Holstein UK is delighted to announce that the 2026 All Breeds All Britain Calf Show judges for the Holstein Young Breeders calf and showmanship classes have been selected. Izzy Laird (Blythbridge) will judge the National Holstein Showmanship Competition whilst David Jones (Wiltor) will take to the centre of the ring
to judge the National Holstein Calf Show, held at Staffordshire County Showground on October 30 – November 1 next year.
Izzy will be returning to her Staffordshire roots when she judges the ABAB Calf Show having grown up in the county on her parents’ farm and Jersey herd under
the Fourcrosses prefix. Now residing in Peebleshire, Scotland with her husband Colin and their two children and Colin’s parents, the Laird family own and manage the Blythbridge herd, consisting of 500 head of Holsteins.
Izzy’s passion and lifelong connection to the dairy industry has continued. Izzy’s role on the farm is predominantly calf rearing and ensuring the next generation of Blythbridge animals have the best start, focusing on health, consistency and long-term performance.
The Blythbridge herd has been successfully shown at numerous shows in Scotland and the UK, attending the National Holstein Show, UK Dairy Expo, Royal Highland Show and AgriScot. Recent successes include reigning Champion at UK Dairy Expo and the National Holstein Show with MAG Pandor, who is led by Izzy at each show she goes to.
Izzy has judged shows up and down the country, including Coloured Breed Showmanship Judge at the ABAB Calf Show in 2023, Showmanship Judge at the HYB Weekend Rally 2025 and Showmanship and Calf Judge at Welsh Dairy Show 2025 as well as a number of club qualifier calf shows.
Izzy is very much looking forward to judging the Showmanship at the 2026 ABAB Calf Show, quoting ‘every small effort adds up, and every detail speaks louder than you’.
David owns the Wiltor herd of Holsteins at Church Farm, Wilcrick in South East Wales with his wife Claire and son Matthew. Having spent a number of years working as an auctioneer and then running Sahara Holsteins, he was fortunate to buy the home farm in 2015.
Since then, he has held two very successful sales in 2019 and 2024 and is now rebuilding the herd with top cow families and using embryo transfer to multiply their best genetics. His aim is to breed a well-balanced, profitable cow of medium stature with a great udder and sound legs and feet.
David and his family are keen showmen, having previously won Supreme Interbreed Champion at the Royal Show of England in both 1997 and 1999. They compete at the National Holstein Show at UK Dairy Day every year together with the Royal Welsh Show, UK Dairy Expo, Welsh Dairy Show and occasionally AgriScot. In
recent years the herd has won 13 All Britain Awards.
David has officiated at most of the major shows in the UK and Ireland and recently returned from judging in Australia. He is very much looking forward to judging the 2026 ABAB Calf Show. The Sahara and Wiltor herds have been extremely successful over the past 15 years at the National ABAB Calf Show, including ten
class winners and Champion and Reserve Champion calves.
Aside from his passion for pedigrees and breeding Holsteins, David enjoys watching football and cricket and still finds time to play the odd game.
Lizzie Yates, HYB National Coordinator, commented on the judge selection, ‘We look forward to welcoming David and Izzy to judge at the 2026 All Breed All Britain Calf show, it is always a highlight of the HYB calendar and is a showcase of the future of the dairy industry from around the UK.’ All Breeds All Britain Calf Show
The All Breeds All Britain Calf Show will take place at Staffordshire County Showground, with showmanship classes on Saturday 31 st October, and calf classes on Sunday 1 st November. Calves and handlers from seven different dairy breeds travel from all parts of the UK to compete.
