UNPRECEDENTED ‘FOUR IN A ROW’ AS BACKMUIR WIN OVERALL SUPREME AT THE 2025 ROYAL HIGHLAND SHOW!

Annick Ginger’s Lucia wins Simmental Overall Supreme

Corskie Mimic takes the Overall Reserve

Garmouth Robert  crowned Male Champion

Corskie Pinette Overall Junior Champion

The remarkable Annick Ginger’s Lucia, from Reece & Andrew Simmers, Backmuir Farm, Keith, Banffshire, was at it again as she lifted the Simmental Overall Supreme Championship for the third year in a row on the opening day of the 2025 Royal Highland Show, Thursday 19^th June, held at Ingliston, Edinburgh.

There were new show records aplenty as Annick Ginger’s Lucia becomes the first Simmental animal to seal a hat-trick of consecutive Supreme Championships at this premier show.   The 2025 win also meant it was an unprecedented fourth Royal Highland win in a row for the Backmuir herd with their first win coming in 2022 with Islavale Lullaby, and when Annick Ginger’s Lucia was Overall Reserve!

Annick Ginger’s Lucia, Overall Supreme Simmental Champion, and Female Champion

Presiding over this year’s Simmental section was the judge for the day Andrew Clarke of the noted Breaghey Herd, Tynan, Co. Armagh, and who was full of praise for his choice of Champion. Commenting he said:  “My Champion today is a fantastic example of the modern Simmental breed and she came out of a class of three outstanding cows just full of quality.  Brim full of femininity she has so much style and presence in the ring.  With a top line as straight as a die she has tremendous width to her, has a natural power, moves really well, and is making a good job of her calf at foot.  A terrific Simmental cow and a very worthy Champion.”

February 2020 born, Annick Ginger’s Lucia is sired by Wolfstar Gold Digger 15 and is out of Annick Colleen’s Ginger EX 93, a Corskie Callum 11 daughter.  She was shown at this year’s show with her April 2025 born bull calf at foot, Backmuir Sirius 25, sired by Backmuir King 19.  Last year this much decorated Simmental cow won the Royal Highland Overall Supreme Individual Interbreed when shown with her bull calf at foot Backmuir Pompeii.  Roll on twelve months and Pompeii also came to the party when winning a red ticket in his own right. A huge roll call of wins and accolades now on her show CV, firmly making her one of the most noted  females in the breed’s history, Annick Ginger’s Lucia’s highlight wins include:  three Royal Highland Show (RHS) Supreme Championships; the RHS Overall Supreme Individual Interbreed; the Scottish Simmental National Overall Supreme at Turriff, and the Individual Interbreed on the same day.

Commenting on the ‘double whammy’ of ‘four in a row’ RHS Supreme Championships, and within that Annick Ginger’s Lucia’s hat-trick, Reece Simmers said:  “It’s very humbling to win the Overall Supreme Championship once at the Royal Highland Show, Scotland’s premier showcase, let alone an incredible four times in a row.  The standard of competition is always so high as it was again this year and we would congratulate all of the exhibitors for the show of Simmental stock.  By her nature Ginger’s Lucia is a really naturally showy animal and is easy to work with.   From here we’ll consider whether she heads to the Scottish Simmental National Show at Perth in August.”  Speaking generally about the Backmuir herd, which now stands at approximately 100 cows, Reece went on to say: “We’re looking to breed Simmental cattle, both bulls and females, that have power and size, weight at a young age, with good plates, tops, and length, that are growthy and easy fleshing, and carry that Simmental style to them.  Ginger’s Lucia we think has many of these attributes and is a terrific template for the herd.”     Later in the day, Annick Ginger’s Lucia teamed up with her full sister Annick Ginger’s Nutmeg, and her November 2023 born second calf Backmuir Pompeii, to win the Group of Three.

Backmuir Winning Group of Three

Of the show of cattle and the Simmental breed generally, the judge Andrew Clarke said:  “It really was an honour to judge the Simmental section and I’d very much like to thank the RHS and British Simmental.  I’d also say a huge well done to all of the exhibitors.  There was quality throughout the Simmental lines and classes which made for some difficult decisions within what was a hugely enjoyable day.  As I said prior to the show I’m big on style and correctness and modern Simmental cattle that have the attributes to breed and add value to a commercial market.  I think we saw that today and it is reflective of the consistency and ongoing improvement that we are seeing in the Simmental breed generally.”

Judge Andrew Clarke in action at the 2025 Royal Highland Show

It was once again very much a ‘ladies day’ for this maternal breed and with females taking the Overall, Reserve Overall, and Overall Junior titles.  Featuring strongly throughout the Championships, and with another top team forward was the Green family and with entries from the Corskie herd of WJ & J Green, and the Garmouth herd of Laura Green, at Corskie Farm, Garmouth, Fochabers.

