HAMPSHIRE cattle farmers did the county proud at Romsey Show.

But the one with the biggest smile was Caroline Moody who triumphed after winning the prestigious Hampshire Shows Championship.

Caroline gained the title Champion of Champions and £300 after collecting the most points in four shows in the county with her seven year-old Guernsey cow Whinwhistle Mary.

These were the Ellingham and Ringwood, New Forest, Alresford and Romsey Shows.

Bartley-based Tim Stevenson took the Reserve Champion of Champions title with his Dexter, Beechwood Grace and he scooped a £200 prize.

There was a wide range of cattle breeds at Saturday’s show including Aberdeen Angus, Limousin, Charolais, Hereford, Ayrshire, Highland, Dexter, Holstein, Brown Swiss, English shorthorn, Jersey and Guernsey.

Farmers in Romsey and surrounding villages did well in numerous classes at the show.

These included Carol Macpherson of Moorcourt Farm on the Broadlands Estate. Carol and son Phil were delighted after their Brown Swiss called Bigor Greta won the other breed championships.

“She won as a heifer but this is the first time she’s won championship in milk. Our farm was under water for three months last winter, so this is a bonus for us,” said Mrs Macpherson who has a herd of 200 Holsteins.

Another pleased exhibitor was David Batch and his 22-year-old daughter Abbey who had several wins with cattle they showed from the 100 strong Lockerley herd of Aberdeen Angus belonging to the Lockerley Hall Estate.

“We’ve shown six today and got three seconds and a third. A cow and calf were breed champions at the New Forest and Alresford shows. Romsey is our local show but we never win top prize here and we are disappointed,” said David and Abbey.

Tim Stevenson and his partner Mary Tullie keep 33 Dexters on their Bartley smallholding and he said: “We’ve won a couple of classes here today. Hester which was champion last year won here class. The Dexter breed is doing very strong nationally and I am a member of the Dexter Society’s Mid Southern Group.”

Other successful Hampshire-based cattle breeders and stockman at the show included Charlie Maclean manager of Mortimers Farm at Fair Oak.

His four-year-old Highlander bull, Eion of Mottistone clinched the Supreme Beef Championships. “I am pleased with him. Highlanders don’t win many Supreme Championships. The judge Jim Barber said he was one of the best he’s seen,” said Charlie who also had a reserve champion with a Charolias.

New Forest-based Samantha Smith who scooped the Charolias Championships with a two-year-old Tiptoe Helta.

Samantha who farms at Tiptoe near Lymington said: “I am very proud of her. This was her first championship. She was second in her class at the New Forest. She will be treated like royalty now. For me, Charolias are the best breed of cattle.”

Further afield, Dorset farmer Tony Wonnacott, and family went home with the Supreme Dairy Championships for the third year in a row.

The Wonnacotts who breed Holsteins at West Park Farm at Lytchett Matravers near Poole, also took home the John Lunn salver for the best exhibitor with a group of cattle at the show.