MORE than 12,000 people flocked to Borderway Agri-Expo at Carlisle to see some of the UK's finest cattle compete.

The supreme champion in the national suckled calf and primestock show was the champion heifer Khaleesi, owned by Dermot Small from Northern Ireland and shown by Stephanie Dick. Born in August 2013 and bred by James Alexander, Khaleesi was sired by Swarland Eddie, the Limousin bull, out of a British Blue cow.

Mr Small was completely overcome by his victory. He said: “It is unbelievable and we are delighted that we have cattle good enough to win this show. This is our 20th year of showing in the UK, and our first at Borderway Agri –Expo and our first major championship win."

Runner-up in the show, held on October 31, was More of That, the reserve heifer from Phil and Sharon Sellers, Lincolnshire. Sired by Limousin Fieldson Alfy out of a Limousin cross cow she was bred by Andrew Harrison, Great Asby, Penrith, and won the supreme title at last month's Countryside Live in Harrogate.

Judge Colin Phillips, from Herefordshire, said: "The calibre of stock was second to none. The winner was a tremendous show heifer, full of meat, great style and squareness, and clearly, the best in show."

Elsewhere in the cattle section the Baby Beef champions were the Alford Family of Devon with Pokerlicious, their nine month-old Limousin cross heifer which was also runner up in the baby beef heifer class at Countryside Live.

The reserve baby beef champion was Dashing Lady, a six month-old British Blue cross out of a Limousin cow from Robert Miller of Northern Ireland and shown by 13 year-old Luke Wilkinson of Leyburn. Luke won the title at last year's Agri-Expo showing She's a Diamond for John Smith Jackson of Haydon Bridge. Mr Miller later bought her and was introduced to Luke who he described as a natural talent with a bright future in the show ring. Luke was champion beef young handler at last month's Countryside Live.

In the Breed Society Show Classes Bryan Ronan and Carol Stephens from Appleby won the Aberdeen Angus Society's overall female championship, heifer calf and overall calf championships with the April-born heifer calf Jerusalem Duchess P308, a Rawburn Julio Eric L249 daughter out of Jerusalem Duchess G123.

The Young Farmers and Open Competition Agri Expo Stocksman of the Year was won by Rachel Harrison of Harrop Hall, near Clitheroe. The juniors, sixteen and under was won by Holly Bowness Threaplandlees, Aspatria.

The supreme sheep champion was Andrew Morton, Denny, Stirling, with a pair of Beltex ewe lambs which were also the champion continental/down lambs. They were by Whitehill Too Hot To Handle - bought for 2,500gns last year at Borderway in partnership with Jim Kennedy - out of a home-bred ewe.

Runners-up were a pair of Texel lambs from R Hall & Son, Dalston, Cumbria. They were bred from Beltex ewes by a Dutch Texel ram bred by Robin Slade.

The champion lambs bred from a Hill ewe were a pair out of South Country Cheviot ewes by a Texel ram from Neil and Elliot Cavers, Dumfriesshire. Reserve was Keith Porteous, Richmond, with a pair of North of England Mules which he bought privately a few months ago from breeder RW Wallis of Muker.

The Duke of Westminster spent the day at the event meeting many of the exhibitors and viewing the livestock. Patron and founder of cattle breeding company Cogent, a major sponsor of Agri-Expo, he is keenly interested in the British livestock industry. His 6,000 acre Cheshire Estate is arable and dairy, producing 4,000 litres of milk a day.

After the event David Pritchard, operations manager for organisers Harrison & Hetherington, said: "We have received tremendous feedback and are absolutely delighted that Borderway Agri-Expo has strengthened its position year on year and provides a positive benchmark for the livestock industry.”