Tears of joy and sadness were in evidence at the inter-breed sheep judging, when the champion South Country Cheviot, a ewe from the late Gavin Douglas, Upper Hindhope, Jedburgh, was crowned supreme sheep.
Judge, Ian Hunter, Dalchirla, Crieff, was most impressed by the line up of champion winners from no fewer than 27 sheep sections and said his choice of supreme was a great example of a hill breed, being correct on her feet and legs, with a good top line and tremendous character.
"The South Country Cheviot is a tremendous ewe with fantastic character and in my eyes was a clear winner being able to survive out on the hill and rear two lambs, but it was very close between the reserve and second reserve," he said after tapping out Ben Radley's Charollais gimmer and the Blue Texel, Derg Glitter, from Allen Shortt and Sam Allen, respectively.
It was an extremely emotional day, as the supreme overall, christened Kale Camilla, had been hand picked by Gavin for the big event just two days before his unexpected passing at the end of April. The three-crop ewe brought out by shepherd, Callum Caskie and his wife, Ema, is a daughter of 10-year-old stock ram, Stirkfield Wullie Wastle – a tup bred by Blair and Morag Cockburn. She was paraded with Gavin’s son Fraser and his wife Helen and grand-son Archie (6), looking on.
Kale Camilla also won The Scottish Farmer Centenary Trophy for the best home-bred animal on a rotational basis, with the sheep the recipient this year.
Ironically, Mr Hunter's father-in-law, the late Graham McClymont, Cuil, selected a South Country Cheviot when he was inter-breed sheep judge at the Highland – exactly 30 years ago. That was Charlie Symons' Highland Queen, which secured a second supreme sheep title a few years later at Ingliston.
It was also an emotional day for young Dumfries-shire Charollais sheep breeder, Ben Radley, who, having won the supreme sheep honours here last year with Loaningfoot Wa Wa Wee, was back in fine form to lift the reserve overall with another home-bred female – Loaningfoot Abracadabra.
Adding to the Loaningfoot magic, Abracadabra and her Va Va Voom sire, a three-shear ram shown by Gregor Ingram, made up the winning inter-breed pairs, judged by Keith Brooke, Carscreugh, Glenluce, who found his runner-up pairing in the traditional-type Bluefaced Leicester duo.
The competition on the Sunday which is made up of the male and female champions from each breed, saw the blue and white sash presented to the champion, a three-shear bought in ram from Alan Cowens, of Philiphaugh Estate, Selkirk, and the female best, a ewe from Hazel Brown, Leadburnlea, Gorebridge.
Northern Ireland Blue Texel breeders, Allen Shortt and Samantha Allen, were also well rewarded for exhibiting a single gimmer for the first time at the Royal Highland Show, when their Derg Glitter, a home-bred gimmer and breed leader at Balmoral Show in May, secured honourable mention in the individual competition.
Young handlers
Just shy of 50 youngsters took part in the young handlers sheep competition, judged by Hannah Jackson, Annan, which concluded with the top two from the senior section taking the champion and reserve honours.
The competition comprised two sections – for juniors (aged 5-10 years on January 1) and seniors (aged 11-16 years on January 1) – was won by 12-year-old Finlay Barclay, Mid Brockloch, Maybole. No stranger to the show and sale ring or the TV cameras, with the family being filmed for the next This Farming Life series, Finlay had already secured top awards in local and national young handlers competitions.
In 2019, he stood second in the junior section here and last year, was third in the seniors. This year, he was exhibiting the Beltex gimmer, Twinsplusone Halapino, a home-bred female owned in partnership with his twin, Cameron, and younger brother, Archie, who also regularly appear in the prize list of such events.
Just pipped at the post was the second prize winner in the seniors, Bruce Guild (12), from Ashmark, New Cumnock. He was showing a Bluefaced Leicester crossing-type tup lamb from Jamie Pirie's Blarnavaid flock and like Finlay, already boasts a kist load or rosettes from young handler competitions. Second in the juniors here in 2022, Bruce also won at Catrine, Ayr, New Cumnock, and Straiton, this year.
First time competitor, Neil Barclay (7), from Stirling, won the junior section with a Blue Texel tup lamb of Sophie Harvey's. Another rising star in the livestock world, Master Barclay, won the top award at Drymen and Stirling this year.
Blackface
Team MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth, enjoyed one of their best years at Ingliston, taking the tri-colour amongst the Blackface and the Scotch Mules, while also breeding one of the lead performers in the Texel lines.
Their lead Blackie, brought out by shepherd Davie Kinloch, was a home-bred one-crop ewe by the 30,000gns McCurdy tup purchased at Ballymena in 2020, out of a ewe by a £32,000 Midlock. She was second at Abington and third at the National Show, last year.
The MacGregors – Archie and son, John – also bred the reserve male, a shearling ram that sold for £48,000 to Malcolm Coubrough, Hartside and Neil and Stuart Barclay, Harestone, with a third share retained. The tup, which was shown by Mr Coubrough, is by a £30,000 Nunnerie shearling and was on his first outing since the sale.
