The Royal Highland Show 2026 once again showcased the very best of Scottish agriculture, food, livestock and innovation, with thousands of competitors taking part across four memorable days.

From championship winning livestock and outstanding equestrian performances to prestigious industry honours, the Show celebrated excellence at every level. Among this year’s highlights were the presentation of the coveted Queen’s Cup, RHASS’ longest running competition the RHASS Innovation Awards, and the Sir Walter Young Award winner.

Read on to discover the stand out winners and celebrate the achievements of those recognised at this year’s Show.

Trail-blazing innovations from across all sectors within Scotland’s agricultural industry were recognised at this year’s Royal Highland Show, as nine organisations receive prestigious RHASS Innovation Awards.

Previously known as the Technical Innovation Awards, the RHASS Innovation Awards are the oldest competition run by the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS), celebrating the practical solutions, technologies and advancements driving progress across the agricultural sector.

The awards were presented to the winners on the Saturday 20th June at the Royal Highland Show, recognising innovation across engineering, digital technology, business management and soil intelligence.

In the Mechanical and Engineering Advancements category Sponsored by CRF Hydro Power Ltd, Silver awards were presented to:

DeLaval Ltd for Flow-Responsive Milking

A smart controlled vacuum system which automatically maintains a steady vacuum at the teat while handling the variation in milk flow from each individual quarter, enabling a faster, gentler and more complete milking process.

Lely Center Ayr for their Automatic Milk Filter

A milk filtration system providing automated rinsing and robot-managed cleaning cycles to ensure a consistently high standard of hygiene, supporting the wider move towards hands-free dairy management. 

Certificates of commendation were awarded to:

McHale for TerraDrive Axle

A newly developed hydraulic axle developed for the McHale Fusion 4 Plus machines, designed to provide extra traction to distribute workload, improving mobility and reducing strain on the tractor.

Spread-a-Bale for Combi-Bale

A fully self-loading machine for square or round bales, capable of spreading straw, and cutting and spreading haylage and silage, helping streamline feeding and bedding to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

In the Digital and Management Solutions Sponsored by Agrii, Silver awards were presented to:

James and John Fairlie for Yokit

A secure cloud-based digital platform, available as a mobile app and desktop dashboard, that captures, organises and automates essential operational data in real time, providing a practical solution to business administration.

BAGMA for Culverdocs – Paperless Solution

A UK-first digital solution for the agricultural dealership sector for Record of Machine Installation forms, supporting organisations through onboarding and implementation by enabling administrators to build digital forms and processes and distribute them to employees through mobile and web apps.

Two were honoured with certificates of commendation:

Drone Ag Limited for Skippy Scout

Unlike traditional drone mapping, which can be time-intensive and generate large, complex datasets, Skippy Scout uses a much faster ‘Sphere’ capture system to provide full-field overviews using fewer images and significantly smaller file sizes, while retaining high-resolution detail to deliver fast, reliable crop insights where weather, terrain and time often limit field access.

Monil for Monil Cattle Collar

A ‘digital shepherd’ for livestock, pairing a compact electronic collar with a mobile app that allows farmers to create and adjust virtual fences while monitoring animal locations in real time.

The coveted Gold Award was presented to:

H L Hutchinson Ltd for TerraMap

An innovation which delivers ultra-high-resolution soil intelligence at scale, enabling farmers to better understand and manage the variability of their soils.

All innovations were showcased at the agricultural zone during the Royal Highland Show.

Hugh Ramsay MBE receives prestigious Sir William Young Award for lifetime contribution to the Clydesdale Horse industry.

In recognition of his exceptional lifelong contribution to the breeding, showing and judging of Clydesdale horses in Scotland and around the world, Mr Hugh Ramsay MBE, 87, was presented the prestigious Sir William Young Award at the 2026 Royal Highland Show on Thursday (18th June).  

Awarded annually, the RHASS Sir William Young Award recognises exceptional contributions to the world of livestock breeding and celebrates the enduring legacy of the late Sir William Young, whose invaluable service to Scottish agriculture continues to inspire the industry.

