The crowd-favourite Highland breed made a return to the Royal Canberra Show with the first Australian progeny to be shown by a top American sire gaining the commendation of judge Tim Reid for their structural correctness.
Traralgon exhibitor Erica Smith of Glenstrae Highlands exhibited three head of High Cornerstone sired cattle at Canberra, claiming a champion ribbon with each of them.
Her 10-month-old heifer, Andie Skye of Glenstrae, who was out of Nighean Odhar of Glenstrae, was exhibited with Melbourne's Will Pierce and was named junior and grand champion female before eventually earning the supreme title.
Ms Smith had the only two bulls in the competition with 16-month-old Gryphon of Glenstrae winning junior and grand champion bull while the 12-month-old Nevis of Glenstrae was awarded reserve junior champion.
In the end it was the extra heal on the female that made Roslyn-based judge Tim Reid hand her the top honour for the breed.
He commended both grand champion exhibits on their structural soundness, balance and free movements along with great neck extension.
The bull had sire appeal, a strong top carried down to his lower third, clean sheath and testicles.
"Soft, full of red meat and balanced; just what any breed needs," Mr Reid said.
But the young heifer just had too much volume and structural correctness to overlook.
"She is so free moving when she gets around the ring and you get behind her and she has got so much capacity over those hips and she carries that hip to pin right through down that lower third," he said.
"She is so feminine and has such good spring of rib."
The other Highland exhibitor was Jacqui Percy, Jindabyne Highland Cattle, Jindabyne, who secured reserve junior champion female with 17-month-old Duchess Dustee of Jindabyne, by Dougall of Kardella Ky and out of Ceit of Eucumbene.
Her 21-month-old female, Lady Grace of Jindabyne, was sired by Dougall of Kardella Ky and out of Aileen of Eucumbene and was the senior champion female.
Results
Breed: Highland
Judge: Tim Reid, Roslyn
No. of exhibits: 5 head
Junior champion bull: Gryphon of Glenstrae exhibited by Erica Smith, Victoria
Reserve junior champion bull: Nevis of Glenstrae exhibited by Erica Smith, Victoria
Junior champion female: Andie Skye of Glenstrae exhibited by Will Pierce and Erica Smith, Victoria
Reserve junior champion female: Duchess Dustee of Jindabyne exhibited Jindabyne Highland Cattle, Jindabyne
Senior champion female: Lady Grace of Jindabyne exhibited by Jindabyne Highland Cattle, Jindabyne
Grand champion bull: Gryphon of Glenstrae exhibited by Erica Smith, Victoria
Grand champion female: Andie Skye of Glenstrae exhibited by Will Pierce and Erica Smith, Victoria
Supreme exhibit: Andie Skye of Glenstrae exhibited by Will Pierce and Erica Smith, Victoria