Regarded as one of the highest honours in the industry, the judges for the 2026 Royal Highland Show have been announced by RHASS, with the panel reflecting generations of experience and knowledge represented across all sections.
Taking place from 18th – 21st June 2026 at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh, the Show will once again shine a spotlight on the very best of Scotland’s farming, food and rural life.
Katy McFadyen, Royal Highland Show Competitions Executive, said: “Our judges are central to the competitions at the Show. Every year, they bring a huge amount of know-how from across the sector and apply the consistently high standards that help make the Show what it is, while setting the benchmark for excellence across the industry. We’re really looking forward to welcoming our judges to the 2026 Show and continuing the Royal Highland Show’s long-standing tradition of world-class competition.”
Kay Adam, chair designate of the Royal Highland Show board, said: “The strength of the Royal Highland Show lies in the people who stand behind it, and our judges are among the most important of those. The 2026 panel brings together generations of expertise, insight and passion for the sector, and I look forward to seeing them help deliver another outstanding Show.”
Overall Young Handler
The judges for Overall Young Handler rotates to a different section every year, and 2026 will be the sheep section, with the task of judging falling upon Mr and Mrs Leggat, Logiealmond.
Beef Section
The Interbreed Team Competition and Overall Beef Interbreed Championship, two of the most prestigious and eagerly awaited classes of the beef section, will be judged by Mr David Murray, Kirriemuir, Angus. With 45 years of judging experience, Mr Murray has been involved with Aberdeen Angus, Charolais and Commercial Cattle and has judged at The Royal Welsh and The Royal Highland Show’s three times each and has judged at both Stirling and Perth Bull Sales on seven occasions.
The Beef Young Handlers will be judged by Mrs Anne McPherson, Inverness, Invernesshire. Anne has judged for 30 years including at The Royal Welsh Show, The Royal Highland Show, and The Royal Norfolk Show. Mrs McPherson, who has been showing since the age of 7, is a five-time beef breeder champion at The Royal Highland Show and a two-time breed record holder at Perth and Stirling Bull Sales for Simmentals. Notably, Mrs McPherson was awarded the John Miller Trophy for Stockmanship at The Royal Highland Show in 2005.
Beef Interbreed Teams and Overall Beef Interbreed Championship
Mr David J Murray, Kirriemuir, Angus
Beef Native Breeds Inter Breed Team Championship
Mrs Libby Clarke, Lurgan, Co Armagh
Beef Breeder Competition & Junior Beef Inter Breed Championship
Mr Douglas Graham, Blair Drummond, Stirling
Beef Inter-Breed Pairs Competition
Mr Andrew Reid, Ellon
Beef Cattle Young Handlers
Mrs Anne MacPherson, Inverness, Invernesshire
Beef Shorthorn
Mrs Sally Horrell, Peterborough, Cambs
Aberdeen Angus
Mr Alan Lawson, Hallington, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Galloway
Mr John Tullie, Hawick, Roxburghshire
Belted Galloway
Mr Bobby Landers, Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire
Highland
Mr Brian MacNaughton, Farr, Inverness-Shire
Hereford
Miss EN Thorne, Haven, Pembrokeshire
Lincoln Red
Mr Matt Bagley, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
British Charolais
Mr Will Short, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland
British Simmental
Mr Adrian Ivory, Meigle, Blairgowrie
British Limousin
Mr Gareth Corrie, Co. Down, Northern Ireland
British Blue
Mr Andrew Price, Maidstone, Kent
Salers
Mr Colin J Wight, Biggar, South Lanarkshire
Commercial Cattle
Mr Michael Alford, Cullompton, Devon
Dairy Section
Overall Dairy Interbreed
Mr Robert Butterfield, Bentham, Lancaster
Ayrshire
Mr Allan Clark, Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire
Holstein and British Red & White
Mr Hefyn Wilson, Cardigan, Ceredigion
Dairy Shorthorn
Mr David Winnington, Gnosall, Staffordshire
Jersey & Dairy Any Other Breed
Mr Johnny Lockhead, Dumfries, Dumfriesshire
Dairy Calf Interbreed and Showmanship
Mr Jonny Woodhouse, Millon Cumbria
Sheep Section
The North Country Cheviot section will be judged by Mr Danny McCarthy, Thurso, Caithness. Primarily involved in North Country Cheviot’s, Mr McCarthy has over 35 years of judging experience and his flock has won breed champion at The Royal Highland Show on eight occasions, culminating in the interbed champion and winner of the Queens Cup in 1991.
