POPES HERD WINS CHAMPIONSHIP ‘ONE-TWO’ AT 2026 SIMMENTAL YOUNGSTOCK SHOW AT BORDERWAY!

Popes bulls take Overall Supreme, & Reserve Supreme
Chestermann win Overall Female
Storersmith take Overall Reserve Female
Braegarrie win Junior Female, and Reserve Junior Male
Goldstar secure Reserve Senior Male
Castlewigg lift Reserve Junior Female

Enjoying a tremendous day, the Popes herd of Jimmy & Vikki Wood, Popes Farm, Clitheroe Road, Dutton, Preston, Lancashire,  secured a Championship one-two at the North West Simmental Club, and British Simmental Cattle Society’s Simmental Youngstock Show held within the Borderway Agri Expo on Friday 30^th October at the Borderway Agri Expo, Carlisle. The Simmental judge was Reece Simmers of the noted Backmuir herd at Keith, Banffshire.

Popes Trademark Overall Supreme Champion, and Junior Male Champion

Youth had its day with the January 2026 born Popes Trademark 26 taking the Overall Supreme title after having been tapped out as the Junior Male Champion.  Full of breeding, this stylish young bull is by the herd’s €52,000 Clonagh Lucky Explorer and is out of Popes Princess Noor who earlier this year was the Overall Simmental Champion, and Interbreed Champion, at the Royal Lancashire Show.  Of his Champion the judge Reece Simmers said:  “My Champion had a great top, length to him, and with a good end.  With a lovely head he just had the extra bit of style and class and is a bull with a lot of future.”

Reece Simmers, Simmental Youngstock Show judge

Popes Spartan 25 Reserve Overall Supreme Champion, and Senior Champion

Taking the Overall Reserve Championship was the Senior Male Champion in the shape of team-mate Popes Spartan 25.   This July 2025 born ET calf is also by Clonagh Lucky Explorer, and is out of Popes Princess Hettie, a daughter of the herd’s multi decorated Popes Princess Cleo EX 85. Speaking of Popes Spartan, Reece Simmers said:  “Just another really good Simmental bull and again with a great top, plenty of breed character, and walked well on good legs.”

A closely related duo Popes Trademark’s mum, Popes Princess Noor, is herself out of Popes Princess Hettie, the mother of Popes Spartan!

Commenting afterwards, Vikki Wood said:  “We’re delighted to win a Championship double at this Youngstock Show and with eh quality of entry that was forward.  Come 2028 the Popes herd will be 40 years old and from the outset we’ve placed an emphasis on cow families.  Both of these bulls are from the Nelly family and which we consider to be the herd’s main female line.”

It was also another top day for the Braegarrie herd of Lindsay and Robert Currie, Pinclanty, Pinmore, Girvan, who went home with a prize haul including: Reserve Junior Male; Junior Female Champion; Pairs Winners; and a further class win!

Braegarrie Trevino, Reserve Junior Male Champion

Standing as Reserve Junior Male to the day’s Overall Champion, was the first prize winner Braegarrie Trevino 26.  This smart five-month-old calf is by the herd’s stock bull Overhill House Link 20, an Islavale Heston 16 son, and is out of Crudie Lucy.  The herd’s Junior Female Champion came in the shape of Braegarrie Tia.  With Clonagh breeding again featuring, this January 2026 born heifer is by Clonagh Matador, and is out of the Woodhall Ferrari 14 daughter, Braegarrie Nadia.  Winning the second class of the day for bulls born on or between 1^st October 2025, and 31^st December 2025 was another Clonagh Matador son, and this time Braegarrie Sylvester 25.  October 2025 born, Sylvester is a heifer’s calf being out of an Overhill House Link 20 daughter, Braegarrie Paula. Later in the day this dynamic duo of Braegarrie Tia, and Braegarrie Sylvester 25, teamed up to win the Simmental Pairs title.

Goldstar Simba Reserve Senior Male

Making a strong defence of their Overall Supreme win last year was James and Claire Hodge, Ploughlands Farm, Dundonald, Ayrshire, who won Reserve Senior Male with their July 2025 born calf Goldstar Simba 25.  In October 2024, Denizes Melody 62^nd, was purchased as a calf at foot along with her mum, in-calf again, the then nine-year-old Denizes Melody 22nd, for 7000gns at the Production Sale of the Denizes Herd of MA Barlow & Sons, Lancashire, held at Stirling.   Last year amongst an array of show wins, she lifted the Simmental Youngstock Overall Simmental Supreme.  Roll on twelve months, and Goldstar Simba 25 the resulting calf out of Denizes Melody 22^nd, placed second in his class to the day’s reserve Male Champion, and followed him through to take the Reserve Senior Male award.  It’s been a cracking few weeks for this still fledgling pedigree herd and who sold their first Simmental bull at the recent Stirling October Sale for 14,000gns.

Chestermann Explorer Stella 4, Senior Female Champion

The Gwynne family from Whithorn, Newton Stewart also enjoyed a tremendous day’s showing.  Winning the Overall Female Championship, and Senior Female Champion was Nick & Nadia Gwynne with Chestermann Explorer Stella 4.  This December 2025 born heifer described as ‘very correct, feminine, not overly done, and showy with style,’ is by Clonagh Nuclear Explorer, and is out of Chestermann Gibble Stella, a daughter of the homebred Chesterman Gibble 15 EX 93.  The same way bred as the sire of the Overall Champion, Clonagh Nuclear Explorer was purchased as a weaned calf off its mum, and with the Dora The Explorer line what the Gwynne’s were looking for.  A bull with a ‘lovely temperament’, his son Chestermann sandy sold for 8500gns at the recent Stirling October Sale.