Hugh’s recognition acknowledges more than six decades of dedication to one of Scotland’s most iconic native breeds. In 2025, Hugh marked an extraordinary milestone – 60 years of participation at the Royal Highland Show – a testament to his enduring commitment, passion and influence within the heavy horse community.

Throughout his career, Hugh has earned widespread respect as a breeder, exhibitor and judge. His expertise, integrity and dedication to the highest standards of the breed have made him a highly regarded figure within the Clydesdale world, influencing generations of breeders and exhibitors both nationally and internationally.

Hugh’s reputation as a knowledgeable and fair judge has led to invitations to officiate at some of the world’s most prestigious Clydesdale competitions, including the Royal Melbourne Show, Australia (1997), the World Clydesdale Show, Carp, Ontario, Canada (1999), the World Clydesdale Show, Madison, Wisconsin, USA (2007) and the Royal Highland Show across a number of years in the In-Hand and Turnout Classes.

His international judging appointments have helped reinforce Scotland’s position as the historic home of the Clydesdale horse and have showcased Scottish expertise on the global stage.

At Millisle Farm in Newton Stewart, Hugh established a breeding programme that has made a significant and lasting contribution to the Clydesdale breed. Among his most influential horses was Millisle Verna, foaled in 1992 and recognised as Hugh’s most successful in-hand exhibit.

Following her export to the Weber family to the Live Oak Plantation in Florida and later to Canada, Verna established an influential breeding legacy, producing quality offspring and shaping bloodlines that continue to feature prominently in modern pedigrees. Her influence remains highly valued by breeders today and stands as a testament to the quality and vision of Hugh’s breeding programme.

Hugh Ramsay, MBE, said:

“It is a great honour to receive the Sir William Young Award. Working with the magnificent Clydesdale breed has been a lifelong passion, and one that my family is now proud to carry forward. It has given me a rich and rewarding life filled with travel, unforgettable experiences, and the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people. I am deeply grateful for the advice, support, and guidance I have received along the way. As a family, we have attended and competed at the Show for as long as I can remember, so it is very special to be receiving this award at this year’s Show with my family by my side.”

Beyond his achievements in the show ring and breeding barn, Hugh Ramsay’s contribution has been defined by his commitment to preserving and promoting the traditions, standards and future of the Clydesdale horse. His dedication has inspired fellow breeders, exhibitors and judges, while helping to strengthen the reputation of the breed both in Scotland and internationally.

Ian Beck, a member of the RHASS Council of Trustees and RHASS Board Member, said:

“Hugh’s contribution to the Clydesdale horse over the past six decades has been truly exceptional. His knowledge, dedication and willingness to support others have left a lasting mark on the breed and the wider agricultural community. He represents the very qualities that the Sir William Young Award seeks to recognise. A huge congratulations to Hugh for his legacy.”

David Tennant, Head of Show for RHASS, said:

“Hugh’s remarkable record of service, achievement and leadership makes him a highly deserving nominee for the Sir William Young Award 2026 and a fitting example of excellence within Scottish agriculture.”

With over 327 prestigious trophies and a £195,000 prize fund awarded at this year’s Show, the Royal Highland Show 2026 celebrated the very best of competition across livestock, equestrian, agriculture and rural industries.

Awarded to the most outstanding competition winner at the Royal Highland Show, the Queen’s Cup is one of the Society’s most prestigious honours. Selected from the champions crowned across all four days of the Show, this year’s Queen’s Cup was awarded to Corkeeran Willow, the Irish Draught Light Horse exhibited by William Moran, recognising an exceptional achievement at the Show.

Alongside the Queen’s Cup, competitors from across the country were recognised in a wide range of livestock, equestrian, agricultural and rural competitions, celebrating the exceptional standard of entries on display throughout the 2026 Show. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners for their outstanding achievements.

You can view all of our results winners across livestock, equine, dairy, handcrafts and honey by heading to our Royal Highland Show results page via the button below.