Highland takes out best exhibit for the first time in Sydney Royal Show memory

A north coast Highland stud is delighted the breed is being recognised after taking out the supreme exhibit at the Sydney Royal Show on Friday, April 11.

Paislig Riabhach of Koolah Creek claimed the top honour, under Sydney-based judge Sam Bush, who has exhibited in every Sydney Royal Show since he was born.

The 27-month-old heifer was sired by Gille Riabhach of Bairnsley 8212 out of Brianne Ruadh of Stone Ridge 9197 and was exhibited by Sarah Vaughn and Hugh Hayden of Koolah Creek Highlands, Langley Valley.

Mr Bush said she would not have looked out of place in the Scottish highlands.

Ms Vaughn and Mr Hayden were overjoyed with the day's result and said they couldn't believe a Highland took out the top honour, with the last win for the breed occurring over 18 years ago.

"I think it's the first time in close to 20 years that a Highland cow has been to Sydney, and to have this sort of result is bloody fantastic," Mr Hayden said.

"This heifer was the first heifer calf out of our best cow, who was one of our foundational animals that we bought as a heifer," Ms Vaughn said.

"She's got the structural integrity, clean through the front end, and is very long and very deep.

"It's amazing [taking home the win]; it's such good representation for the breed, especially as this is the first heifer that we've bred that we've shown."

The grand champion female and best exhibit winner beat out the reserve champion female, Australian Lowline Cann Valley Venus Moon, by Cann Valley Count Lucifer out of Cann Valley Lunar Eclipse, who was exhibited by Matt Cooney, Cann Valley Cattle Co and Consultancy, Lemnos, Vic.

The grand champion bull was awarded to a 21-month-old Maine Anjou, Rosewood Kraken Wood.

He was sired by Dalwood Lodge Pierre out of Rosewood Kasey Rose and was exhibited by Scott Costello of Wattle Grove Maine-Anjou, Raby.

Mr Bush praised the bull's overall quality and said he was a great example of the breed.

"There's nice length in this bull; he's really strong through the top when you get behind him, and he's really good when he walks around the ring as well," Mr Bush said.

Reserve grand champion bull was awarded to Domhnull of Koolah Creek, sired by Toiseach Ban of Ennerdale 6209 out of Brianne Rudah of Stone Ridge 9197, who was also exhibited by Koolah Creek Highlands.