YOU could have heard a pin drop in the exhibition hall at Borderway Mart as five of the best cows in the country lined up to take the crown in a showcase dairy event everyone wants to win.

In the ring at Carlisle were two cows from the prestigious Thursby-based Evening herd of Holsteins. They were winners in their own right having taken top titles on the national and international stage.

But it was the second placed Evening Stanleycup Jennifer in the mature cow class who captured the judge’s eye to take reserve Holstein champion to a cow that took the supreme championship title, Sahara Sanchez Ambrosia 3, bought from Andrew Bunting in Annan.

To excited shouts from the crowd and loud applause, the Wilson family from Evening Hill, not only took the reserve Holstein Senior Championship, but the reserve Holstein Grand Champion title. They also took two of their other Holstein cows to top titles in their classes.

“I’m absolutely delighted and in complete shock,” said dad, James Wilson. “The quality here today is amazing, so to get to where I got to is a dream.”

Evening Stanleycup Jennifer, a fourth-calved cow, is no stranger to success having won its class at UK Dairy Expo 2018 and previously representing the UK at the European championship show in Colmar, France in 2016.

Other Cumbrian breeders also scored high. In the Dairy Shorthorn classes taking the title was Irthingelt VI 5, a January calved heifer from T Moscrop, Carlisle.

The eighth UK Borderway Dairy Expo broke all records with thousands of visitors cramming the mart from all over the UK and beyond.

“This has gained a reputation as the show that all want to exhibit at. The vibes have been upbeat,” said David Pritchard, joint managing director of hosts Harrison & Hetherington. “It’s definitely the biggest yet with 400 head of cattle shown. The quality is amazing and a huge turn-out of local breeders showing too.