It was very much a family affair for male championship and reserve female too, won by entries from the Wights, Midlock, Crawford. Their top male was a two-shear ram bought at Ballymena last year for 19,000gns from Eoin McKenna of the Tullykerran flock in partnership with the Dalchirla and Nunnerie flocks. A son of a £15,000 Elmscleugh, he is bred from an Auldhouseburn-bred ewe by a £160,000 Elmscleugh.
Taking the blue and white sash amongst the females, was a home-bred gimmer by the same £30,000 Nunnerie on her first outing.
Suffolk
Young Finn Christie (19) did the double in the Suffolks, winning his second consecutive championship at what was described as one of the best shows for the breed in recent years.
Mr Christie, who runs a handful of pedigree Suffolk ewes in his Maidenstone flock, from Inverurie, alongside a few Beltex, took the top award with his inter-breed sheep champion from Angus Show, a home-bred gimmer. She is by Howgillfoot Snipper, a 5500gns purchase that also bred Mr Christie’s champion winner last year. The dam, a gimmer, is by Crewelands Kingpin.
John Christie (no relation), from Westcarse, Stirling, was also in form when he bagged the reserve rosette with a home-bred two-crop ewe. Mr Christie who was exhibiting here for the first time since 2000, when he won the supreme, landed the blue and white rosette with a previously unshown daughter of a Ballyboe tup bought at Stirling that goes back to Limestone Aston Martin. The dam is by Cairness Lucky Strike – one of 60 ewes at Westcarse.
The top two males were also on their first outing, with the supreme, a tup lamb from Stewart Lathangie’s Pyeston flock, Glenrothes, being a son of the 48,000gns Limestone Marksman – the sire of Mr Lathangie’s 38,000gns and 32,000gns ET lambs sold last year. The dam is a home-bred ewe by Strathisla Speed.
Following him to lift the runner-up male trophy was the second prize tup lamb from the Hiddleston family’s Irongray flock, from Dumfries. He is by Irongray Flashback, a son of a Frongoy ram retained for breeding and out of a home-bred ewe. The two tup lambs are bound for the breed sale at Lanark, next month.
North Country Cheviot
Last year’s reserve went one step better to claim the supreme overall in the Northie lines for regular winners Willie and Laura Thomson, Hownam Grange, Kelso.
Their four-crop ewe, Vicki, is by Synton Vespa, a tup purchased for £2800 that has bred several champions for the 450-strong park-type ewe. Bred from show winning genetics on her dam side too, her mother is Victoria, the family’s reserve inter-breed champion here in 2019. Vicki was also champion at the Great Yorkshire and Peebles last year.
The former record priced ram, Allanshaws Bullseye, a tup purchased at Lockerbie for £15,000 for 2021, scooped the male championship for Neil and Stuart Barclay, Harestone, Insch, who were exhibiting Cheviots for the first time here. Stock ram for the 120-strong Harestone flock managed by Robert Marshall, he is by Sebay Xcitable and was on his first outing since the sale.
Allanshaws’ Roderick and Lewis Runciman, Galashiels, were also in the tickets with their own sheep, taking the reserve male with the two-shear ram, Sebay Colossus, a tup bought last year at Quoybrae from Hamish and Balfour Baillie.
Caithness breeders, Jonny Campbell and family from Bardnaclavan, produced the second best female in a previously unshown gimmer by Durran Ace, a Quoybrae purchase in 2020, out of a home-bred ewe.
Hill Cheviot
David Douglas runs several breeds from his Whitehope base at Yarrow, alongside his father, Norman, from Catslackburn, but it was a home-bred hill-type Cheviot shearling that topped their day when standing supreme with shepherd Matt Carryer at the helm.
Their show stopped is by the Badanloch Va Va Voom son, Whitehope Batman, a tup sold at Lairg for £5000. He was first at Peebles last year and will be sold as a two-shear.
The flock which is home to 650 hill-type Cheviots, also produced the reserve female, a previously unshown gimmer which is a direct daughter of Badanloch Va Va Voom.
Leading the females was a home-bred one-crop ewe from William and Kate Allen, son Dallas and daughter Ruth, Stouphill, Wooler. Another on her first outing, she was in cracking form, despite lambing late on May 10. Her pedigree features Whitehope Xpense, a ram bought at Lairg for £1400, onto a home-bred ewe.
Runner up amongst the males was a previously unshown three-shear from Roderick and Lewis Runciman, Allanshaw, Galashiels. This Portmore-bred tup was bought last year at Longtown and is by a Hethpool sire.
Lleyn
It was very much a red letter day for Aberdeenshire breeders, Colin, Carol-Anne and Carie Crawford, when they not only bagged their first championship in more than 10 years exhibiting here, but also the reserve.
The family who run 100 ewes in their Haywood flock at Maud, Peterhead, took centre stage with a home-bred gimmer by a Farmstock Genetics ram bought at Carlisle in partnership with Julie Robertson of the Carmont Valley flock. She is out of a home-bred ewe.
Following her to lift the reserve, was the male champion, a home-bred shearling ram by a Laga tup bought at Carlisle, in 2021. He is bound for the breed sale at Borderway Mart, in September.
Ian and Tom Walling’s Farmstock Genetics flock, from Over Whitlaw, Selkirk, won the runner-up ribbons amongst the males with a two-shear ram bought last year at Carlisle from John Blakey. He is a son of a Blackpotts-bred ram.
