THREE is the magic number for Thursby dairy farming family, the Wilsons.

For the renowned Holstein breeders’ top cows have crowned another excellent year with their third Champion of Champions title in a row at this year’s Cumberland Show.

A proud Charlotte Wilson, 21, had previously led the family’s third-calver, Whinchatt Stanley Cup Farrah to victory sweeping the board in the Holstein classes, before beating the Jersey cow belonging to Katherine Jenkinson to take the Dairy Interbreed trophy.

Watching from the ringside on parkland at East Park, Brisco, on the outskirts of Carlisle, doting dad, James, said it was the first outing for the young cow. “We thought we would see how she handled in the ring before going to the Welsh Show with her,” said James, adding he was “over the moon”.

“Three years is big. I’m so proud of Charlotte. A lot of work goes into preparing an animal for showing.”

The family, of Evening Hill, earlier this year enjoyed success at the most prestigious Holstein competition in Europe at Libramont in Belgium. James explained how Whinchatt Stanley Cup Farrah was down to go, but the outbreak of Bluetongue which swept Europe saw only one of the family’s cows travel to Europe.

Earlier, Charlotte said the cow, which produces 55 litres of milk each day, was due to calf on Christmas Day. “She’s been great all day,” said a smiling Charlotte.

Champion of Champions judge, Margaret Hodgson of the Wormanby herd at Burgh by Sands, said the cow had caught her eye when she came into the ring. “They are all champions,” said Margaret, adding it had been a hard decision to choose an overall winner from the line-up of champion sheep, horses and beef and dairy livestock. “The cow just stood out. She was a superb example of her breed,” said Margaret.

Reserve champion of champions was another newcomer to the show scene, the young Limousin bull, Petteril Oz. The February-born home-bred animal is owned by Stephen and Ann Morley of Southwaite. The couple had earlier picked up the top tickets in the beef classes to secure the Beef Interbreed title.

Oz is part of a small herd of Limousins the dairy farmers have diversified into and is out of their home-bred Petteril Lucy and Foxhill Farm Irish Lad. “We’re really pleased, he’s done amazingly well for his first time out,” said Stephen.

The Morley family - jointly with the Chappelhows - had also picked up the top title in the Commercial Beef classes with Ruby Red.

Grabbing the opportunity to share a straw bed with one of her young calves was Katherine Jenkinson from Scaleby, who had won the Jersey classes and the reserve Dairy Interbreed with her home-bred third-calves Katherine’s Jenny Ontime. The 24-year-old has enjoyed huge success on the show scene with her home-bred Jerseys.

Finishing off in the dairy classes was David and Christine Sanderson with Sandersons El Quality.

With perfect weather for showing, no rain and not too hot, show stalwarts were out in force. In the Charolais classes Andrew Stott took the top spot with Tophill Olly. Still with beef the Blondes went to Sean Mitchell with six-year-old Hackleton Ibis and her two-month-old Calf Hutton Packman and in the British Blue prolific show winners David and Lynn Watret took the title with Criffel Kendra, and Dexter went to S & K Darnbrook with Planetree Juno and Native Breed to Bethan Hutchinson with Coley I Petrus.

In the Junior Beef Showmanship under 11 years the judge faced a difficult decision when three siblings Seth, three, Phoebe, five, and Lexi, seven, Pattinson went head-to-head with calves Bluey and Nina. But after much head scratching the top title was awarded to all three. “That stopped any rivalry,” said mum Elaine Pattinson, from Brampton.

A bustling sheep ring saw the Buckle family from Kirkby Stephen crowned the kings with their champion Beltex gimmer shearling on its first outing. “We’re delighted,” said Jack Buckle, 22. “It’s a great win, there’s some good sheep here,” he added.

Over in another line of sheep pens, the Wastwater Jacobs were sporting an impressive number of different coloured rosettes fluttering in the light breeze. Owner Emma Wilson won the Jacob classes with a two-year-old shearling.

Back home the young woman had 16 breeding ewes, who had all had lambs, which were run alongside her mum and dad’s Herdwicks.

“I’ve had Jacobs for nine years now, but this is my first major win,” said 37-year-old Emma, who had captured a first, two seconds, two thirds and a fourth with her sheep.

Reserve in the Jacob sheep line-up was Clive Richardson from Ulverston with his shearling ewe.

The tourists’ favourite, the Herdwick pens were attracting quite a crowd. Winning red, blue and yellow rosettes were lined up at the entrance to the pens of Herdwicks owned by renowned breeder, Jean Wilson from Dockray.

She had taken the top Herdwick title with a gimmer hogg. “A proud Jean, said she had brought along six Herdwicks from home and had taken four firsts. Normally Jean is accompanied by husband Derek. “But he’s got a bad back so I’m on my own today,” said Jean.

The Cumbrian Young Handler of the Year qualifier went to H Clough and reserve George Fell.

In the horse classes the winner of the Heavy Horse section was Darren Willey with Bencannon Duchess and reserve J Marshall and C Halliday with Howgillside Lady Rose. In the Light Horses the Ridden Supreme Champion went to the Nicoll Show Team and reserve Denise Richardson and In Hand Supreme Champion was Lorna Jamieson, reserve the Nicholl Show Team.

Earlier in the day guests and sponsors took part in a minute’s silence to remember the legendary livestock auctioneer, David Thomlinson, 73, who had worked at Carlisle-based Harrison & Hetherington for 57 years. He passed away on the family farm at Scaleby following a tragic accident.