POPES PRINCESS LUMI ‘DOUBLES UP’ AND WINS SIMMENTAL OVERALL SUPREME AT THE 2026 ROYAL WELSH SHOW!

Popes Princess Lumi wins Simmental Overall Supreme
Ranfurly Weikel 55th takes Overall Reserve
Denizes Nugget wins Male Championship
Moelfrynmawr Sam Tan 25 (P) Junior Male Champion
Simmentals take Reserve in Interbreed Team of Five

Bringing the quality, the April 2020 born Popes Princess Lumi from Jimmy & Vikki Wood, Popes Farm, Dutton, Preston, stepped up again to win the 2026 Royal Welsh Overall Simmental Supreme Championship on Monday 20^th July at Builth Wells.  Judge for the day was Joe Ede who ran the noted Fole herd, and is based at Stoneleys Four Trees, Staffordshire.

Popes Princess Lumi, 2026 RWAS Simmental Champion, & Simmental Female Champion

Right up there as a ‘Simmental superstar’ this summer, this latest win made it a 2026 ‘major double’ for Popes Princess Lumi and following on from her Overall Supreme Championship in June at the Simmental English National Show held within the Royal Norfolk.  On top of that there have been a few Interbreed wins thrown in to boot.  Compiling quite the show record, prior to this year Popes Princess Lumi had also previously won both the Simmental English National Show (at the Royal Lancs, and the Overall Simmental Supreme at the Great Yorkshire Show in 2022.

Popes Princess Lumi is by the noted AI bull Team Celtic 11 and is out of the herd’s high profile and much decorated Popes Princess Cleo EX95, who amongst a host of titles also won the Overall Simmental Supreme, and Individual Interbreed at the Royal Welsh Show.  Earlier this year at the successful Popes Princesses Sale of Heifers at Carlisle, Lumi’s first heifer calf, Popes Princess Ruby, sold for 9000gns to the Wacton herd of Sam Steggles.  At the Royal Wels, Popes Princess Lumi was shown with her March 2026 born bull calf at foot, Popes Thunder a son of the €52,000 Clonagh Lucky Explorer.  Lumi initially won the cow class, in calf or with calf at foot born on or before 31 Dec 22, before going on to win the Female Championship, and finally being crowned as the Overall Simmental Supreme.

Commenting on his Champion, the judge Joe Ede said:  “This was just a really good Simmental cow, a working mum doing a great job of her calf at foot.  She had size, was full of style, and she walked out well with good locomotion on what was hard ground.  All in all, a very worthy winner from within a good show of Simmentals.”

There was more success to come for the Popes herd through the Welsh Show.  Lumi’s stablemate, Denizes Nugget, took the Male Championship on the day and with the two then teaming up to win the Simmental Pairs.  Come Interbreed time Popes Princess Lumi and Denizes Nugget led the way as part of the Simmental Reserve Interbreed Team of Five, and which also included the bred heifer Popes Nellys Prudence.  Top work again by the Wood family!

It was once again a ‘Simmental ladies’ day’ with the Reserve Overall Supreme, and Reserve Female Championship going to Ranfurly Weikel 55^th from George Scrivens and Holly Grant who run the Tapster herd at Highfield Farm, Back Lane, Shrewley, Warwickshire.  Bought privately as a calf, Ranfurly Weikell 55^th was bred by David and Jonny Hazelton, Cohannon House, Dungannon, Northern Ireland.  From that herd’s renowned Weikel line, this March 2024 born heifer is by Banwy T-Rex and is out of the Cleenagh Flasher daughter Ranfurly Weikel 43^rd M6 EX 91.   Weikel 55^th initially came through a strong class of heifers, born on or between 01st Jan 24 and 31st Aug 24, before moving on to win the Reserve Supreme Overall, and the fast-establishing Tapster herd’s biggest individual award at a summer ‘major’ to date.

Ranfurly Weikel 55th, 2026 RWAS Simmental Reserve Champion, & Simmental Reserve Female Champion

Picking up more than a few awards over the season, Ranfurly Weikel has featured in the winning Simmental Interbreed Team of Four at the Great Yorkshire, was part of the Reserve Interbreed Simmental Team of Five at the Royal Welsh, and individually was breed Champion at Kenilworth Show, and Continental Champion at Hanbury Show.  Ranfurly Weikel 55^th is in-calf to Curaheen Bandit and is due to calf in January next year.   Commenting on his reserve Champion the judge Joe Ede said: “This is a terrific heifer with huge potential and I’m sure will go on to win many more shows.  She walks well with a leg in each corner and really carried a great show ring presence. I very much look forward to seeing her again and when she has a calf at foot.”