The equivalent amongst the females was presented to a home-bred one-crop ewe on her show debut from David and Becka Henderson, Nether Toucks, Stonehaven. Their leader, by a Laga sire, is bred from a home-bred ewe that was female champion here in 2019.
Ryeland
First time exhibitor, Tom Wright, of the Juggis flock, from Tenbury Wells, Worcs, was well rewarded for his long trip north to Ingliston, when he took the tri-colour with a home-bred gimmer.
Mr Wright, who runs just 12 ewes and has been exhibiting since he was just three years of age, bagged the top honours with a daughter of Juggis Asteroid, a tup retained for breeding by a Hawthorns sire. Already a star performer, she was first at the National at the Three Counties, last year.
Kinross-based chartered surveyors, Eddie and Janice Henderson's Landriggs flock, from Milnathort, also had a bumper day, winning the silverware for the male champion and the reserve female. Their lead male, a shearling ram bought at Worcester also went on to lift the reserve overall. He is a son of Bryncaffro Xpert and was on his show debut.
The couple’s reserve female, brought out with assistance of daughter Hannah, was Landriggs Cinderella, a gimmer by Redsewell Alfie, also on her first outing.
Pembroke Apollo, a three-shear ram on his retirement outing from Andrew Hunter-Blair’s Carsfad flock from Dalry, Castle Douglas, took the blue and white sash amongst the males. The tup, which is shared with Michael and Fiona Burns, Spallander, is a son of Highwood Xeres and stood champion at Ayr and reserve at Stirling Shows.
Commercial sheep
Judge Jimmy Taylor, Easter Ochtermuthill, Crieff, certainly had his work cut out for him in the busy commercial sheep lines, but he soon whittled the entries down to size, finding his supreme in a gimmer from John Messenger and sons, Ross and Neil.
The boys who run 350 Suffolk, Texel and Cheviot cross ewes at Ayton, Aberargie, scooped their first supreme in 20 years exhibiting here, with a home-bred Beltex cross gimmer. She is by a Cuiltburn sire bought privately four years ago and out of a pure Texel ewe. Previously unshown, she was paraded with March-born Suffolk cross ewe lambs at foot.
Beltex cross lambs from Andrew and Hilary Morton, daughter Kirsty and son Andrew, Lochend, Denny, won the top ticket amongst the lambs and the reserve overall. February-born ewe lambs scaling 46.5kg, they are by Gyffin Dexter and were on their first outing.
The family who run 1500 ewes, also landed the reserve amongst the lambs with March-born Beltex females the same way bred. They scaled 38.5kg and like the champion lambs will be retained for breeding.
Border Leicester
Father and son duo, Sandy and Alec Watson, secured their sixth championship since 2010, in the Borders lines for their 24-ewe Intock flock, which is now based in the Borders.
Star performer this time was a home-bred two-crop ewe by Didcot Diamond – a tup that stood male champion at Lanark when he was purchased. Previously unshown, she is out of an Eildon Rob Roy-sired ewe.
Whisky distillery engineer for the Beams Suntory brands, Duncan Whyte, Newton Mearns, was also in the winner’s enclosure, taking the male honours and reserve female.
His top male also went on to lift the reserve overall for the 20-ewe flock. This was a Ditton-bred two-shear bought at Lanark as a lamb for 900gns. Second in his class here last year, he is by Ditton Wham Bam and out of a Lammermuir Jake daughter.
The reserve female from Mr Whyte, who has been a technician for the whisky company for just shy of 50 years, was a home-bred gimmer by Clola Bear, a tup purchased for £3000 at Lanark. Previously unshown, his dam is by Fordafourie Festival.
Runner up male was Knockglass Spitfire, a three-shear tup by Drennans Class Act, from Neil Howie’s Lyham flock from Alnwick, shown with assistance of young Euan Mill, Shawsmill. A top breeding ram for the 40-ewe flock, Spitfire is the sire of Lyham Landmark – the first prize shearling and reserve male here last year that went on to sell for £3000 at Kelso after standing pre-sale champion.
British Berrichon
It was very much a ladies' day in the Berrichon lines, with mother and daughter duo, Frances and Lyn Barbour, Newark, Sanquhar, producing the supreme.
This year’s event, which was thought to be the best for many years, having attracted an increased number of higher quality entries, was topped by Newark Yummy, a gimmer that was providing a fourth supreme here for the flock. She is by Newark Westpoint – a former male champion and reserve winner here retained for breeding out of an 11-year-old show ewe. The dam is by Galtress Prince. This was Yummy’s first outing of 2023 having stood first at Dumfries and second at the Highland last year.
Newark also picked up the silverware for the runner-up male with an end of January-born lamb by Glyncoch Wagner, a tup bought at Carlisle in 2021 after standing second in his class. The dam is home-bred.
First time exhibitors, Reece and Ivan Thomas, were also well rewarded for their long trip up from Wales, when they produced the reserve overall and runner-up female tickets.
