BRANDANE MILLIE WINS OVERALL SIMMENTAL SUPREME, AND RESERVE INDIVIDUAL INTERBREED AT 2023 ROYAL WELSH

by | Jul 29, 2023

  • Cwarre Naughty’s Nettle takes Simmental Reserve
  • Finlay Soutter wins Young Handlers Championship

It’s a summer that just keeps on giving for young Simmental breeder Finlay Soutter (17), Yew Tree Farm, 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 at Llanellwedd Wells, Powys, Monday 24th July 2023, and 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.  With a little bit of Simmental history, Finlay is believed to be the youngest Simmental breeder to have won one of the ‘major’ Royal titles!

Brandane Millie

Brandane Millie, who is due to calf in January, was purchased privately by Finlay’s granddad, Doug Mash, Chesham, Bucks and was gifted to Finlay as a birthday present to initiate his Millenium herd. A very proud Doug was on hand at ringside when Brandane Millie got the winning tap from the day’s judge Michael Barlow of the noted Denizes herd, Nr Leyland, Lancashire. 

Following the judging Michael Barlow said:  “This is an exceptional heifer and has everything I’d look for in a Simmental female.  She’s very feminine, moves well, has a natural width to her, and is full of style, character, and quality.  A terrific Simmental heifer.”

Judge Michael Barlow

Beyond the Simmental judging Brandane Millie moved on to represent the breed in the Overall Individual Interbreed.  Typically judged in the late afternoon and in the natural amphitheatre of the corner of the main judging ring, the sun was out as a huge ringside audience watched the judge Owain Llyr, Denbighshire, cast his eye over the Champions from some fourteen breeds.  Impeccably shown by Finlay, 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.

Brandane Millie with Finlay Soutter (right), and Doug Mash
Finlay Soutter

For young Finlay at the Royal Welsh it doesn’t get much better than winning the breed Supreme Overall, the Reserve Individual Interbreed with Granddad Doug Mash lending a helping hand, the Young handlers Championship, and all in your first year of showing!

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

Cwarre Naughty’s Nettle

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.

Pistyll Knightrider
Supreme & Reserve Champion Lineup
Male Champion & Reserve

2023 Royal Welsh Show Simmental 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

Ebbsley Nice Guy

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

Group of Four

Best Pair

Ebbsley Nice Guy

Ebbsley North Star

Male Champion Pistyll Nightrider

Reserve Male Ebbsley Nice Guy

Female Champion Brandane Millie

Overall Champion Brandane Millie