It was a day to remember for the Hamilton family of Mid Shawtonhill Farm, Chapelton, who lifted the commercial cattle title, as well as the show champion of champions title at last weekend's Neilston Show.
Landing the title for the Hamilton's was the one-year-old Limousin cross British Blue heifer, Gypsy Queen. A daughter of Springfield Mason, she is bred out of a pure Limousin cow and is no stranger to the show ring having previously stood first in her class at last year's LiveScot event. Gypsy Queen is now destined for Ayr and local show's this summer.
"She is a stylish and correct heifer, and was a stand out winner from the beginning being very fleshy and well balanced – a very worthy winner," commented the commercial cattle judge, Jack Dunlop, West Enoch Farm who joined forces with the other breed judges in a points-based system to select the champion of champions.
Dairy champion was the three-year-old heifer from Robert Wylie, Broadstone Farm, Neilston. On her first outing and currently giving 45 litres, she is by the Genus bull, Battle Cry, and bred from an Annandale-sired cow.
Across in the sheep lines, the inter-breed championship was awarded to the Suffolk gimmer, Westcarse Annie, from David McMillan, Kerryclusach, Isle of Bute. On her second outing, she was purchased privately as a lamb from John Christie, having been sired by Muirton Double Diamond and bred out of a Westcarse ewe. This girl carried on her winning streak having claimed the overall breed title and reserve inter-breed championship at the previous week's Beith Show.
The runner-up title went to the Blackface champion from Stuart Kerr, Middleton Farm, Newton Mearns. On her first outing, his gimmer is sired by a son of a £5500 Auldhouseburn, which itself goes back to the record breaking £150,000 Auldhouseburn ram. Out of an £1800 Upper Wellwood ewe that derives from the £28,000 Auldhouseburn tup, she is destined to be shown locally.
Champion Clydesdale was the yearling filly, Waukers Ebony Rose, from Laura Smith, Waukers Farm, Eaglesham. A Collessie Connoisseur daughter, bred out of Singlie Pearl, she was shown successfully at last year's Fenwick Show and will be heading to Ayr.
Leading Awards:
Holstein Friesian (Judge: A Logan, Holehouse Farm, Kilbirnie). Champion – R Wylie, Broadstone Farm, Neilston with the three-year-old heifer. On her first outing and currently giving 45 litres, she is by the Genus bull, Battle Cry, and bred from an Annandale-sired cow. Reserve – K Scott, Kilburn Farm, Neilston, with home-bred six-year-old cow is by Ards Paramount. Giving 59 litres, she stood champion here last year, as well as at Houston Show. Cow in milk, quey derby in calf/milk, cow or heifer in calf/milk – K Scott. Heifer or cow in calf, pair of females, group of three – R Wylie. Calf born after Aug 1, 2022 – S Wilson, Blackbyres Farm, Barrhead.
Any other dairy breed (Judge: A Logan). Champion – D and JM Parker Auchenairney with the in milk Jersey heifer, Darnlaw Oliver P Lucy, which is a daughter of VJ Quintana. All classes – D and JM Parker.
Commercial cattle (Judge: J Dunlop, West Enoch Farm, Maybole). Champion and show champion – R and J Hamilton, Mid Shawtonhill Farm, Chapelton, with the one-year-old Limousin cross British Blue heifer, Gypsy Queen. A daughter of Springfield Mason, she is bred out of a pure Limousin cow and is no stranger to the show ring having previously stood first in her class at last year's LiveScot event. Gypsy Queen is now destined for Ayr and local show's this summer. Reserve – A and S Campbell, Crawlaw, Galston, with the May, 2022-born British Blue cross heifer, Coco. Bred by Alistair Jackson, Annan, and bought at last year’s Welsh Winter Fair, she is by Nutcracker and out of Solwayview Cream Cracker. Bullock – A Nisbet, 8 Lamberton Road. Heifer, pair of beef animals – R and J Hamilton. Calf born after Jan 1, 2023 – R Wylie, Broadstone Farm, Neilston.
Pure beef continental (Judge: J Dunlop). Champion and reserve – J and A Young, Over Auchentiber, Stewarton. Supreme was the two-year-old pedigree Limousin bull, Grahams Sirstan. Having been purchased from Robert Graham, Airthrey Kerse at the February round of Stirling Bull Sales, he is by Franco and out of the home-bred Coffee. Reserve was the two-year-old British Blue heifer, Auchentiber Rowan. Sired by Stonebyres Mr Muscles and out of Solwayview Infinity, she stood first in her class at last year's Royal Highland Show. All classes – J and A Young.