The brothers, who run the largest flock of Berrichons in the UK with 300 ewes, alongside a 250-cow Holstein herd, topped the males and the reserve supreme with the home-bred two-shear ram, Goitre Waldo. He is a son of the record priced Spring Prince Charming, a tup purchased at Worcester for 3500gns, and out of a home-bred ewe. He was reserve inter-breed continental champion at the Royal Welsh, last year.
His ewe lamb daughter, born at the end of January, was also to the fore, when she was tapped out as reserve female.
Jacob
Progeny of Harbell Lincoln – a 2100gns champion winning show tup bred by veteran breeder, Max Harper and sold at St Boswells, in 2018 – produced the top two winners for the late Gordon Connor and Scott Dalrymple’s Dun-mor flock, Linlithgow.
Producing a 10th championship win for the flock was a shearling ram bred in Ewen Macmillan's Luruha flock, Lurg, Fintry. He was bought as a tup lamb at Skipton and is bred from a Dun-mor ewe by the 4600gns Pentranent Pimms. He was on his first outing since the sale.
Mhairi Connor brought out the reserve female for the flock in the shape of a gimmer daughter of Lincoln. She is out of a Dun-mor ewe and stood first at Fife Show.
Another veteran breeder, Helen Baillie, who has been exhibiting at the Royal Highland Show for more than 40 years, won the reserve female ribbons with a ewe lamb by Dun-mor Footer, a tup used on loan. She is out of a home-bred Hyndshaw ewe, one of only five ewes in the Carluke-based flock.
The equivalent amongst the males was Barbara Webster’s two-shear ram from the Carrochy flock from Newburgh, Fife. He was bought as a three-month-old lamb from Ben and Tori Stanley and is by Overdale Paddy Wabbit, which goes back to Blackbrook Mowhawk. Second at Fife, he was also reserve at the Black Isle and Grantown, last year.
South Country Cheviot
It was an extremely emotional day amongst the Southies when the supreme overall had been hand-picked by her breeder, the late Gavin Douglas, Upper Hindhope, who sadly passed away at the end of April.
There were more tears two days later too, when the champion, a home-bred ewe, brought out by shepherd, Callum Caskie and his wife, Ema, was tapped out as supreme overall sheep,
Mr Douglas had pulled out the winner – a three-crop ewe – for the Ingliston event just two days before his passing. A daughter of Stirkfield Wullie Wastle – a tup bred by Blair and Morag Cockburn that was still going at 10 years of age – she was third at Peebles last year and was paraded with Gavin’s son Fraser and his wife, Helen and grand-son Archie (6), looking on.
Norman and David Douglas, Catslackburn, Yarrow, were again in the tickets, winning the top two awards amongst the males. Their male champion and reserve overall was a previously unshown shearling by the £12,000 Becks son, Catslack Immortality, out of a home-bred ewe.
Reserve male was a previously unshown home-bred two-shear ram that was used as a shearling and is bound for the breed sale at Lockerbie in October. He is by Kale Abe, a £3500 purchase at the same market.
Jim Robertson's Becks flock, from Langholm, picket up the blue and white ribbons among the females with a home-bred gimmer on her show debut shown by Fred Little.
Dutch Spotted
Dutch Spotted sheep numbers have soared in recent years, but it was the youngest competitor on the showfield, Robbie Jackson and the owner of just one female, who landed the top trophy with a gimmer.
Following in his parents footsteps – Ali and Hannah Jackson, who this time last year not only won the breed championship but also the inter-breed pairs with Dutch Spotted from their Dumfries-shire-based flock – his gimmer was bought at Carlisle last year from Robbie McCornick, Barquhill. A daughter of Westbroad Diego, she is out of Kilroot Cinnamon and forms the foundation of young master Jackson’s Rigghead flock.
His parents' Tiptop flock was again in the running, taking the silverware for the reserve male with Tiptop Charlie – the male champion at the Great Yorkshire and supreme at the Royal Welsh, last year. A son of Lochlad Braveheart, this four-year-old ram is also the the sire of Tiptop Diana – last year's breed champion and at the Great Yorkshire which went on to make up part of half of the winning inter-breed pairs here.
Digger driver, Nick Brown, who runs a construction company building farm sheds, based at Irthing Valley, Carlisle, scooped the male championship and reserve supreme with a February-born tup lamb. He is by an imported Eden Valley ram, out of a home-bred ewe and collected a red rosette at Cumberland Show.
Second best female was an end of February-born ewe lamb from Henry Jewitt’s Sunnybank flock from Barnard Castle. She is by the 25,000gns Diamond Fireball and out of a bought in ewe.
Texel
Despite light rain for much of the judging, there was a three-deep crowd around the Texel ring, which concluded with a shearling ram from Procters Farm, winning the supreme.
Producing a second championship win for the Lancashire-based flock, which is managed by Jeff and Jennifer Aiken, was Hexel Four Square, a tup bought last year at Lanark for 32,000gns from Donald and Ross MacPherson. He is a son of the 24,000gns Rhaeadr Entrepreneur, out of a Hexel ewe by Procters Jumbo, and last year was stock ram for the 60-ewe Procters flock.
Jim Innes’ Strathbogie flock, from Huntly, managed by Michael Leggat, also had a great day winning red rosettes in the tup lamb and ewe lamb classes with ET lambs from the same flush.
