Charollais wins interbreed title at Balmoral Show

Diane Christie’s Lornbrook Charollais flock continued its successful run at the Balmoral Show this week when her ram, Picture Perfect, from Comber, County Down, pipped a Texel ram to take the flock’s fifth interbreed title.

In his first ever showing at Balmoral, Picture Perfect became the fifth sheep from Mrs Christie’s flock to take the interbreed title.

Balmoral interbreed champion Picture Perfect © Robert Smith

He is sired by Lornbrook Nutcracker – the only Charollais to win breed champion at both the Balmoral and Royal Highland shows.

He now joins a list of 15 other Balmoral winners from the flock.

Handler Trevor Bell said he was “more than happy” with the result, adding: “I am not sure if we’ll be taking him anywhere else.”

Reserve interbreed champion went to Springwell Voltage, a Texel ram from Aiken, Corbett and Cromie, Dromara, County Down.

Reserve interbreed champion Springwell Voltage © Robert Smith

Voltage, which also made his debut at Balmoral, is sired by Oberstown Usain Bolt and out of the unnamed 2013 Balmoral Show Texel breed champion.

Mr Aiken, who runs a flock of about 100 Texel, Charollais, Border Leicester and Beltex sheep, said Springwell Voltage will now retire.

Commenting on his pick, judge Walter Wyllie, who runs a flock of 1,100 Texels and 500 Blackfaces at Atholl Estates, Pitlochry, Highlands, said: “The Charollais was the best-balanced sheep throughout and caught my eye straightaway.

“The Texel is a tremendous sheep. Very correct with a tremendous carcass, but he didn’t show as well.”