POPES PRINCESS LUMI ‘SHINES BRIGHTLY’ TO WIN ENGLISH SIMMENTAL NATIONAL SHOW AT THE ROYAL NORFOLK!

Denizes Nugget takes Overall Simmental Reserve Supreme
Brandane Savannah wins Simmental Junior Championship
Popes Princess Lumi and Denizes Nugget win Overall Interbreed Pairs
Denizes Nugget wins Overall Reserve Interbreed, and Male Continental Interbreed
Popes Princess Lumi Reserve Female Continental Interbreed
Simmentals place Reserve in Interbreed Team of Five
Simmentals also Reserve in Interbreed Group of Three
91 Simmental entries, the breed’s largest summer show entry

It was a ‘Simmental sizzler’ at a baking hot Royal Norfolk Show as a mighty entry of ninety-one Simmentals ‘wowed’ the crowds and lit up the 2026 Simmental English National Show.  By general consensus it was a high-quality show and shining the brightest at the end of the day was  the April 2020 born Popes Princess Lumi from Jimmy & Vikki Wood, Popes Farm, Dutton, Preston, who was given the Overall Simmental Supreme Championship nod by the judge for the day, David Sapsed of the noted Heathbrow herd, at High Heath Farm, Hertfordshire.

Overall Champion Popes Princess Lumi

Shown with her March 2026 born bull calf at foot, Popes Thunder a son of the €52,000 Clonagh Lucky Explorer, it was a second Simmental English National Overall Championship win for Popes Princess Lumi and on top of her win in 2022, at the Royal Lancashire, when shown as an in-calf heifer.  In that same year, Lumi also won the Overall Simmental Supreme at the Great Yorkshire Show.  Full of breeding, Popes Princess Lumi is by the prolific AI bull Team Celtic 11 and is out of the herd’s much decorated show cow Popes Princess Cleo EX95, who herself has previously secured Overall Interbreed titles at both the Great Yorkshire and Royal Welsh Shows respectively. Lumi’s granddam, Popes Nellys Princess was the Simmental Overall Supreme Champion at the blue riband Royal Show back in 2007 and, like her granddaughter, won the Royal Lancashire Show Interbreed in 2006. This female breeding line all goes back to Tintoside Nelly’s Wonder, a daughter of the breed’s highly noted Cloford Nelly.

Reserve Overall & Male Champion Denizes Nugget

It was a Popes herd Championship one-two with the herd’s stock bull Denizes Nugget winning the Male Championship before going on to place Overall Simmental Reserve Supreme.  The June 2022 born Denizes Nugget, bred by M A Barlow & Sons, Ulnes, Nr Leyland, Lancashire, 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.  One of the highlights of English National Show, Denizes Nugget originally came through a fantastic class of four quality senior Simmental bulls before moving on to his Championship honours.

Popes Princess Lumi & Denizes Nugget Simmental Champion & Reserve, & Interbreed Pair

A truly dynamic duo,  Popes Princess Lumi and Denizes Nugget then teamed up on the second day of the show to win the Overall Interbreed Pairs title, and also to feature in the Reserve Interbreed Team of Five, and Reserve Interbreed Group of Three.  Simmentals featured in six Interbreeds either as Champion or Reserve, and with other titles including:  Reserve Female Continental (Popes Princess Lumi); Overall Individual Reserve Interbreed (Denizes Nugget); and Male Continental Interbreed Champion (Denizes Nugget).

It was a long but enjoyable day of concentration through some quality Simmental classes for the judge David Sapsed who was fulsome in his praise of the cattle and the exhibitors and said:  “Firstly I would like to thank the Society for giving me the honour and privilege to judge this year’s English Simmental National Show. The quality of the cattle forward was fantastic from top to bottom. With large numbers forward it meant some classes were outstanding, especially the heifers – my line up of the nine female class winners was truly magnificent.”

David Sapsed, the judge for the day locked in on the job!

“The cows and calves are always a pleasure to judge and again, we had superb quality on show. My senior cow winner went on to be my breed champion, and I felt she really was a worthy winner. As she entered the ring I felt she had that charisma that Champions are made of – she was a well-balanced cow, full of quality, good locomotion for an above average size, and she had a lovely heifer calf following, just a terrific Simmental cow and calf.”

“On the day she was followed by the senior bull who came out of an outstanding older bull class, any of which would have been a worthy winner, and another quality line up in the Male Championship.  However  I felt that my Champions matched so well that it would be a massive advantage in the Interbreed competitions and so it proved.”

