It was a good sign when the Kilbarchan Show organisers had to extend the sheep pens to contain the numbers on Saturday, which made up for poor cattle entries.
Taking supreme spot, though, was Jennifer Garland, of Dalrymple, with her large riding horse, Knightlight, which lifted the hunter championship in the light horse section. Bred by Pat Stirling, this 13-year-old, quarter Irish draught and three-quarter thoroughbred has picked up supreme tickets at Stewarton and Newmilns this year.
Winning through to the champion of champions ring from the busy sheep lines was a stylish Texel ewe lamb, by Teiglum Fortune, from Richard Close, Nethermill, Langbank.
The dairy champion came from Hugh Harper, Kaimhill, Bridge of Weir, with his third calver Holstein cow in milk, sired by Kaimhill Lord, giving 45kg a day, ably paraded by a keen young show team.
The top beef title was taken by Katy McIntyre, Flatterton, Inverkip, with her two-year-old Shorthorn heifer, Coxhill Matchless 2, by Glenisla Masterton.
Leading Awards:
Cheviot (Judge: K Blackwood, Maybole). Champion and reserve – W and J Howie, Auchentiber, Kilmacolm. Champion was a home-bred ewe hogg by a Murdieston sire that had stood first at Kilmacolm. Reserve was a ewe lamb, also by a Murdieston sire, on its first time out. All classes – W and J Howie.
Bluefaced Leicester (Judge: C Jackson, Dunrod, Inverkip). Champion and reserve – S McIntyre, Knowes, Lochwinnoch. Champion was a tup lamb by Parton R26, a £1700 purchase at Carlisle, and out of a home-bred ewe by Mossyard L1. Reserve was a ewe lamb by the same Parton sire as the champion and out of a dam by Woodcroft J4. Ewe, ewe hogg, ewe lamb, tup hogg, tup lamb – S McIntyre. Tup – W and J Howie, Auchentiber, Kilmacolm.
Blackface (Judge: K Blackwood). Champion and reserve – R Seaton, Kilbirnie. Champion was a home-bred Blackface ewe hogg by a £2000 Auldhouseburn sire out of a Mid Linthills ewe. It stood champion at Beith and Houston. Reserve was a Blackhouse ewe bought as a gimmer and by a £20,000 Happrew, out of a dam by a £25,000 Elmscleugh. Ewe, ewe hogg, group – R Seaton. Tup lamb – A Fletcher, Laigh Hatton, Bishopton. Tup hogg, ewe lamb – E Robertson, Mid Linthills, Lochwinnoch.
Suffolk (Judge: J Frame, Craigfield, Glassford). Champion and reserve – D and E Tulloch, Rigfoot Suffolks, Uplawmoor. Champion and reserve overall sheep was a home-bred two-crop ewe by Birness Simba out of a home-bred dam. She was champion at Stewarton. Reserve was a home-bred ewe hogg. All classes – Rigfoot Suffolks. Pen of three lambs, prime lamb, ewe – Rigfoot Suffolks.
Texel (Judge: C Jackson). Champion and overall sheep – R Close, Nethermill, Langbank, with a March-born ET ewe lamb by Teiglum Fortune and out of a home-bred ewe by Cornmore Crystal. Reserve – A Wright, Laverock, Kilmacolm, with an ET February-born Texel tup lamb by Milnbank Eddie Eagle out of a home-bred ewe by a Garngour sire that stood champion at Houston. Tup, Ewe – B Carruth, High Auchensale, Kilbarchan. Tup hogg, ewe hogg, ewe lamb, group – R Close. Tup lamb – A Wright.
AOB sheep (Judge: J Frame). Champion – L Daff, Greenside, Uplawmoor, with the Bleu du Maine shearling tup, Greenside Warhorse, by Perdi Lorenzo. Reserve at the Great Yorkshire as a lamb. Reserve – D and E Tulloch, Rigfoot Suffolks, Uplawmoor with a three-crop Charollais ewe from Auldlea got by a Maryholme sire. Tup – L Daff. Ewe – Rigfoot Suffolks.
Dairy cattle (Judge: G Borland, Mossbog, Mauchline). Champion – H Harper, Kaimhill, Bridge of Weir, with a third calver, Holstein cow in milk, by Kaimhill Lord, giving 45kg a day. Reserve – Auchensale Burdette Rose, from D Carruth, High Auchensale, Kilbarchan. She’s a home-bred Ayrshire dry cow due with her seventh calf. Holstein cow in milk four years and upwards, pairs – H Harper.
Beef cattle (Judge: M Gilliland, Gateside, Kilbirnie). Inter-breed and native champion – K McIntyre, Flatterton, Inverkip, with two-year-old Shorthorn heifer, Coxhill Matchless 2, by Glenisla Masterton, champion at Houston. Reserve inter-breed, commercial overall and winner of beef calf cup – E Laird, Auchentiber, with a home-bred Charolais cross calf born April, 2023, by Charolais bull, Digger. Champion calf at both Kilmacolm and Houston this year. Reserve native – The Hay Family, Underdovetree Dexters, Beith, with their Dexter cow with bull calf at foot by Burnside Provost, out of Burnside Kowhai Magic. First show. Two-year-old native heifer – JK McIntyre. Native cow with calf, two-year-old heifer – R Hay. Children’s cattle classes – Best fancy dressed calf – W Laird. Holstein calf – 1, A Douglas; 2, D Wright. Best other calf – E Laird. Young cattle handlers 13 and under – 1, D Wright; 2, A Douglas; 3, E Laird. Young handlers 14-26 years – 1, H Crawford; 2, E Haywood; 3, I Stewart.
Clydesdales (Judge: T McMillan, Eskechraggan, Rothesay). Champion – A and E Campbell, Netherwood Cottage, Kilmacolm, with the mare, Pacemuir Molly, out of Rashhill House Betty and by Bogton Flying Scot. She won at Kilmacolm and was shown with 10-week-old foal at foot, Pacemuir Lucy, by Dillars Nobleman. Reserve – I Nisbet and A Anderson, Lainshaw Mains, Stewarton, with Redcastle Star Analise, a rising four-year-old mare by Dreamliner. She picked up the top ticket at Dalry. Brood mare, foal, pair of mares, young handler – A and E Campbell. Yeld mare and dressed harness – I Nisbet and A Anderson.
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