THERE were some beaming smiles from Sally and David Martin of Highampton in the livestock area.

Elmford Showgirl 5th and her beautiful eight-week old female calf took second in the Devon Ruby Red class.

Sally said: 'She's an old girl really, she's seven, and she's just had her fifth calf.

'She's done much better than we expected.'

Sally said she and her husband have had champions before, but showing cattle affected the animal's fertility cycles — therefore it wasn't always possible to bring their best specimens.

'We looked at the herd and selected this one and she's done us proud, we are really thrilled with our prize,' said Sally, who also collected a second with the other cow they brought to the show.

'We've had a rosette with everything so we are really pleased. Ruby Reds are the heart of Devon, they are an old breed that has held agriculture up and to get prizes at Devon County really is the cream,' she said.