The tup lamb also went on to stand runner up male and reserve overall for the 20-ewe flock. Securing a second reserve overall was a son of last year’s Auldhouseburn Fancy Pants, a tup bought at Carlisle, for 28,000gns, out of a gimmer by Milnbank Dance Monkey.
Judge Flor Ryan, of the Lawn flock, from Co Kildare, who has been breeding Texels for 35 years, found his female champion in the lead gimmer from Alan Clark’s Garngour flock from Lesmahagow. A full sister to the 52,000gns Garngour Firstclass which sold last year to the New View flock, she is a daughter of the 34,000gns Claybury Dunkirk and bred from a ewe by Procters Chumba Wumba that is a full sister to Teiglum Dancing Brave. She was third at Lesmahagow Show.
First time exhibitor, Brooke Woodrow (22), who runs 10 ewes in the Newmains flock, on Islay, with her mother, Sheena, also had plenty to celebrate, when her own ewe was tapped out runner up female. Brooke who works in the local veterinary surgery on Islay, produced her best ever result with an Allanfauld-bred female bought last year at the Carlisle Cracker sale for 7500gns. Champion at Drymen, she is also by Claybury Dunkirk and out of an Allanfauld-bred ewe by Knock Yardsman.
Hampshire Down
Two of the youngest competitors, Eilidh MacKinnon (9) and her brother Innes (3) of the Glen Etive flock topped a competitive show of Hampshire Down sheep with a previously unshown ewe lamb from their Duns-based flock.
Their lamb is the result of a Graylen gimmer that was bought privately from Judith Galbraith, who tupped her with a Thornfalcon Odyssey before she was sold, with the ewe lamb being the result of that mating.
Keeping it in the family, their parents Alan and Debbie MacKinnon, who only just started breeding Hampshires last year, when the ‘kids’ took a shine to the sheep, won the male honours with a Graylen shearling ram also bought privately from the Galbraiths.
Breed president, Adrian Rundle all the way from Newquay, Cornwall, was most impressed by Hampshire Down entries and numbers, won he reserve overall title with a home-bred gimmer from his 80-ewe Treworthal flock. Champion at the Royal Bath and West Show, she is by Graylen Churchill, a tup bought privately from John Harrison as a three-shear ram, out of a home-bred ewe.
Another new breeder, professional horse photographer, John Grossick, produced the runner up male with a home-bred shearling tup from his Rockhall flock brought out by daughter Pam Parker and her husband Andrew, Lochlad, Dumfries. He is the result of an in-lamb ewe bought from the Maes-glas flock, at Carlisle and stood third at the Great Yorkshire as a lamb.
Swaledale
There were plenty of celebrations in the Swaley lines when first time exhibitors landed both the champion and reserve honours.
Taking the top spot was a home-bred two-crop ewe from Ernest and Dorothy Hutchinson, son John and his wife Kirsty, Hebblethwaite Hall Farm, Sedbergh. Their supreme is by a Shepherds Lodge tup bought at Hawes and out of a home-bred ewe – one of 700 in the flock. She was third at Tanhill and placed at Westmorland as a gimmer.
A home-bred tup hogg from Robbie Hallam, High Birkwith, Horton in Ribblesdale, was tapped out as male champion and reserve overall. His entry is a son of £4500 Valley Just the Job, a tup bought at Hawes in 2021, and of a home-bred ewe. He will be sold at either Kirkby Stephen or Hawes in October.
Regular prize winner, Thomas Brogden, Helbeck, Kirkby Stephen, scooped the reserve female honours with a home-bred ewe hogg that was first at Eastgate and Stainmore Shows. Backed by the best of breeding, she is by Helbeck Unique, a tup that sold for £60,000 at Hawes, with a third share retained, and out of a home-bred ewe by a John and Edward Parkinson ram that goes back to a Patrick Sowerby ewe. The dam produced a £20,000 shearling tup at Hawes in 2020.
Runner-up amongst the males was an aged ram from Greg Dalton, South Wellhope, Weardale, that was bought in utero of a ewe bred by Patrick and Kirsty Sowerby and by a Jonny Archer-bred ram.
Bluefaced Leicester traditional-type
A two-shear ram from Alan Cowens, of Philiphaugh Estate, Selkirk, was crowned supreme amongst the ‘true Blues.’
The tup, a P3 Towdypotts, brought out by shepherd Scott Bell, was bred by Margaret Suddes and bought as a lamb at Carlisle for 6000gns. First in his class here last year, he is by an Ashes sire and is a stock ram for the 40-ewe flock at Philiphaugh.
Hazel Brown’s Leadburnlea flock, from Gorebridge, also enjoyed two great days when her three-crop ewe landed the female championship and the reserve overall, with the male and the female winners then taking the reserve overall in the inter-breed pairs competition judged on the Sunday at Ingliston. Hazel's star had been bought as a lamb at foot privately from the Bilsdean flock and is bred from a Mendick ewe and by a West Bolton sire. She was third here and placed at Peebles, last year.
