AN 11-month-old Limousin-sired commercial heifer from Cumbrian breeder Neil Slack outshone her pedigree counterparts to clinch the supreme championship at the 2015 Northern Limousin Extravaganza (NLE) at Skipton Auction Mart.

Mr Slack, of Plumtree House, Newby, saw his first prize heifer and commercial champion progress to land leading honours, pipping the pedigree champion, a bull from fellow Cumbrian breeders, the Priestley family, from Kirkambeck, Brampton.

The pre-sale show judge, former British Limousin Cattle Society chairman, Peter Kirton, of Bewdley, said it had been a close run thing between his two principals, with the heifer just getting the nod.

He said there had been a tremendous show of cattle, with the early season show-only highlight for 2014-born halter-led pedigree and cross-bred Limousin youngsters, attracting a record entry of 75 head.

Mr Slack, who breeds commercial Limousins only, picked up a second red rosette when also presenting the first prize Limousin-sired commercial bullock.

The Brontemoor herd of the Priestley family - Michael, Steven and Ruth, and their son Richard – picked up the male and overall reserve championships with a March-born home-bred bull.

The same class was also responsible for the reserve male and reserve pedigree champion from the Barker Farming Partnership, who run their Tancred Grange herd in Scorton, Richmond.

The Barkers also won the reserve pedigree championship with a heifer on their NLE debut last year.

The 2015 female championship fell to another Cumbrian pedigree breeder, Thor Atkinson, who runs Arradfoot Limousins in Newlands, Ulverston, with his first prize January-born heifer.

Mr Atkinson was also responsible for the first prize January-born pedigree bull.

The reserve female championship was awarded to up-and-coming pedigree Limousin breeder, 22-year-old Kate Sutcliffe, of Church Farm, Carlton-in-Cleveland, with her first prize February-born heifer.

In the third heifer show class, both first and second prizes fell to home-bred May-born entries from the Broadhead pedigree herd of Turner Farms at Honley.

Their two prize-winning heifers also picked up the red rosette in the pedigree pairs class.

The third show class for Limousin bulls fell to Dylan Townsend, who runs the Clifftown pedigree herd at Quarry Farm, Broughton, just outside Malton.

Back with the commercial entries, the reserve championship was awarded to the first prize April-born heifer from Mark Harryman and his partner Sarah Warriner, who run the Hot Shot pedigree herd at Swainsea Barn Farm, Pickering.

The NLE – full results are posted at ccmauctions.com – carried prize money of £1,500.