Reserve Overall Male Champion Cade Nugget, during the judging

The Reserve Overall Male Championship went to local breeders Chris & Zara Curson of the Hollybrook herd, at Hollybrook Farm, Dereham, with their February 2022 born bull Cade Nugget.  With a bit of symmetry, this bull, bred by Paul & Sharrie Cade, Paddock Farm, Buckden, had won the Overall Male Championship, and Interbreed Continental Male Championship at the previous staging of the English National Show at the Royal Norfolk in 2023.  Nugget is sired by Sacombe Jameson, and out of Brandane Kathleen, a Blackford Hurricane daughter.   Commenting afterwards Chris Curson said:  “Being so close to the showground we were very keen to support the Simmental English National.  Following Nugget’s exploits in 2023 we are thrilled for him to return three years later and win the Reserve Male amidst such strong competition, and given that we only took him off grass just a week ago!  One of his daughters, Hollybrook Rosie, stood third in her heifer class and again we’re delighted with that as it was such a strong class and won by the eventual Reserve Female Champion.”  It was a busy week for Zara Curson who as well as being hands on with the cattle also had made a superb job of organising the Simmental promotional marquee and the terrific hospitality within.  A top job all round!

Taking the Reserve Female Championship was the two-year-old heifer Atlow Rhian from David Donnelly, Hulland Ward, Ashbourne, Derbyshire.  April 2024 born this upstanding heifer is by Mullynock Gallant 15 (ET).  Arriving at Norfolk with a show win behind her this year, Rhian’s only other outing had seen her win the Simmental Supreme Championship at the Staffordshire County Show.   Bearing a strong likeness to her dam Atlow Bella Rose, and grand dam Atlow Valentines Lucinda, Atlow Rhian’s dam line goes back to the herd’s famous Atlow Rhians Valentine who was the first Simmental to win the Royal Show Interbreed on two occasions.  The aim for Atlow Rhian, who is in calf to Broomfield Prancer, is that she will be left to ‘settle and grow on’ and, as a top end breeding female for the herd, won’t be shown next year.  On the day the same way bred Atlow Senorita placed second in her class to the Junior Champion, and with this heifer being aimed at the Next Gen VI Sale in December at Carlisle.

Overall Junior Champion, & Junior Female Champion Brandane Savannah

Winning the Junior Heifer Championship, and Overall Junior Champion was the stylish young May 2025 born heifer Brandane Savannah from Jimmy McMillan, Chesham, Buckinghamshire.  Full of breeding, Brandane Savannah is by Sterling Gino 15 and is out of Sterling Candy’s F.C.U.K. who has previously bred the 18,000gns Brandane Lu Lu sold at Next Gen in 2022, and Brandane Millie who was the Overall Simmental Supreme, and Reserve Individual Interbreed at the Royal Welsh in 2023.  Brandane Savannah herself will be aimed at the Next Gen VI Sale being held at Carlisle on December 11^th this year.  Of Brandane Savannah the judge David Sapsed said:  “My Junior Champion was a young heifer with a great future.  She just oozes class and although there were other great heifers, her style, balance, and great locomotion won the day.”  Wracking up the prizes, Brandane Savannah arrived at the Royal Norfolk having already won the Supreme Interbreed at Suffolk Show, and also at Hadleigh Show.

Reserve Junior Champion, & Junior Male Champion, Scotland Hill Superman

Winning the Overall Reserve Junior Championship, and Male Junior Champion, was Scotland Hill Superman from the 70-cow Scotland Hill herd of Tom & Ruby Hill, Wadworth, Doncaster.  April 2025 born, Superman is by the herd’s 14,000gns stock bull Kilbride Farm Morikawa, and is out of Scotland Hill Harriet Kylie, a Popes Fendt 14 daughter.  Of this young bull David Sapsed said:  “Well grown for his age, this is a big, powerful bull with a very good shape to him.  There were many promising young bulls on parade and which bodes very well for the breed’s autumn sales.”  Scotland Hill Superman himself will be aimed from here at the Stirling Sale in October.

Reserve Junior Female Champion, Guiltcross Saffron

It’s been a fantastic few days for Marcus & Helen Searle, Wagon Lodge, Kenninghall, Norwich.  A long journey to Edinburgh and the Royal Highland Show for the first time saw them take a memorable class win and Reserve Junior Female Championship.  A few days later and the trick was repeated with their February 2025 born heifer Guiltcross Saffron again winning her class and taking the Reserve Junior Female Championship.  Quite the double!  Described as ‘modern and stylish’ Guiltcross Saffron is by the noted Woodhall Ferrari 14, and out of Brandane Kirsty, a Sterling Gino 15 daughter.  Commenting,  Helen Searle said:  “It’s been a great few days for us and supporting two shows that have had fantastic turnouts of Simmental cattle.  We’re thrilled with what Saffron has achieved, and as previous, we have bulls sired by her full brother that we’re aiming for Stirling in October, and our first time selling there.”