Taking the Overall Supreme Reserve and the Overall Reserve Female was the stylish Corskie Mimic VG88 who had stood second to the Champion in her class before following her all the way through.  Remarkably, it was the second time this January 2021 born female, out of Corskie Imitation, had stood in the same positions at the RHS, and again to Ginger’s Lucia, having done so in 2023!  Mimic was also the Overall Junior Champion at the 2022 Scottish National Show, and her first calf, Corskie Phoney 23 sold for 13,000gns at the record breaking February 2025 sale at Stirling.  Sired by Kilbride Farm Haka, she was shown with her terrific heifer calf at foot, the August 2024 born Corskie Role Play, a Rathnashan Magnum EX92 daughter.  Of his Overall Reserve, Andrew Clarke said:  “This is another terrific Simmental cow, well fleshed, and with terrific conformation.  Full of style again, very feminine with a great top line and a lovely udder.  A very modern type of female she walked really well and had a little more thickness than the Champion.  With a super calf at foot this was a great outfit, a real picture.”

Corskie Mimic, Overall Reserve Supreme, and Reserve Female Champion

In the bulls and it was the turn of Laura Green who picked up the Male Championship, and the Junior Male Championship, with the young, April 2024 born bull, Garmouth Robert 24. With plenty of breeding behind him, this calf is by Rathnashan Magnum EX92, who has had sons to 20,000gns, and is out of Garmouth Glory’s Jessica who has previously bred the 10,000gns Garmouth Matt.    Commenting on Garmouth Robert 24 the judge said:  “ My Male Champion was a really smart, sweet young bull. Very modern, clean, with a good end, he had a great presence to him, moved extremely well, had plenty of style and with no roughness to him.  He’s a bull with few faults and I have no doubt has a big future ahead of him.” On the Saturday, this young bull with both Terminal and Self Replacing Indexes in the top 5% of the breed, placed third Reserve in the Beef Breeder Interbreed.  Plans now are that Garmouth Robert 24 will head to a forward Stirling Simmental Bull Sale.

Garmouth Robert, Overall Male Champion, Junior Male Champion, and Reserve Junior Overall

Keeping the titles coming for the green family was the Overall Junior Champion, and Junior Female Champion in the shape of the flashy Corskie Pinette.  September 2023 born, Pinette is by Rathnashan Leonardo EX94, and is out of Corskie Jinette EX90.  Again with plenty of breeding and performance in the pedigree, Rathnashan Leonardo EX94 is the sire of the 26,000gns Corskie Prime sold in February this year at Stirling, and is out of the Dirnanean Bradley daughter Corskie Jinette EX90 who has bred four heifer calves to date.  Hitting the right notes for the judge, Andrew Clarke commented:  “This heifer just caught me right away, and I just really liked her.  Smart and stylish she’s sweet throughout, very correct with a lovely head, and having that ‘look at me’ presence and quality.  She has fantastic hindquarters with a lovely softness to her, and is the type of heifer that would stand well in any company.”

Corskie Pinette, Overall Junior Champion and Junior Female Champion

Standing in the Reserve Junior Female position was another from the Simmers Backmuir herd and in the shape of the flashy heifer Backmuir Lu Lu’s Rosalu and who was first in the second class of the day.  February 2024 born, this young heifer is another with a depth of pedigree being sired by Backmuir King 19, the Male Champion at the 2023 RHS, and out of the 18,000gns Brandane Lu Lu who was purchased at the Nxt Gen II Sale at Carlisle in 2022. Backmuir Lu Lu’s Rosalu was herself a first prize winner at last year’s Scottish Simmental National Show.

Backmuir Lu Lu’s Rosalu, Reserve Junior Female Champion

Back in the bulls and putting up a stout defence of his Male Championship from last year was Annick Nazareth 22 from Jim & Elizabeth Dyet’s Merkland Herd, East Merkland Farm, Strathaven, Lanarkshire, and who this year took the Reserve Male Championship.  April 2022 born, Annick Nazareth is by Kilbride Farm Karl 19 (P), and is out of Annick Fresias Kiki VG85 who herself was Female and Reserve Overall Champion at the Royal Highland in 2021.   Annick Nazareth 22 was purchased as a calf at foot for 7500gns (for the unit) at the Annick Dispersal Sale, and in 2023 the Dyets showed him at the Scottish National Simmental Show at Dumfries and where he won Reserve Junior Male.

Annick Nazareth 22, Overall Reserve Male Champion

Always bringing good cattle to the RHS, and with previous Supreme Championship wins behind them, Gerald & Morag Smith, Fordoun, Laurencekirk were to the fore again and when taking the Reserve Junior Male title with their powerful December 2024 born bull Drumsleed Rocco 24.   This calf, with a Maternal (Milk) figure of +9, is by the prolific AI bull team Celtic, and is out of a ‘big cow’ Drumsleed Akira, a Hockenhull Matthew daughter.  Drumsleed Rocco will now be aimed at the Stirling Bull Sale in October this year. Enjoying another good day, the Smiths also had a class win in the females with the stylish Drumsleed Poppy, a Rockytop Lucifer daughter out of Drumsleed Irene 17, taking the red ticket in the fourth class of the day.