Highland (Judge: A Telford, The Hirsel, Coldstream). Champion – G Hyslop, Glentewing, Carwfordjohn, with the two-year-old heifer, Bonnie of Black Glen. A daughter of Eoin Mhor of Black Glen and out of the black heifer, Bonnie 6 of Severie, she stood champion at last year's East Kilbride and Dumfries shows, as well as junior champion at the West of Scotland Highland Cattle Show. Reserve – D and C Logan, Greenhead Farm, Alva with the yearling bull, Sesh On of Blairlogan. This yearling bull is a son of Cameron of Sguir, jointly purchased alongside Ewan McMillan, Lurg for 10,000gns, and out of Katie Morag 15 of Blairlogan. On his first outing, he is destined for local shows. Calf – Glasgow City Council, Pollok Park. Three-year-old heifer, pairs – R and E McMillan, Little Grenach, Isle of Bute. Two-year-old heifer, senior bull – G Hyslop. Yearling heifer, yearling bull – D and C Logan.
Simmental (Judge: J Dunlop). Champion – J and E Dyet, East Merkland Farm, Strathaven with the 13-month-old bull, Annick Nazareth. Purchased from the Annick herd dispersal sale in September last year, he is sired by Kilbride Farm Karl and out of Annick Fresha's Kiki who stood champion at the 2021 Royal Highland Show. Reserve – A Wilson, Westcroft Farm, Kilwinning with the cow and heifer calf outfit. The cow, Rea 7 of Cairnview is a daughter of Woodhall Ferrari, out of a home-bred cow, with her heifer calf at foot, Rea 8 of Cairnview, sired by Salisbury International. Cow or heifer in calf or calf at foot, calf – A Wilson. Two-year-old heifer, bull, pairs – J and E Dyet.
Blackface (Judge: W Stevenson, Auchenflower, Ballantrae). Champion – S Kerr, Middleton Farm, Newton Mearns with a gimmer which is sired by a son of a £5500 Auldhouseburn, which itself goes back to the record breaking £150,000 Auldhouseburn ram. Out of an £1800 Upper Wellwood ewe that derives from the £28,000 Auldhouseburn tup, she is destined to be shown locally. Reserve – J Campbell, Kypehill Farm with a one-crop ewe by Auldhouseburn Bojo, bred from an Auldhouseburn ewe. She was shown alongside her tup lamb at foot which is by a £1600 Towiemore ram. Tup hogg, ewe, group of three – J Campbell. Ewe hogg – S Kerr.
Suffolk (Judge: J Barclay, Mid Brockloch, Maybole). Champion – D McMillan, Kerryclusach, Isle of Bute with a gimmer on her second outing. She was purchased privately as a lamb from John Christie, having been sired by Muirton Double Diamond and bred out of a Westcarse ewe. This girl carried on her winning streak having claimed the overall breed title and reserve inter-breed championship at the previous week's Beith Show. Reserve – Rigfoot Suffolks, Uplawmoor, with a ewe lamb out of a home-bred ewe and sired by Mullaghboy Goliath. Ewe with lamb at foot, ewe lamb – Rigfoot Suffolks. Ewe hogg, tup lamb, group of three – D McMillan.
Border Leicester (Judge: J Barclay). Champion and reserve – D Whyte, Whitelee, Newton Mearns. Supreme was a ewe hogg which stood first in her class as a ewe lamb at the Royal Highland Show last year, being sired by Clola Bear, which was bought out of Lanark three years ago for £3000, and the dam goes back to Fordafourie Festival. Runner up was a one-crop ewe with twin March-born lambs at foot, on her first outing and by Muirmouth Morelos, and also is out of a ewe by Festival. All classes – D Whyte.
Bluefaced Leicester (Judge: W Stevenson). Champion – J Campbell, Kypehill Farm with a gimmer bred out of a Burndale gimmer, and sired by a home-bred son of Kirkstead M1. On her first outing she is bound for the Royal Highland Show. All classes – J Campbell.
Texel (Judge: J Barclay). Champion – D Whyte's gimmer which was bought privately from Robbie Wilson, Milnbank, being sired by Auldhouseburn Billy The Kid, whilst the sire of the gimmer is Harestone Eldorado. She stood champion at Beith Show. Reserve – D McPhee, North Lodge, Dundonald. Supreme was a February-born tup lamb – a son of Rhaeadr Entrepreneur and out of a home-bred ewe by Garngour Alexander. Ram, tup lamb, ewe lamb, group of three – D McPhee. Ewe – W Baird, Floors Farm, Eaglesham. Ewe hogg – D Whyte.
Clydesdale (Judge: M Barr, East Moorhouse Farm). Champion – L Smith, Eaglesham with the yearling filly, Waukers Ebony Rose, from Laura Smith, Waukers Farm, Eaglesham. A Collessie Connoisseur daughter, bred out of Singlie Pearl, she was shown successfully at last year's Fenwick Show and will be heading to Ayr.
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