Overall Sheep Inter Breed Championship
Mr Jim Pate, Gorebridge, Midlothian
Overall Sheep Pairs Inter-Breed Championship
Mr Paul Quick, Crediton, Devon
Sheep Young Handler
Mr James McKerrow, Ellon, Aberdeenshire
Blackface
Mr Allan Wight Jnr, Biggar, South Lanarkshire
Suffolk
Mr Iain Barbour, Annan, Dumfriesshire
Lleyn
Mr Barry Latimer, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland
Ryeland
Mr Alun Parry, Llangaffo, Gaerwen
Commercial Sheep
Mr John Guthrie, Crieff, Perthshire
Border Leicester
Mr John Hamilton, Lanark, Lanarkshire
Jacob
Mr Lyndon Trumper, Brynderi, Abergavenny
North Country Cheviot
Mr Danny McCarthy, Thurso, Caithness
North Country Cheviot Hill
Mr Andrew Elliot, Galashiels, Scottish Borders
Cheviot
Mr Tom Elliot, Jedburgh, Scottish Borders
Texel
Mr Brian Hanthorn, County Armagh, Northern Ireland
Hampshire Down
Mr Allen McFadden, County Down, Northern Ireland
Swaledale
Mr Will Cockbain, Keswick, Cumbria
Bluefaced Leicester – Traditional Type
Mr Derek Henderson, Wylam, Northumberland
Bluefaced Leicester – Crossing Type
Mr Stewart Park, Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire
Charollais
Mr David Roberts, Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Hebridean
Mr Richard Small, Shrewsbury, Shropshire
North of England Mules
Mr John Mason, Skipton, North Yorkshire
British Rouge
Mr James Kerr, Craigavon, Northern Ireland
Beltex
Mrs Anne Story, Carlisle, Cumbria
Zwartbles
Miss Fiona Brown, Penrith, Cumbria
Scotch Mule
Mr William Lockhart, Tongland, Dumfries and Galloway
Bleu Du Maine
Mr Will Price, Wem, Shropshire
Shetland
Mr Andrew Bain, Pencaitland, East Lothian
Blue Texel
Mr C Davies, Brecon, Powys
Dutch Spotted
Mr Will Workman, Brecon, Powys
Valais Blacknose
Mr Phil Garrod, Dilwyn, Hereford
Kerry Hill
Ms K Esler, Kingston Seymour, Somerset
Goat Section
Mr Adrian Bull, Pewsey, Wiltshire is taking on the role of judging Dairy Goats, Kids, Milking, and Boer Goats. With over 40 years of experience including judging at the Royal Welsh, Royal Cornwall, Great Yorkshire, and many county shows, Mr Bull is passionate about supporting newcomers to competing, and has proudly passed on his knowledge and experience to his children who have gone on to have their own successful herds.
The Scottish Dairy Goat Show will be judged by Mr Andrew Morrey, Churchstoke, Powys. Mr Morrey has also been judging for over 40 years and has won interbreed champion at The Royal Highland Show and The Royal Welsh Show twice each as well as multiple county and national shows, all with home-bred exhibits.
Heavy Horse Section
A third-generation breeder of Clydesdales, Miss Charlotte Young, Ayr, Ayrshire will judge the Clydesdale Young Handlers and Young Stockman and Ridden Clydesdales, conformation. Miss Young has been judging for over 10 years including at the Northern Spring Show, local summer shows and Clydesdale foal shows in Ireland, Scotland, and England. She won reserve champion turnout at The Royal Highland Show, class champion at The Great Yorkshire Show and Clydesdale champion at the Royal Highland Show in 2019.
Clydesdales In Hand
Males
Mr William Hall, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland
Females
Mr William Mitchell, Kirknewton, Midlothian
Clydesdale Young Handlers & Young Stockman
Miss Charlotte Young, Ayr, Ayrshire
Ridden Clydesdales
Ride – Ms Polly Coles, Barnsley, South Yorkshire
Conformation – Miss Charlotte Young, Ayr, Ayrshire
Highland Ponies In Hand
Males
Mrs Victoria Fletcher, Kippen, Stirlingshire
Females
Mr JPG Cameron, Laurencekirk, Aberdeenshire
Highland Pony Young Handler
Mr Robin Stewart, Banchory, Kincardineshire
Shetland Ponies In Hand
Mrs Gillian Cowan, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire
Miniature Shetland Ponies In Hand
Mr AR Bell, Glenoe, Larne
The Sanderson Trophy
Mr Derek Bailey, Clonmel, Co Tipperary
Shetland Pony Young Handlers
Mrs Eleanor Warren, Milnathort, Kinross
Overall Heavy Horse Young Handler
Miss Amanda Stewart, Glasgow, North Lanarkshire
HARNESS, GROOMING, TURNOUTS
Heavy Horse Turnouts
Mr Gawin Holmes, Beamish, Stanley
Harness Grooming & Decoration
Mr Gawin Holmes, Beamish, Stanley
Light Horse Section
Mr David Dixon, Guisborough, Cleveland will be judging Overall Light Horse In Hand, and Hunters Under Saddle - Working Hunter and Ladies Side Saddle Horse, Conformation. Mr Dixon has judged for over 30 years, across the world, including at all major county shows in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden and Ireland. He has qualified for the in-hand final at the Horse of The Year Show on several occasions and was the breeder of the Supreme Pony and Supreme In Hand, at the Horse of The Year Show.
