With entries now open the first two judges have been announced ahead of this year’s Royal Ulster Premier Beef & Lamb Championships.
Show organisers, the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS), have confirmed that James May from Worcestershire will judge the cattle classes as Susan Campbell from Ayrshire takes on the calf classes and highly competitive beef young handlers.
James May
A third-generation farmer from Worcestershire, James’ family enterprise spans beef, sheep, dairy and arable, but his passion has always lain with the livestock.
His beef herd started as a hobby and has since grown into a profitable, award-winning venture. The 45-strong commercial herd is made up of calving ex-show heifers, predominantly Black and Blue cross Limousin cows, alongside around five or six recipient cows carrying crossbred embryos each year.
The majority of the calves are sold in the spring as promising show prospects, with this year’s crop averaging £3,900 and achieving a top price of £7,800.
Before turning his attention to calves though it was the showing ring that taught James so much about success in this bustling industry and his reputation speaks for itself. In 2016 he was crowned Supreme Champion at the English Winter Fair with his home-bred Limousin cross heifer, Tinkerbell, and in 2022 at the Royal Welsh Show his home-bred heifer, Party Girl, won Overall Champion in the commercial beef section.
James can’t wait to judge at this year’s Championships and is ‘excited to see what the exhibitors have to offer’.
Susan Campbell
Susan and her husband Allan own three beef and sheep farms across Ayrshire comprising of commercial and pedigree stock. Her focus though has always lay in commercial cattle where she has found numerous successes over the years at some the UKs largest shows, including the Borderway Agri Expo and LiveScot. The pinnace of her showing career was in 2025 at the Royal Highland Show where their British Blue cross heifer, Ebony, stole the show as the Overall Commercial Cattle Champion.
When asked about her role at this year’s event, Susan said, “I am privileged to be asked to judge the calf classes along with the young handlers at this year’s Royal Ulster Premier Beef & Lamb Championships and am looking forward to a super show of cattle in front of me which have lots of character, are correct on their legs and have future show potential”.
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