Drumsleed Rocco, Reserve Junior Male Champion

A special mention also goes to the rising seven year old Denizes Trixi Belle 15 from MA Barlow & Sons, Four Oaks, Ulnes, Nr Leyland, Lancashire, and who placed first in the final female class of the day.  Marking this Denizes Hamish 16 daughter out was the unique spectacle of her being shown with her triplet heifer calves at foot.  A sight that wowed the watching and attending crowds over four days, it is thought to be the first time triplets, a 100,000 – 1 chance, have been shown in a Simmental ring or perhaps any show ring, in the United Kingdom!  Look out on Facebook for more coverage of mum and her calves!

Denizes Trixi Belle 15 with her triplet heifer calves

Overall Championship Presentation

Junior Championship Presentation

Male Championship Presentation

2025 Royal Highland Show

Thursday 19th June 2025

Judge Mr Andrew Clarke, Tynan, Co Armagh

Results

Class 263 Female, born on or after 1st April 2024

1st H Duff                                      Pitmudie Roselyn

Pitmudie Roselyn

2nd Gavin Brown                         Springfield Rose
3rd Gavin Brown                          Islavale Raven

Class 264 Female, born between 1st January and 31st March 2024
1^st R&A Simmers                          Backmuir Lu Lu’s Rosalu
2nd Laura Green                          Garmouth Kim’s Rachel
3rd R&A Simmers                        Backmuir Lucia’s Rumba
4^th WJ&J Green                              Corskie Right

Class 265 Female, born on or between 1st July and 31st December 2023
1st WJ&J Green                             Corskie Pinette
2nd WJ&J Green                           Corskie Pence
3rd Bowhill Simmentals             Bowhill Petal
4th J&E Dyet                                  Merkland Pippa
5th Gavin Brown                           Springfield Prada

Class 266 Female, born on or between 1st January and 30th June 2023
1st G&M Smith                             Drumsleed Poppy 23

Drumsleed Poppy

2nd H Duff                                     Pitmudie Primrose
3rd H Duff                                      Pitmudie Pandora (P)
4th Bowhill Simmentals             Bowhill Poppy
5th J&E Dyet                                  Merkland Paula

Class 267 Female, calved before 3 years or due to calve before 3 years old, in milk or in calf born 2022
1st R&A Simmers                         Annick Gingers Nutmeg

Annick Gingers Nutmeg

Class 268 Female, born in 2020 or 2021 in milk or certified in calf at time of show
1st R&A Simmers                         Annick Ginger’s Lucia
2nd WJ&J Green                           Corskie Mimic
3rd James Hodge                         Heathbrow Milky Way

Class 269 Female, born on or before 31st December 2019, in milk or certified in calf at time of show
1st Barlow Brothers                     Denizes Trixie Belle 15

Class 270 Bull, born on or after 1st April 2024
1st Laura Green                           Garmouth Robert 24
2nd H Duff                                     Pitmudie Rambo 24
3rd WJ&J Green                            Corskie Roll 24

271 Bull, born on or between 1st January and 31st March 2024
1st G&M Smith                             Drumsleed Rocco 24
2nd WJ&J Green                           Corskie Rome 24
3rd G&M Smith                             Drumsleed Rambo 24
4th Jack Shaw                               Inverdunning Ricky 24 (P)
5^th  Dean Saunders                      Maidenlands Rolo 24 (PP)
6th H Duff                                      Pitmudie Rolex 24
7th Jack Shaw                               Inverdunning Romeo 24

272 Bull, born on or between 1st January and 31st December 2023
1st R&A Simmers                         Backmuir Pompeii 23

Backmuir Pompeii

273 Bull, born on or before 31st December 2022
1st J&E Dyet                                  Annick Nazareth 22
2nd Crinan Dunbar                      Islavale Kristoff 19

Overall Supreme Champion
Annick Ginger’s Lucia                 R&A Simmers

Reserve Supreme Champion
Corskie Mimic                               WJ&J Green

Overall Female Champion
Annick Ginger’s Lucia                 R&A Simmers

Overall Reserve Female Champion
Corskie Mimic                               WJ&J Green

Overall Male Champion
Garmouth Robert 24                   Laura Green

Overall Reserve Male Champion
Annick Nazareth 22                     J&E Dyet

Overall Junior Champion

Corskie Pinette                             WJ&J Green

Overall Reserve Junior Champion

Garmouth Robert 24                   Laura Green

Champion Junior Female
Corskie Pinette                             WJ&J Green

Reserve Junior Female
Backmuir Lu Lu’s Rosalu           R&A Simmers

Champion Junior Male
Garmouth Robert 24                   Laura Green

Reserve Junior Male
Drumsleed Rocco 24                  G&M Smith

Best Group
R&A Simmers
Annick Ginger’s Nutmeg; Annick Ginger’s Lucia; Backmuir Pompeii 23