The Taylors’ Mosshall Red Essence Y436 made history at the Royal Highland Show 2025, claiming the Aberdeen-Angus Breed Champion, Overall Interbreed Reserve Champion, Best Female, and Best Cow titles — the first red Aberdeen-Angus cow ever to achieve this distinction.

This year’s Royal Highland Show was blazing not only with sunshine but also with a string of firsts for the Taylor family. Mosshall Red Essence, a homebred three-year-old cow with her six-month-old bull calf at foot, stood out in the ring, having placed second at last year’s National Show. She is sired by Galcantray Red Sampson V252 and out of Mosshall Red Essence U932 and is bred by Messrs G. and N. Taylor of the Mosshall Red Aberdeen-Angus herd, based in Bathgate, West Lothian. Her achievements marked a significant moment not only for the Taylor family but also for the visibility and recognition of red Aberdeen-Angus cattle on a national stage.

Taking Reserve Aberdeen-Angus Champion and Best Junior Bull was Rulesmains Platinum A938, exhibited by Andrew S. Hodge Esq. This February 2024-born homebred bull is by Blelack Prince Camelot W017 and out of Rulesmains Princess T990.

The success continued for the Rulesmains herd, with Rulesmains Ellen Erica W348 taking Reserve Female Champion. Sired by Blelack Lord Heartford T879 and out of Rulesmains Ellen Erica R743, she is another homebred star and no stranger to the Highland Show, having won her class as a two-year-old with a calf at foot in 2022. The herd went on to secure both Best Pair and Best Group, rounding off a memorable show for the team.

Mr and Mrs H. Thompson and family of the Tynet Aberdeen-Angus herd, Aberdeenshire, were awarded Reserve Bull Champion and Reserve Junior Bull with Tynet Bond A166, sired by Tynet Pegasus T033 and out of Ardoyne Bolero T329. Congratulations to the Thompsons on an excellent day in the ring — and on the recent arrival of their twin daughters, Poppy and Stella.

A special commendation also goes to Mrs Lisa Fleming for taking Best Junior Female and Reserve Best Junior Animal with Foxhill Princess Caroline Z184, and to Andrew S. Hodge Esq. for Reserve Best Junior Female with Rulesmains Princess A002.

The 2025 Royal Highland Show was a memorable one for the breed — not only for the exceptional standard of cattle presented but for the milestones achieved by dedicated breeders across the country.

Neill Wattie, Aberdeen-Angus judge at The Royal Highland Show 2025 was honoured to judge at such a prestigious show and said  “It was a huge honour to be asked to judge the Angus classes at the RHS. There was a great show of stock presented for me to judge on the day. I found the female classes stronger than the males and is where my champion came from in Mosshall Red Essence Y436. She is a lovely animal with great femininity has serious depth of flesh and was a very worthy winner. My reserve was the yearling bull Rulesmain Platinum A938. He is a long clean bull with a lovely head and walked very well.”

RESULTS FROM THE SHOWRING