Back in the bulls, and another ‘major’ achiever in the year was the aforementioned Denizes Nugget from Jimmy & Vikki Wood’s Popes herd.  At the Royal Welsh this senior bull came through his class and before going on to take another Male Championship.  This latest accolade added to his successes at the Simmental English National Show held within the Royal Norfolk, and where Nugget was Reserve Overall Supreme and Male Champion before going on to be Overall Reserve Interbreed, Continental Male Interbreed Champion, and feature in the Reserve Team of Five, and Group of Three. At Harrogate Denizes Nugget was Reserve Male Champion and featured in the winning Simmental Interbreed Team of Four.  Bred by M A Barlow & Sons, Ulnes, Nr Leyland, Lancashire, the June 2022 born Denizes Nugget, was purchased by the Woods for 37,000gns at Stirling in February 2024.  Nugget is sired by the well-known Denizes Hamish, and is out of Ashland Topaz Janet, a Team Celtic daughter.

Denizes Nugget, 2026 RWAS Overall Simmental Male Champion

Of his Male Champion Joe Ede said: “Denizes Nugget is a Simmental bull with both size and width, who was good on his feet and walked out well.  He carried power and also had tremendous shape.”  Following the Royal Welsh, it was a return home to the Popes herd for a well-earned rest and before being put back to work.  Breeding well, there will be sons of Denizes Nugget forward for sale at Stirling in October.

From Wiltshire, Mr & Mrs RJ & BE Kimber, Beanhill Farm, Christian Malford, Chippenham, took second in the class to Denizes Nugget with their bull Beanhill Regal 24 before following him through to win the Reserve Male Championship.  Got by AI, the October 2024 born Beanhill Regal is by the well-known Broombrae Major, and is out of Beanhill Messenger GP 83, a Ballinalare Farm Galaxy 15 daughter.  This was a first outing in the show ring for Beanhill Regal and commenting, James Kimber said: “We are very pleased to have won the Reserve Male Championship, and in what was also our first time showing at the Royal Welsh in some twenty-five years.  Broombrae Major has bred very well for us in the Beanhill herd, and Regal would be a very typical example of that.  He’s shown tremendous growth rate for a 20-month-old bull, has a terrific temperament, and we’ve used him on a couple of cows at home.  From here, Beanhill Regal is on the market and is for sale.”  In what was a good show for the Kimbers, the six-year-old Beanhill Lettie EX 92, with her January born heifer calf at foot Beanhill Tanya, another by Broombrae Major M3 21, took second place in her class and behind the day’s Overall Simmental Supreme Champion.  Come prize giving time young Richard Kimber was presented with the Simmental Stockman’s Shield.

Beanhill Regal (left), with Denizes Nugget

In all there were 34 Simmentals catalogued at this year’s show, which represented a significant increase on recent years.  Encouragingly Welsh exhibitors featured strongly and with a couple of debutants achieving first prizes and Championship wins!

Winning the youngest class of bulls was, and going on to take the Junior Male Championship, was Moelfrynmawr Sam Tan 25 (P) from Gethin & Carys Davies, Moelfryn Mawr, Bethania, Llanon, Ceredigion.  This July 2025 born heterozygous polled bull is by the AI sire Raceview Mattie J Beauty M, and is out of Chegwidden Elouise’s Iona.  Commenting, Gethin Davies said: “This is the first time we’ve shown and with only the third Simmental that we’ve bred!  As such we’re absolutely thrilled to have won the Junior Male Championship which was just totally unexpected.  We are very grateful to the O’Connels through whom we managed to buy straws of Raceview Mattie J Beauty M, and Sam Tan is the outcome.”  With Sam Tan just coming one -year-old a little time will be given to consider forward options for this young bull.

Meolfrynmawr Sam Tan (P), Junior Male Champion, 2026 Royal Welsh Show

Also making their Simmental showing debut at the Royal Welsh Show and picking up a class first prize and the Reserve Junior Male, was JW & SD Young, Cyttir, Adfa, Newtown, Powys, with the March 2025 born Fourcross Saturn.  With plenty of breeding behind him, Saturn is by Denizes MacGregor, a bull sired by Blackford Galaxy and out of Auroch Eve, and whose dam is Fourcross June EX 93, a Kilbride Farm Comber daughter.

Fourcross Saturn, 2026 RWAS Simmental Reserve Junior Male Champion

Come Interbreed time and it was great to see Simmentals feature when they took Overall Reserve in the spectacular Interbreed Team of Five competition, always one of the major spectacles of the show.  The Simmental team consisted of Popes Princess Lumi, and Denizes Nugget, from Jimmy & Vikki Wood, Lancashire; Cade Kathleen’s Rockstar from Mary Cormack, Leominster; Ranfurly Weikel 55^th from George Scrivens & Holly Grant, Warwickshire; and Popes Nellys Prudence, from Chris White, Gloucestershire.

2026 RWAS, Simmental Reserve Interbreed Team of Five

Herds exhibiting at the show who enjoyed a class or championship win or were placed in the Interbreeds included:  Beanhill; Crown; Fourcross; Frogmore; Hirwaun; Middleton; Moelfrynmawr; Popes; and Tapster.