Coming up from Kent, the O’So’Good pedigree herd of Robert & Nicola Tremayne, Paley Farm, Cranbrook, secured the Reserve Junior Male Championship with their March 2025 born O’So’Good Snowball.  This young bull, also being looked at for the autumn sales, is by Heathbrow Grand Slam 15 (P) EX 93, and is out of Heathbrow Sarah’s Holly, a past Kent County Show Female Champion, and by Heathbrow EX Factor 13.

As befitting for an English National Show, and with 91 entries, there were first prize winners from all around England and including the following herds:

Atlow (Derbyshire); Boars Head; Brandane (Buckinghamshire); Denizes (Lancashire); Fircovert (Norfolk); Goddard (Norfolk); Guiltcross (Norfolk); Holtick (Warwickshire); O’So’Good (Kent); Popes (Lancashire); Scotland Hill (South Yorkshire); Storersmith (Staffordshire); Tapster (Warwickshire); Theberton (Norfolk)

A memorable day and with the British Simmental Cattle Society and East Anglian Simmental Club already taking aim at encouraging another bumper entry next year! In the meantime a massive congratulations to all of the 2026 English National Show exhibitors for putting on a sizzling, super Simmental showcase!

Male Championship Cade Nugget & Denizes Nugget

Female Championship,l to r,, Atlow Rhian, Popes princess Lumi

Group of Three, Theberton Herd

Simmental Group of Four, Theberton Herd

Simmental English National Show (held within The Royal Norfolk)
Wednesday 24^th June 2026
Judge Mr David Sapsed, Codicote, Hitchin, Hertfordshire

Results

Class 402 Heifer, born on or after 1st September 2025
1^st 386 George Scrivens & Holly Grant                Tapster Precious
2^nd 385 V W Hicks and Sons                                Holtick Sexy

Class 403 Heifer, born on or between 1st July and 31st August 2025
1^st 387 John Goddard                                            Goddard Numpty’s Dutchess

Class 404 Heifer, born on or between 1st April and 30th June 2025
1^st 391 Mr J McMillan                                               Brandane Savannah
2^nd 389 Mr D Donnelly                                             Atlow Senorita
3^rd 392 V W Hicks and Sons                                    Holtick Petra’s Star
4^th 388 PA & SM Cade                                             Cade Sadie’s Shelby
5^th 393 RE & SHW Steggles                                    Vale Royal Annie’s Star
6^th 390 James Griffin                                                Hemingford Snickers

Class 405 Heifer, born on or between 1st January and 31st March 2025
1^st 404 M G Searle                                                     Guiltcross Saffron
2^nd 405 Mrs H Clarke                                                Williams Maisie’s Sadie
3^rd 399 J McMillan                                                     Brandane Sporty Spice
4^th 400 Mr R F & Mrs R J Parker                               Taverham Sarah
5^th 397 Jack Germany & Skye Dixon                         Allsaints Tamara
6^th 394 MA Barlow & Sons                                         Denizes Matilda 22nd

Denizes Matilda 21st

Class 406 Heifer, born on or between 1st August and 31st December 2024
1^st 406 MA Barlow & Sons                                       Denizes Matilda 21^st
2^nd 409 Mr R J Grenham                                           Boars Head Nelly 10^th
3^rd 413 R & L Storer Smith                                       Storersmith Robyn
4^th 411 Mr Thomas Hill                                            Scotland Hill Willow Ribbon
5^th 414 R & L Storer Smith                                       Storersmith Rapunzel
6^th 412 RE & SHW Steggles                                     Vale Royal Nadine

Class 407 Heifer, born on or between 1st April and 31st July 2024
1^st 415 Mr D Donnelly                                              Atlow Rhian
2^nd 422 Nichola Osgood & Robert Tremayne          Popes Nellys Rumour
3^rd 416 Chris Curson                                                Hollybrook Rosie
4^th 420 Mr & Mrs LJ Dowley                                     Theberton Rosemary
5^th 419 James Griffin                                                Hemingford Rose
6^th 421 RE & SHW Steggles                                    Popes Princess Ruby