Regular winners, Alan McClymont and sons, Sam and Oli, Kirkstead, Yarrow, had to settle with the reserve male and female awards. Their top ram was a three-shear Bonvilston tup bought for £3200, with their lead female being a gimmer by an L1 Ashes ram bought at Carlisle for 3000gns as a ram. The dam, a former reserve winner here last year and at the Showcase, is by the G1 Burndale – another previous champion winner at Ingliston.
Bluefaced Leicester crossing-type
Alan Shennan is well known for breeding top quality Scotch Mule ewe lambs and had previously won the section championship here, however, it was a Bluefaced Leicester from the family farm at Farden, Girvan, that topped his show this year.
His star performer was a March-born ewe lamb by a P1 Coultermuir tup bought at Kelso as a shearling for £4500 in partnership with Barnshangan. Previously unshown, her dam, a home-bred gimmer is by the J14 Blarnavaid, purchased for £5500.
The runner up female followed her to take the reserve overall. This was a gimmer from Malcolm Thornborrow and sons Gary and Craig, Dawyck, Stobo, brought out by Gary’s partner, Marion Porter. Another on her show debut, she is a daughter of a £7000 M2 Smearsett bought at Hawes and out of a former reserve winner here as a gimmer, by the H1 Carry House.
Rosettes for the top two males were won by the Wights from Midlock, Crawford. Best was a home-bred shearling ram on his first outing by the £30,000 Marriforth, bought at Hawes, out of the 2018 champion winner here, a home-bred ewe by the E1 Hewgill. He is bound for the Kelso Ram Sales in September.
Standing behind him was the first prize aged ram, a three-shear Langstroth ram bought at Hawes in partnership with James Herdman and Richard Richard Wood for £16,000. He is by a Midlock sire.
Charollais
It was another magic moment for Dumfries-shire breeder, Ben Radley, when he topped a bigger and better breed section for a second consecutive year – this time with the home-bred gimmer, Loaningfoot Abracadabra.
Last year, Mr Radley not only produced the breed champion but also the supreme sheep here and he almost achieved that again this time, when Abracadabra went on to stand reserve inter-breed individual on the Saturday. On the Sunday, she and the male champion won the overall champion pairs competition.
Inter-breed champion at Ayr Show on her sole previous outing, this big girl is got by semen from Foxhill Va Va Voom. She is bred from a Foulrice ewe bought at Skipton in 2020 – one of 25 ewes that run in the flock alongside 150 commercial ewes and a select herd of Charolais cattle.
Interestingly, the sire, Va Va Voom, a three-shear ram bred by Mike and Melanie Alford, and bought at Worcester as a tup lamb for 16,000gns by Willie and Carole Ingram, sons Gregor and Bruce and daughter Amy, was male champion and reserve overall. Reserve male champion here last year and reserve the previous year at the Showcase, he is by Loanhead Triathalon and out of a Foxhill ewe.
The Ingrams took the remainder of the top awards winning the reserve male with Wernfawr Ace, a shearling ram bought last year at Worcester for 15,000gns from Dai and Paul Curran. Previously unshown, he is by Logie Durno Wall Street.
Taking the blue and white ribbons amongst the females was a two-crop ewe by Springhill Untouchable, from Gregor and Bruce Ingram’s Loanhead flock. The show ewe last year, she won several top awards to include the inter-breed at the Black Isle.
Hebridean
The Hebridean section always attracts entries from throughout the length of breadth of the UK, but it was Kinross-shire breeders who took two of the top four.
Supreme was Ardoch Jangle, a previously unshown home-bred one-crop ewe from Jack and Morna Cuthbert, Kinross, that was providing the couple with their second supreme here. She is a daughter of Ardoch Excalibur, the tup that made his star performance in the Star Wars Andor film, and out of the Lanark purchase, Knightley Willow.
Keeping it in the family, son Struan (12) who runs just six ewes took the silverware for the best opposite sex, with Skipwith Yorvick, a two-shear tup bred by David Braithwaite and bought at Lanark after standing reserve champion. He is by Mullach Sitheron and out of Skipwith Snowdrop. He was also on his show debut.
Sisters, Judith Kingston of the Pengrove flock from Somerset and Vicky Mason, who owns the second oldest Hebridean flock in the UK in her Sycamore enterprise from Nantwich, Cheshire, took the remaining awards.
Supreme female and reserve overall was Judith’s Sycamore Odelia, a gimmer bought privately in March from her sister. A daughter of Pengrove Dearheart out of Sycamore Jjemima, she was placed at the Royal Welsh Small Holders Show in May and third at Cheshire County.
Runner up amongst the males was Vicky’s Sycamore Nairn, a two-shear ram that was champion at the Royal Welsh Small Holders and third here last year. He is by the privately purchased Ronasvoe Macmorair and out of Western Orange Blossom.
North of England Mule
A massive gimmer with twin lambs at foot from Philip and Denise Elliott, Musgrisdale, Penrith, was back to claim her championship crown at what was an extremely strong show.
Since taking the top award here as a yeld hogg, their entry, bred by the Reeds of Lands Farm, which was bought as a ewe lamb at Tow Law where she made up the first prize pen, has won no fewer than six championships and four inter-breeds.
A daughter of the N10 Lands that is a son of the H2 Lands, she was shown with March-born Texel cross lambs at foot.
