A BREEDER from North Yorkshire was reserve grand champion at Northern Dairy Expo 2010.

Andrew Jennings from Jennings Farmers of Hill House Farm, Fountains, Ripon, took the runner-up spot with Abbeyhouse Gold Peach VG89 SP, a senior second calver.

The April 2006 born Holstein last calved in April and is currently giving 50kgs daily.

No stranger to the show ring, Peach won the reserve championship and junior championship at the Great Yorkshire Show in 2008 and the Yorkshire herd competition as a heifer the same year. She gave 11,940kgs at 4.26pc butterfat in 305 days as a heifer and is out of the EX93 (2) Bricknell Gibson Peach.

Peach also won the Northern Expo production and inspection class, was reserve exhibitor-bred animal and Mr Jennings received a trophy as the handler of the reserve grand champion.

Another local breeder – A & JE Smith of the Carkin Herd of Carkin moor Farm, East Layton, Richmond – won the trophy for the new exhibitor with the most points.

The event was held at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, last Friday and attracted more than 90 Holsteins from over 30 herds from Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cumbria, Northumberland, and south-west Scotland.

The grand champion title went to B & V Davidson of Errolston Farm, Gretna, and Errolston Damion Ricki VG85. The March 2007 born homebred junior cow calved in mid-August and is currently giving 48kgs daily.

Ricki is by Erebacres Damion out of Stannock Formation Ricki EX 93 (2) LP60 SP, who won champion heifer at Agriscot 2002 and champion at the Royal, Royal Highland and Dumfries Shows in 2004.

The Davidson family also collected the Breeder’s Pair award and the awards for the Premier Breeder and Premier Exhibitor awards after taking an outstanding line up of seven cattle to the show.

Judge Paul Harrison, of the Chishillways herd, said: “This is one of the best shows I have ever judged with quality right down the line.

“The cow I selected as my champion is a wonderfully balanced cow that will fit into any cubicle system.”

Tony Burton, show chairman, said: “The exceptional calibre of cattle brought forward to the show is a credit to the exhibitors and reflects both the skill of the breeder and the quality of the genetics used.”