NAVARONE ‘GUNS IT’ AS STORERSMITH SIMMENTALS WIN 2025 ENGLISH NATIONAL SHOW AT THE ROYAL LANCASHIRE!

Simmentals Win Interbreed team of Four
Denizes Trixi Belle Wins Interbreed Cow & Calf

Taking the ‘big win’ at the 2025 Simmental English National, held within the Royal Lancashire Show on 19^th July, was Richard and Louise Storer Smith, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, who lifted the breed’s Overall Supreme Championship with their rising three year old bull Storersmith Navarone.

Navarone prevailed over a high quality field of some fifty Simmentals, the largest breed show in the year, and having been awarded the Championship by the judge for the day in the shape of the well-known Jimmy McMillan, Buckinghamshire who runs the noted Brandane herd and who has been a leading stockman over many years.

Storersmith Navarone, Overall Supreme Champion, and Male Champion

The ‘super quiet’ rising three year old Storersmith Navarone 22 VG88 is by the AI sire Clonagh Latin Lover, and is out of Storersmith Havannah EX 91, a Popes Barclay daughter. The win was a step on from last year when Navarone secured a class win and stood Reserve Senior Male at the corresponding event. Strong supporters of the breed, the Storersmith Simmental herd was established in 2009 and despite numerous titles at local and county shows, this was a first summer ‘major’ win!

Commenting on his Champion, Jimmy McMillan said: “This bull is full of breed character, had a lovely Simmental head, and walked well.  With an easy muscling to him, not too extreme, he carried length, and was really good over his plates and tail setting.  He was a worthy Champion on the day and I’d say is a very typical breeder’s bull.”

Judge, Jimmy McMillan getting ‘hands on’ at the English Simmental National Show.

There was a full Storer Smith family team very much hands on throughout the day and speaking afterwards a delighted Richard Storer Smith said:  “Navarone is breeding extremely well in the herd and he’s a bull that’s just so docile having a beautiful temperament.  He’s been used on all the heifers in the herd and they have all calved very easily to him. We first showed in 2011 and to now win what is the premier Simmental title in England, from within such a strong line up of cattle, really is fantastic and we are all very thrilled.”

Come Sunday, and in keeping with a season of breed Interbreed success, Storersmith Navarone then teamed up with Denizes TrixiBelle and her triplet heifer calves from local breeders Michael  & John Barlow; along with the Reserve Female Champion Fircovert Peggy, from Paul Gunther, Norwich; and Guiltcross Razzle Dazzle from Marcus & Helen Searle, Norwich, to win the Interbreed Team of Four in front of the judge Richard Bartle.

Taking the Simmental Overall Reserve Championship at the English National Show, and the Female, and Junior  Championships, was the stylish young heifer Cade Kathleens Rockstar, from Paul & Sharrie Cade, Paddock Farm, Buckden. By Sacombe Jameson 18, and out of Brandane Kathleen, a Blackford Hurricane 16 daughter, it’s been a big summer for this heifer who amongst multiple breed and Interbreed prizes won the Simmental Overall Supreme Championship at the Royal Norfolk in June.  Of his reserve Overall, the judge said: “What an outstanding young heifer.  She’s long, clean and so much style and ‘jazz’ in herd head.  A really modern Simmental full of quality, I have no doubt she’ll make a phenomenal cow, and would be an asset to any herd.”

Cade Kathleen’s Rockstar, Overall Reserve Supreme, Female Champion, and Junior Champion

It was a strong defence of their title with Cade Fifi’s Nala having won last year’s English National Show for the Cades.   In 2023, Cade Nugget, a full brother to Cade Kathleen’s Rockstar, won the Simmental Male Championship (within the Simmental English National Show), and the Interbreed Male Continental Championship at the Royal Norfolk.  For the Cades herd they have now shown on four occasions at the Simmental English National Show and have come away with one Overall Supreme, and two Overall Reserves!  Speaking to this heifer, Sharrie Cade said:  “Rockstar is just a baby, not over done in any way,  and we think she’s full of breeding with Sterling blood on both sides of her pedigree, and has a real bit of ‘flash’ to her.”  Rockstar is a full sister to the aforementioned Cade Nugget, and also to Cade Kathleen’s Prada, a class winner at the 2024 English National Show.  One to take aim at, the plans are that Cade Kathleens Rockstar will be entered into the Next Generation V Sale at Carlisle in December.  For good measure the Cades had a further class win with their January 2024 born bull Cade Romeo 24 (ET), a Dovefields Gallant son out of the noted Sterling Celia’s Fifi.

Enjoying a prolific summer show season has been Paul Gunther, Felthorpe, Norwich, and who was at it again at the English National with the January 2023 born Fircovert Peggy, winning the Reserve Female Championship and featuring in the winning Interbreed Team of Four.   Peggy is by Williams Kaboom 19 and is out of Fircovert Ina, a Burghbridge Bradley 10 daughter.   Ably shown by Holly Lutkin, Fircovert Peggy has enjoyed a number of individual class wins and featured in winning Simmental Interbreed combinations this year at the Royal Norfolk; Great Yorkshire; South of England; South Suffolk Show; and now the English National.

Fircovert Peggy, Reserve Female Champion and part of the winning Interbreed Team of Four

Back in the bulls and taking the Reserve Male Championship and Reserve Junior Championship was Popes Randolph 24 from local breeders Jimmy and Vikki Wood, Dutton, Preston.  This April 2024 born bull is by the  €52,000 Clonagh Lucky Explorer, another Manor Park Hansome son, and is out of Popes Whispers Idella, a Kilbride Farm Comber daughter.  Early plans are that Popes Randolph 24 will be heading to Stirling in October.  The Popes herd won exactly the same titles at this year’s Great Yorkshire Show and with another Clonagh Lucky Explorer calf in the shape of Popes Rector 24. Adding a further award at the English National, the Popes herd also won the Simmental Group of Four prize.