It was great to see such a good Simmental entry at the Royal Welsh Show and with the breed once again making a mark on those watching at ringside during the breed judging, and at the Interbreeds.   A big congratulations is extended to all of the exhibitors!

Overall Supreme Presentation: Ranfurly Weikel 55th, left, & Overall Supreme Popes Princess Lumi

ROYAL WELSH SHOW 2026

Monday 20th July 2026

Judge Mr J Ede, Stoneleys Four Trees, Staffordshire

Simmental Results

Class 520 – Bull born on or before 31 Dec 2024
1st JH & VG Wood Denizes Nugget 22
2nd RJ & BE Kimber Beanhill Regal
3rd D & D Edwards Popes Laertes 20

Class 521 – Bull, born on or between 01 January 2025 and 31 March 2025
1st JW & SD Young Fourcross Saturn 25
2nd CH Evans & Son Wroxall Starlink PP
3rd G Scrivens & H Grant Tapster Sinatra
4th Roden Livestock Cilgwrrwg Skylar 25
5th B Harding Hallway Samson 25

Class 522 – Bull, born on or after 01 April 2025
1st G & C Davies Moelfrynmawr Sam Tan 25 (P)
2nd JH & VG Wood Popes Senator 25
3rd MO & LD Jones Dyfed Sir Harlequin 25
4th GA & HA Francis Barlo Starbuck

523 RWAS CHAMPIONSHIP ROSETTE – For the best male exhibit. (Classes 520 – 522)
Male Champion – Denizes Nugget 22
Reserve Champion – Beanhill Regal

524 – RWAS SPECIAL ROSETTE – For the best male exhibit born on or after 1 January 2025 (Classes 521& 522)
Champion Moelfrynmawr Sam Tan 25 (P)
Reserve Fourcross Saturn 25

Class 525 Cow, in calf or with calf at foot born on or before 31 Dec 22
1st JH & VG Wood Popes Princess Lumi
2nd RJ & BE Kimber Beanhill Lettie
3rd R Hartshorn Ranfurly Beauty 16 N422

Class 526 Cow, in calf or with calf at foot born o or after 01 Jan 23
1st C & L Nicholas Simply Trixi Pandora
2nd N & E Jones Forsdale Anemones Penny Royal

527 *PEMBROKE PERPETUAL TROPHY and RWAS SPECIAL ROSETTE – Kindly given by Messrs D W & I C Davies, for the best cow, bred and exhibited by a club member who is resident in Wales. (Classes 525 & 526)
1st Simply Trixi Pandora
2nd Forsdale Anemones Penny Royal

528 *BSCS SPECIAL PRIZE OF £25 and RWAS SPECIAL ROSETTE – For the best cow with calf at foot. (Classes 525 & 526)
1st Popes Princess Lumi
2nd Simply Trixi Pandora

Class 529 Heifer, born on or between 01 Jan 24 and 31 Aug 24
1st G Scrivens & H Grant Ranfurly Weikel 55th
2nd C White Popes Nellys Prudence
3rd M Cormack Cade Kathleens Rockstar
4th G & C Davies Moelfrynmawr Rhosyn
5th Roden Livestock Cilgwrrwg Little Mojo

Class 530 Heifer, born on or between 01 Sept 24 and 31 Dec 24
1st A Davies Hirwaun Raspberry Ripple

Class 531 Heifer, Born on or after 01 Jan 25
1st N & E Jones Lambclose Sky
2nd A Davies Hirwaun Snowdrop
3rd MO & LD Jones Dyfed Sassy Lady

Lambclose Sky

532 RWAS CHAMPIONSHIP ROSETTE – For the best female exhibit. (Classes 525, 529 – 531)
Female Champion – Popes Princess Lumi
Reserve Champion – Ranfurly Weikel 55th

533 BSCS SPECIAL PRIZES and RWAS GROUP ROSETTES – For the best group of four, any sex, not necessarily bred by exhibitor. At least one animal in the group must be exhibited by an exhibitor living in Wales:

First
Ranfurly Weikel 55th
Simply Trixi Pandora
Hirwaun Raspberry Ripple
Hirwaun Snowdrop

Second
Lambclose Sky
Cilgwrrwg Skylar 25
Cilgwrrwg Little Mojo
Forsdale Anemones Penny Royal

534 BSCS SPECIAL PRIZES and RWAS SPECIAL ROSETTE – For the best pair male or female or mixed, owned but not necessarily bred by the exhibitor.
Denizes Nugget
Popes Princess Lumi

535 PERPETUAL MEMORIAL TROPHY, RWAS and BSCS CHAMPIONSHIP ROSETTES – For the Champion Simmental exhibit.
Overall Supreme Champion – Popes Princess Lumi
Reserve Overall Supreme – Ranfurly Weikel 55th