Tapster Roxanne Star

Class 408 Heifer, born on or between 1st January and 31st March 2024
1^st 426 George Scrivens & Holly Grant                    Tapster Roxanne Star
2^nd 427 A J Hart                                                        Treverbyn Roxi
3^rd 423 Chris White                                                   Popes Nellys Prudence
4^th 428 Mr & Mrs LJ Dowley                                     Theberton Roseanne
5^th 424 C H Carter                                                     Beeches Retina

Fircovert Peggy

Class 409 Cow or Heifer, in milk with calf at foot or certified in calf and due to calve
1^st 431 Paul Gunther                                                Fircovert Peggy
2^nd 434 J H & V G Wood                                          Popes Princess Petra
3^rd 432 Mr & Mrs LJ Dowley                                     Theberton Penelope
4^th 433 George Scrivens & Holly Grant                     Lynfield Precious N992

Popes Princess Noor

Clas 410 Cow, in milk or certified in calf at the time of the show born in 2021 or 2022
1^st 440 J H & V G Wood                                            Popes Princess Noor
2^nd 437 James Griffin                                                Hemingford Madonna
3^rd 435 PA & SM Cade                                              Cade Fifi’s Nadine
4^th 438 Mr & Mrs LJ Dowley                                     Theberton Nancy
5^th 439 RE & SHW Steggles                                     Brandane Mint
6^th 436 Jack Germany & Skye Dixon                     Williams Fluffys Nellie

Class 411Cow, in milk or certified in calf at the time of the Show born before 1st January 2021
1^st 441 J H & V G Wood                                            Popes Princess Lumi

Hotlick Samson 25

Class 412 Bull, born on or after 1st September 2025
1^st 443 V W Hicks and Sons                                    Holtick Samson 25
2^nd 444 RE & SHW Steggles                                    Wacton Streaker 25
3^rd 442 James Griffin                                                Hemingford Titan 26
4^th 445 RE & SHW Steggles                                     Wacton Sniper 25

Class 413 Bull, born on or between 1st July and 31st August 2025
1^st 446 John Goddard                                               Goddard Suggs 25

Class 414 Bull, born on or between 1st April and 30th June 2025
1^st 455 Mr Thomas Hill                                             Scotland Hill Superman 25
2^nd 460 J H & V G Wood                                            Popes Supremo 25
3^rd 451 Mr R Grenham                                              Boars Head Spitfire 25
4^th 459 Mrs H Clarke                                                 Williams Severus 25
5^th 454 V W Hicks and Sons                                   Holtick Spartacus 25
6^th 452 J McMillan                                                     Brandane Supermac 25

Class 415 Bull, born on or between 1st January and 31st March 2025
1^st 468 Nichola Osgood & Robert Tremayne           O’so’good Snowball 25
2^nd 467 M G Searle                                                    Guiltcross Scotty 25
3^rd 470 Mrs H Clarke                                                 Williams Slytherin 25
4^th 463 George Scrivens & Holly Grant                    Tapster Sinatra 25
5^th 466 RE & SHW Steggles                                     Wacton Supreme 25
6^th 465 RE & SHW Steggles                                     Wacton Schoffel 25

Class 416 Bull, born in 2024
1^st 471 John Goddard                                               Goddard Royal 24

Class 417 Bull, born on or before 31st December 2023
1^st 475 J H & V G Wood                                            Denizes Nugget 22
2^nd 472 Chris Curson                                               Cade Nugget 22
3^rd 474 R & L Storer Smith                                       Storersmith Navarone 22
4^th 473 Peter Hatton                                                 Wacton Peroni 23

Overall Champion Female
Popes Princess Lumi                                               J H & V G Wood

Reserve Overall Champion Female
Atlow Rhian                                                                Mr D Donelly

Overall Male Champion
Denizes Nugget                                                         J H & V G Wood

Reserve Overall Male Champion
Cade Nugget                                                              Chris Curson

Supreme Champion
Popes Princess Lumi                                               J H & V G Wood

Reserve Supreme Champion
Denizes Nugget                                                         J H & V G Wood

Junior Champion
Brandane Savannah                                                 J McMillan

Reserve Junior Champion
Scotland Hill Superman                                         Mr Thomas Hill

S134-Norfolk Special
1^st 399 J & K McMillan Brandane Savannah
2^nd 431 Paul Gunther Fircovert Peggy

Best Pair
1^st R & L Storer Smith                                               Storersmith Robyn & Rapunzel
2^nd Mr& Mrs LJ Dowley                                             Theberton Rosemary & Penelope

Group of Three
1^st Mr& Mrs LJ Dowley                                              Theberton Rosemary, Roseanne, & Penelope
2^nd R & L Storer Smith & Chris Curson                     Storersmith Navarone, Robyn, & Rapunzel