Hunters In Hand
Mr Matt Ainsworth, Bromsberrow, Hererfordshire
Hunter Under Saddle Weights and Smalls
Ride – Miss Sarah Chapman, Llandinam, Powys
Conformation- Mr Matt Ainsworth, Bromsberrow, Hererfordshire
Hunters Under Saddle- Working Hunter and Ladies Side Saddle Horse
Ride – Miss Zara Owen, Llanfechain, Powys
Conformation – Mr David Dixon, Guisborough, Cleveland
Sports Horses (In Hand)
Miss Sarah Chapman, Llandinam, Powys
Retraining of Racehorses (Final)
Ride – Mr Will Murray, Durham, Co Durham
Conformation – Ms Jane Reid, Broughty Ferry, Angus
Highland Ponies Under Saddle
Ride – Mrs Rebecca Chalmers, Perthshire
Conformation – Ms Kate Dykes, West Linton, Peebleshire
Coloured Horses and Ponies In Hand
Mr Will Murray, Durham, Co Durham
Welsh Mountain Ponies (Section A)
Mr Colin Tibbey, Bethel Bala, Gwynedd
Welsh Ponies (Section B)
Mrs Catryn Bigley, Michaelchurch Escley, Herefordshire
Welsh Ponies of Cob Type (Section C)
Mr Andrew Thomas, Tyllwyn Ebbw Vale, Gwent
Welsh Cobs (Section D)
Mr Andrew Thomas, Tyllwyn Ebbw Vale, Gwent
Part Bred Welsh
Ms Catryn Bigley, Michaelchurch Escley, Herefordshire
Mountain and Moorland In Hand
Mrs Nicola Shuttleworth, Northallerton, North Yorkshire
Connemara Ponies In Hand
Mrs Nicola Shuttleworth, Northallerton, North Yorkshire
Overall Mountain & Moorland In Hand
Mrs Anne Bigley, Peterchurch, Herefordshire
St John’s Wells Trophy
Ms Pat Stirling, Blainslie, Scottish Borders
Pony Breeding In Hand
Mrs Kathleen Scott, Peterhead, Aberdeen
Arabs & Part Bred Arab in Hand & Under Saddle
Mrs K Houghton, Kirby Lonsdale, Cumbria
Riding Horses & Cobs
Ride – Mrs Claire Oliver, Upleadon Newent, Gloucester
Conformation – Miss Zara Owen, Llanfechain, Powys
Mountain and Moorland Working Hunter Ponies
Ride – Mrs Barbara McGrath, Pelton Fell, Chester-Le-Street
Conformation – Mr Russell Sutcliffe, Darwen, Lancashire
Side Saddle
Mrs LJ Marsden, Blackburn, Lancashire
Intermediate Show Hunter, Show Hunter Ponies, Lead Rein of Hunter Type and First Ridden Pony of Show Hunter Type
Ride – Mrs Kathleen Scott, Peterhead, Aberdeen
Conformation – Mr Matt Ainsworth, Bromsberrow, Hererfordshire
Intermediate Show Riding Type, Show Ponies, Lead Rein & First Ridden Show Pony
Ride – Mrs Joanne Griffin, Warsop Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
Conformation – Mrs Ann Fowler, Weston in Gordano, North Somerset
Mountain & Moorland Lead Rein and First Ridden Ponies
Ride – Mr Russell Sutcliffe, Darwen, Lancashire
Conformation – Mrs Anne Bigley, Peterchurch, Herefordshire
Junior Mountain & Moorland Ridden
Ride – Mr Jerome Harforth, Exelby Bedale, Yorkshire
Conformation –Miss Catryn Bigley, Michaelchurch Escley, Herefordshire
Donkeys
Mrs LJ Marsden, Blackburn, Lancashire
Working Hunter Ponies
Ride – Mr Keiran Ryan, Old Town, Co Dublin
Conformation – Mrs Mairead Ryan, Co Dublin
Part-Bred Ridden Pony
Ride – Miss Sarah Chapman, Llandinam, Powys
Conformation – Mrs Claire Oliver, Upleadon Newent, Gloucester
Mountain and Moorland Ponies Under Saddle
Large Breeds
Ride – Mrs Barbara McGrath, Pelton Fell, Chester-Le-Street
Conformation – Mrs Anne Bigley, Peterchurch, Herefordshire
Small Breeds
Ride – Miss Catryn Bigley, Michaelchurch Escley, Herefordshire
Conformation – Mrs Helen Horsfall, Todmorden, Lancashire
Coloured Horses and Ponies Under Saddle
Ride – Ms Vicky Smith, Beeston, Cheshire
Conformation – Mr Ian Smeeth, Forty Green, Gloucestershire
Livestock entries will open in the spring, alongside the release of the competition schedule, both which will be on the Royal Highland Show website once available.
For further information and to purchase tickets please visit www.royalhighlandshow.org.
Ends
For further information please contact Muckle Media on 0131 228 9713 or by email: rhass@mucklemediagroup.co.uk