Popes Randolph, Reserve Male Champion, and Reserve Junior Champion.

Last but not least, and one of the stars of a high profile summer and an internet sensation, the class winner Denizes Trixi Belle from the Barlows, Nr Leyland, won the Interbreed for the Best Cow & Progeny with her unique triplet calves, and again judged by Richard Bartle.   Denizes Trixie Bell 15 is by the herd’s prolific Denizes Hamish and is out of the Ashland Tornado daughter Denizes Trixie Belle 8.   Capturing the hearts of show crowds in England and Scotland, Denizes Trixie Belle’s major highlight was winning the Overall Individual Interbreed title at the Great Yorkshire Show. At the English National, it was a ‘nap hand’ for the Denizes herd who with another strong team secured five class wins on the day.

Big mentions also to the Wacton; Guiltcross; Hotlick; and Wrinehill herds who all had red ticket wins on the day.  Summing it all up we’ll leave the final word with the Simmental judge Jimmy McMillan who said:  “It’s been a terrific show of Simmentals with the females having quality right through, and particularly in the younger classes.  It was also very noticeable during the judging how many young breeders and handlers were involved which is just great to see.  It’s been an honour to judge the English National and I’d like to congratulate and thank all of the exhibitors for the show of Simmental stock forward.”

Overall Championship Presentation

Female Championship line up.

Male Championship presentation

Junior Championship line up

Winning Interbreed Team of Four

Results from English National Show

Royal Lancashire Show, Saturday 19th July 2025
Judge Mr Jimmy McMillan

Class 1 Heifer, born on or after 1 September 2024
1st 232 Denizes Matilda – Barlow Brothers

Class 2 Heifer, born on or after 1 July & 31 August 2024
1st 234 Denizes Fancy Therese – Barlow Brothers
2nd 233 Denizes Beauty – Barlow Brothers

Class 3 Heifer, born on or after 1 April & 30 June 2024
1st 242 Popes Nellys Rhea – J H & V G Wood
2nd 240 Denzies Matilda – R E & S H W Steggles
3rd 241 Popes Tarkas Rosa – J H & V G Wood

Class 4 Heifer, born on or between 1 January & 31 March 2024
1st 252 Cade Kathleens Rockstar – P A & S M Cade
2nd 247 Guiltcross Razzle Dazzle – Marcus Searle
3rd 249 Guiltcross Ritzy – Marcus Searle

Class 5 Heifer, born on or between 1 August & 31 December 2023
1st 255 Denizes Wilde – Barlow Brothers

Class 6 Heifer, born on or between 1 April & 31 July 2023
1st 256 Denizes Eunice – Barlow Brothers

Denizes Eunice 5th

2nd 257 Heathbrow Precious- Holly Grant

Class 7 Heifer, born on or between 1 January & 31 March 2023
1st 258 Fircovert Peggy – Paul Gunther
2nd 260 Storersmith Puzzle – Storersmith Simmentals
3rd 259 Vale Royal Annies Princess – R E & S H W Steggles

Class 9 Cow, born in 2020 or 2021 in milk or certified in calf at the time of the show
1st 261 Scotland Hill Ivy Molly – R E & S H W Steggles

Scotland Hill Ivy Molly from the Wacton herd.

Class 10 Cow, born before 1 January 2020 in milk or certified in calf at the time of the show
1st 262 Denizes Trixie Belle – Barlow Brothers

Class 12 Bull, born on or after 1 July & 31 August 2024
1st 267 Holtick Rampage – M V Hicks & Sons

Hotlick Rampage

2nd 266 Denizes Rocketman – Barlow Brothers
3rd 265 Denizes Razzamatazz – Barlow Brothers

Class 13 Bull, born on or after 1 April & 30 June 2024
1st 275 Popes Randolph – J H & V G Wood
2nd 270 Popes Russian – J H & V G Wood
3rd 271 Popes Rollo – J H & V G Wood

Class 14 Bull, born on or between 1 January & 31 March 2024
1st 280 Cade Romeo – PA & SM Cade

Cade Romeo

2nd 279 Fishpool Rocky – T & J Hassall

Class 15 Bull, born in 2023
1st 281 Wacton Peroni – Peter Hatton

Wacton Peroni, Reserve Senior Male, and Class 15 winner

2nd 282 Fircovert Peacock – Paul Gunther

Class 16 Bull, born on or before 31 December 2022
1st 283 Storersmith Navarone – Storersmith Simmentals

Champion Female
252 Cade Kathleens Rockstar, PA & SM Cade

Reserve Female Champion
258 Fircovert Peggy, Paul Gunther

Male Champion
283 Storersmith Navarone, Storersmith Simmentals

Reserve Male Champion
275 Popes Randolph, J H & V G Wood

Junior Champion
252 Cade Kathleens Rockstar, P A & S M Cade

Reserve Junior Champion
275 Popes Randolph, J H & V G Wood

Overall Champion
283 Storersmith Navarone, Storersmith Simmentals

Reserve Overall Champion
252 Cade Kathleens Rockstar

Pairs
1st Marcus Searle
2nd J H & V G Wood
3rd R E & S H W Steggles

Group of 4
1st J H & V G Wood
2nd R E & S H W Steggles

Winning Group of Four from the Popes herd. From the left: Popes Rhea; Popes Nellys Prudence; Popes Diamonds Ritzi; Popes Russian