da

Bull, born on or after 1st April 2022: 1st GA & HM Franics Pistyll Nightrider; 2nd OC & E Jewell Ebbsley North Star; 3rd A & R Davies Hirwaun Neville 22

Heifer, born on or between 1st January 2021 and 31st August 2021: 1st Finlay Soutter Brandane Millie; 2nd Lizzie Harding Hallway Winnies Majesty

Heifer, born on or between 1st September 2021 and 31st December 2021: 1st RJ Cummings Blaencwarre Cwarre Naughtys Nettle; 2nd A & R Davies Chestermann Gibble Lulu 4

Best Group of 4: Ebbsley Nice Guy, Ebbsley North Star, Pistyll Nightrider, Brandane Millie

Best Pair: Ebbsley Nice Guy, Ebbsley North Star

Male Champion: Pistyll Nightrider; Reserve Ebbsley Nice Guy

Female Champion: Brandane Millie

Overall Champion: Brandane Millie; Reserve Cwarre's Naughty Nettle