Castlewigg J-Lo Explorer 2 Reserve Female Junior Champion

Following this up, Frank Gwynne won the Reserve Junior Female award with the January 2026 born Castlewigg Explorer J-Lo 2.  Similarly bred, Explorer J-Lo 2 is also by Clonagh Nuclear Explorer, and out of another Chestermann Gibble 15 EX 93 daughter, Castlewigg Gibble J-Lo.

Standing second in her class and following the Champion all the way through to lift both the Overall reserve Female, and Reserve Senior Female awards was Storersmith Strawberry from R&L Storersmith, Spath Farm House, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. Entirely homebred, this December 2025 born heifer is by Storersmith Navarone 22 EX 93, the 2025 English National Show Champion, and is out of Storersmith Klick EX 91, a Ballinalare Farm Galaxy daughter.  At last year’s corresponding event, Storersmith Rapunzel, another Navarone daughter, was a class winner before moving on to win the Simmental Overall at the English Winter Fair.

Another tremendous Simmental show and well done to all of the exhibitors who entered and took part.  The following herds enjoyed class wins and/or Championship, section titles:

Braegarrie; Chestermann; Castlewigg; Goldstar; Maidenlands; Popes; Storersmith; & Wroxall.

Overall Supreme, and Reserve Supreme Champions, Popes Trademark 26, and Popes Spartan 25

Pairs Winners: Braegarrie Tia, and Braegarrie Sylvester

Popes Spartan 25, and Goldstar Simba 25, Senior Male Champion & Reserve

Junior Male, and Reserve Junior Male Champions, Popes Trademark 26, and Braegarrie Trevino 26

Overall Female Champion, and Reserve Female Champion, Chestermann Explorer Stella 4, and Storersmith Strawberry

Junior Female Champion, and Reserve Junior Female Champion, Braeagarrie Tia, and Castlewigg Explorer J-Lo 2

2026 SIMMENTAL YOUNGSTOCK SHOW, 

BORDERWAY AGRI EXPO, H&H, CARLISLE

30^th October 2026

Judge Reece Simmers, Backmuir

Results

Bull born on or between 1st July & 30th September 2025
1^st: Messrs J H & V G Wood – Popes Spartan 25
2^nd: James & Claire Hodge – Goldstar Simba 25
3^rd: Frank Gwynne – Castlewigg Spartacus 25
4^th: D L & S Currie – Braegarrie Solo 25

Braegarrie Sylvester 25

Bull born on or between 1st October & 31st December 2025
1^st: D L & S Currie – Braegarrie Slyvester 25
2^nd: R & L Storer Smith – Storersmith Spitfire 25
3^rd: J F & C Saunders – Maidenlands Sonic 25
4^th: R & L Storer Smith – Storersmith Snowstorm 25

Bull born on or between 1st January & 15th March 2026
1^st: Messrs J H & V G Wood – Popes Trademark 26
2^nd: R & L Storer Smith – Storersmith Thunderbolt 26
3^rd: T & J Hassall – Fishpool Typhoon 26
4^th: Martin Farrar – Mossgrove Texas 26

Bull born on or after 16th March 2026.
1^st: D L & S Currie – Braegarrie Trevino 26
2^nd: T & J Hassall – Fishpool T-Rex 26
3^rd: C H Evans & Son – Wroxall Tomahawk 26

Wroxall Sly Primrose (PP)

Heifer on or between 1st July & 30th September 2025
1^st: C H Evans & Son – Wroxall Sly-Primrose (PP)
2^nd: Messrs Ladds – Bensonhall Stella
3^rd: Messrs Ladds – Bensonhall Sapphire

Heifer born on or between 1st October & 31st December 2025
1^st: Messrs N & N Gwynne – Chestermann Explorer Stella 4
2^nd: R & L Storer Smith – Storersmith Strawberry

Heifer born on or between 1st January & 15th March 2026
1^st: D L & S Currie – Braegarrie Tia
2^nd: Frank Gwynne – Castlewigg Explorer J-Lo 2
3^rd: T & J Hassall – Fishpool Tilly
4^th: C H Evans & Son – Wroxall Tiggy-Patiance

Heifer born on or after 16th March 2026
1^st: J F & C Saunders – Maidenlands Dora 8 T
2^nd: C H Evans & Son – Wroxall Top-Draw-Patience

Pairs
1^st: DL and S Currie
2^nd: R and L Storer Smith

Senior Male Champion
Messrs J H & V G Wood – Popes Spartan 25

Reserve Senior Male Champion
James & Claire Hodge – Goldstar Simba 25

Junior Male Champion
Messrs J H & V G Wood – Popes Trademark 26

Reserve Junior Male Champion
D L & S Currie – Braegarrie Trevino 26

Overall Male Champion
Messrs J H & V G Wood – Popes Trademark 26

Reserve Overall Male Champion
Messrs J H & V G Wood – Popes Spartan 25

Senior Female Champion
Messrs N & N Gwynne – Chestermann Explorer Stella 4

Reserve Female Champion
R & L Storer Smith – Storersmith Strawberry

Junior Female Champion
D L & S Currie – Braegarrie Tia

Reserve Junior Female Champion
Frank Gwynne – Castlewigg Explorer J-Lo 2

Overall Female Champion
Messrs N & N Gwynne – Chestermann Explorer Stella 4

Reserve Female Champion
R & L Storer Smith – Storersmith Strawberry

Overall Supreme Champion
Messrs J H & V G Wood – Popes Trademark 26

Reserve Overall Supreme Champion
Messrs J H & V G Wood – Popes Spartan 25