First time competitor, James Robinson, Carnforth, scooped the reserve ribbons with a ewe hogg bought from Jeff Borrow, Thursgill at North West Auctions’ Stars in their Eyes sale. She is by an Emmotts ram, out of Swale ewe bred by David Harker and was shown with single March-born Texel cross lamb.
Best bred was a late March-born ewe lamb from Martyn Archer, Carry House, Hexham. His lamb, bred from a Prospect House North of England Blackface ewe bought as a lamb, is by the R27 Midlock, a shared ram bought at Hawes for £25,000.
British Rouge
North Yorkshire breeder and society chairman, Ian Teasdale's Jet flock, from North Helmsley, had a field day amongst the Rouge, winning two of the top four awards to include the supreme.
His top winner was the two-shear ram, Fairyglen Utube, a son of Glenkeen Viper, bought privately as a lamb from Sammy Kerr. Placed here last year, he has been the main stock ram for the 40-ewe flock.
Fairyglen Utube also sired Mr Teasdale’s female champion, a gimmer bred from a female bought at the late Percy Tait’s Knighton flock dispersal as a ewe lamb.
Following her to lift the blue and white ribbons amongst the females was Bennachie Barbie, a ewe lamb from Aberdeenshire breeder, Pat Imlah. Previously unshown, she is by the imported French ram, Charbonnier Tres Bonne, which has bred several champion winners for the flock and out of Bennachie Williamina, after Pat’s late mother.
Balvaird Best of the Best lived up to his name too for Euan Campbell of Balvaird Rouge, Muir of Ord, when he was presented the reserve male rosette. A Valentine’s Day-born ram lamb, he is a son of Tullyvallan Allrounder, a ram bought in Dungannon, last year, out of Tullyvallen Witney – one of only six ewes owned by Mr Campbell, who is Watson Seeds specialist for the Highlands, Islands and North of Scotland.
Beltex
“The best quality show of Beltex sheep I have ever seen and judged,” was how Mary Dunlop, of the Corstane flock, from Broughton, Biggar, described her show, which boasted the largest entries in the sheep lines.
Mrs Dunlop who has been breeding Beltex since they were first imported in 1989 and exhibiting here since the first classes were introduced, added that the gimmer class was 'exceptional throughout' for quality.
It was, however, the first prize tup lamb that took her eye to claim supreme for first time exhibitor, Liam Swinnerton's Lipley flock, from Shropshire. His early February-born lamb is a son of Ardstewart Fred Flintstone, a tup bought as a shearling and shared with Paul Tippets. Full brother to a 20,000gns Lipley ram lamb sold last year at Carlisle, his dam is the 2400gns Woodies I-Candy, one of only 10 ewes in the flock. He is destined for the breed sale at Carlisle.
Standing next to him to take the reserve was the female champion, a ewe lamb and the first to be exhibited from Paul Tippetts and Gerwyn Jones’ new Pager flock from Shropshire. An ET March-born lamb, he is the result of a flush from a Corra ewe bought last year and sired by the 11,000gns Buckles Fury, purchased as a lamb at Carlisle.
Ironically, Buckles Fury, a three-shear ram owned by the Ingrams, from Logie Durno, Pitcaple, Inverurie, picked up the runner up male honours. Champion at Black Isle and the sire of ram lambs that have sold to 24,000gns at Carlisle, Fury is a son of Gyffin Dexter bred from the top breeding show ewe, College Adele.
Taking the blue and white sash amongst the females was a home-bred one-crop ewe from Procters Farm, Lancs, brought out by Jeff and Jennifer Aiken. Inter-breed champion at Great Harwood, she is a daughter of Rathbone Desperado, out of a home-bred ewe by Rathbone Wallace.
Zwartbles
Twice reserve winners – Nicola, Rowan and Struan Henderson's Aquila flock, Stirling – finally bagged the supreme trophy amongst the charismatic Zwartbles, when their Aquila Jitterbug was tapped out champion.
Their one-crop ewe stood reserve at the Royal Highland Showcase in 2021, stood champion at Gargunnock and Stirling Shows, last month and is bred from Aquila Dragonfly, a second prize winner at the Great Yorkshire, and by the privately purchased Janetstown Hallmark.
Dunblane-based breeder, Ally Baird's Greystones flock was also in the tickets winning the reserve with the gimmer, Olbre Kate, which was bought at Carlisle, last year for 900gns from Aaron Breeze and went on to stand first in her class at West Fife Show, last month. She boasts Colin Rae’s Wallacetown breeding on both sides, being sired by Wallacetown Carbon and out of Wallacetown Christine.
Dumfries-based Mr Rae also had plenty to celebrate, taking the top two awards in the males. His winner was the two-shear ram, East Middle Jezki of which a half share was bought from Stuart Craig. Male champion here last year and unbeaten throughout 2022, this East Middle Galileo son out of Whitestone Grace was also first at Cumberland and Northumberland Shows.
His son, Wallacetown Lachlan, a tup lamb that also won a red rosette at Cumberland Show, was reserve male for Mr Rae. His dam is a Brothertown gimmer by Craigies Dictator, bought privately from Ann Dow.
Scotch Mule
Archie and John MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth, continued on their winning ways, winning a second championship with a ewe lamb.
