Melanie and Michael Alford’s Foxhill Princess Caroline A265 reigned supreme at the 2025 Aberdeen-Angus Summer National, held at the prestigious Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate, in the heart of Yorkshire’s farming countryside.
This highly anticipated annual fixture was expertly judged by Hamish Sclater of the Deveron Herd, Turriff, Aberdeenshire, who faced the challenging task of selecting winners from a strong field at the pinnacle event of the summer show season.
The Alfords, of the Foxhill Herd based in Devon, continued their dominant run by claiming the Summer National Champion and the Certified Aberdeen-Angus Beef Trophy with Foxhill Princess Caroline A265. This January-born heifer is sired by Kilmaluag Eriskay T203 and out of Blelack Princess Caroline T86. She also collected further accolades, including Champion Yearling Female, Female Champion, Yorkshire Agricultural Society Junior Champion, and Overall Junior Champion, which secured her the Nightingale Cup.
Their winning form continued into the male section with Wensleydale Black Voltage Y140, bred by Chris Timm of the Wensleydale Herd, taking Male Champion, the Little Dean Perpetual Trophy, and Best Animal of Opposite Sex to the Champion. This bull is sired by Gretnahouse Blackboot V082 and out of Wensleydale Black Vision V148.
The Alford family also took home the awards for Best Group of Three Animals – property of the same exhibitor, and Best Pair of Animals – property of the same exhibitor.
Reserve Overall Champion was awarded to Blackrodian Lady Ruth A264, bred by William Ashworth of the Blackrodian Herd in Greater Manchester. William, a young breeder who has progressed through the Society’s Youth Development Programme, had a standout show with this November 2024-born heifer, who also secured Champion Heifer Calf, Overall Champion Calf, Reserve Female Champion, Reserve Junior Champion, and Yorkshire Agricultural Society Reserve Junior Champion.
For the second year running, Owen Tunney of the Morpheus Herd won the Cridlan Cup for Best Cow and Calf with Morpheus Rosebud S028, sired by Oakchurch Evor and out of Elliot Rosebud.
The title of Champion Bull Calf went to Tree Bridge Earleigh A157, sired by Tree Bridge Paterson U737 and out of Tree Bridge Estella U712. Bred and owned by David and Penny Evans of the Tree Bridge Herd, Earleigh also took Reserve Calf Champion. Tree Bridge Pimlico B163, also by Paterson and out of Tree Bridge Polly Perkins W861, was named Reserve Champion Bull Calf. The Evans family also secured Reserve Heifer Calf Champion with Tree Bridge Polly Pride A159, sired by Tree Bridge Phidias and out of Tree Bridge Polly Pride. Their success continued with Tree Bridge Jena A093, who stood Reserve Champion Yearling.
Rob Bishop of the Warrenho Herd claimed Champion Yearling Male and Reserve Champion Male with Warrenho Duchy A079, sired by Warrenho Lord Havanna X893 and out of Warrenho Duchess V823. Reserve Yearling Male Champion was awarded to Tom Slater of the Oakmoor Herd with Oakmoor Rebel A762.
Ben Wilson and team brought out the Glympton Herd’s Best Pair and Best Group of Three Bred by Exhibitor.
Beyond the breed classes, Aberdeen-Angus cattle performed strongly in the interbreed sections of the show. Foxhill Princess Caroline A265 was awarded Junior Interbreed Reserve Champion, further cementing her status as one of the stars of the summer.
In the Senior Interbreed Group of Four, Aberdeen-Angus took fourth place with the following team:
Wensleydale Black Voltage Y140 – Mr & Mrs M Alford
Rosemead Princess Eva W197 – P C Stovold
Foxhill Princess Caroline A265 – Mr & Mrs M Alford
Gretnahouse Evas Honey Z499 – Mr & Mrs M Alford
In the Beef Pairs Championship, Aberdeen-Angus secured third place with Wensleydale Black Voltage Y140, Mr & Mrs M Alford, and Rosemead Princess Eva W197, P C Stovold.
The breed also claimed first place in the Beef Group Championship with Wensleydale Black Voltage Y140, Foxhill Princess Carina Z178, and Gretnahouse Evas Honey Z499 – all exhibited by Mr & Mrs M Alford.
Adding to these accolades, Aberdeen-Angus won the prestigious People’s Choice Competition. A huge congratulations goes to the Websters of Wood Moss, Will Ashworth of Blackrodian, the Walsh family of Buckhurst, and Sophie Harding of Shrewbridge – an excellent representation of the breed at this year’s Summer National Show.