The father and son duo who earlier in the day topped the Blackface sheep section, landed their first Scotch Mule title here with a March-born lamb by a Firth sire bought at Kelso, last year. She is out of a home-bed Allanfauld ewe and stood reserve inter-breed at Stirling Show.
Last year’s champion, a home-bred ewe lamb from the Wights, at Midlock, Crawford, had to settle for the reserve honours when shown as a gimmer. She is sired by the M2 Asby Hall tup bought at Hawes as a lamb, and out of a home-bred ewe.
Bleu du Maine
One of the best known Bleu du Maine show sheep at present, a home-bred two-crop ewe from Cheshire breeder, Sally Shone, Malpas, produced a second championship win for her 40-ewe Maximum flock.
Her star performer, shown by son Fin, was Maximum Treacle, this year’s National Show champion winner from the Three Counties, which also stood first in her class at last year’s National. Sired by a Perdi ram bought privately from the late Percy Tait, she is out of Maximum Pancake, a Perdi Morris daughter that produced the 2021 champion lamb at Carlisle.
Following her to take the reserve female and overall was a home-bred gimmer from Calum Cruden’s Standingstones flock from Dyce, Aberdeen. She is a daughter of the retained sire, Standingstones Ramos and out of a Perdi-bred ewe bought at the flock dispersal.
A tup lamb on his show debut from Joyce and Neil Millar, Lockerbie, topped the males. This ET lamb born early January is the result of a flush from the 2019 reserve overall champion here, Aviemore Ruby, which was bought as a ewe lamb, and sired by a home-bred son of a Perdi ram.
Last year’s male champion, Haydon Victory, a two-shear ram from Andrew Wyllie and his father Brian, Balbrydie, Kirriemuir, had to settle with the blue and white ribbons. He was bought at Carlisle and was on his first outing since last year’s event.
Shetland
Kate Sharp's Ewingston flock, from Humbie, has been on a winning streak all year, which continued at Ingliston when she not only won her fifth championship here but also the reserve overall.
Supreme was the white gimmer, Ewingston Rose, a daughter of her 2022 Highland Show champion, Ewingston Jack Frost that sold up to Shetland with the judge, out of a Ewingston Lily. Rose was first at Fife Show and second at West Fife.
Doing the double for the first time at Ingliston, Ewingston Milo, a home-bred white shearling ram landed the male championship and reserve overall. Reserve male champion at last year’s Great Yorkshire Show, Milo’s pedigree features Muncaster Kalib onto Greenacre Gysey Rose, a ewe bought from Andrew Bain that was also wool on the hoof champion at the 2022 Great Yorkshire.
Coloured champion and recipient of the Douglas Perpetual Quaich was, for the first time, the exhibitor who presented the trophy 30 years ago – Rena Douglas, of the Drum flock from Craigrothie, Cupar. Her best, Drum Angus, a two-shear ram which has since been sold to a flock in Sutherland, is backed by home-bred genetics on both sides
A black ewe lamb from John Steven and family's Rosebank flock, Currie, scooped the award for the best lamb. Rosebank Xanthia, by Rosebank Richard, is out of the privately purchased, black ewe, Galtress Xinetica. She was on her show debut.
Shetland wool also won the NSA fleece competition. This was a white gimmer fleece from Fiona and Archie Hipwell, Kinross. The gimmer was is by Orion of Cockairney and out of Ivory Cockairney.
Blue Texel
The decision to bring a sole entry for their first time exhibiting proved fruitful for Northern Ireland breeders, Allen Shortt and Samantha Allen, when their Derg Glitter went on to lift the supreme overall.
Their gimmer, which was being exhibited because Mr Shortt was also the official adjudicator of the Dutch Spotted section, proved so successful that she also went on to take honourary mention in the inter-breed competition.
The result of a frozen embryo purchased at the Hackney dispersal, she is the result of a flush from the 28,000gns Hackney Cashmaker and sired by Sunnybank Exchange. She won the National breed show as a lamb and also stood champion at Balmoral Show, in May.
Male champion and reserve overall was Stephanie Dick’s Stephick Hitman, a previously unshown tup lamb and the result of a flush from the 4000gns Whatmore Dream, purchased from Henry Jewitt. The sire is Cynllwyn Golden Boy.
A full sister to Iona Brisbane’s champion here last year that went on to win the same award at the Royal Welsh, won the silverware for reserve female for Neil and Joyce Millar’s Joyfield flock, from Lockerbie. Previously unshown, this two-crop Saltire-bred ewe bought at Carlisle in 2021 from Aberdeenshire breeder, Stasa Moyse, is a result of a flush from her show ewe, Saltire A Beauty. The sire is Caryls Captain.
Aberdeenshire equine vet, Deborah Atkinson, again took the award for the reserve male with a two-shear ram from her 20-strong Tap o’ Noth ewe flock. Her star performer was Bal-Tor Blues Firework, bred by Ailsa McWilliam, Girvan and purchased at Carlisle as a lamb for 2500gns. He is by Saltire Blue Avitar, bred from Dejae Baabs and was on his show debut.
Valais Blacknose
The second year of competitive classes for the breed at Ingliston, provided a winner in Ricky and Lauren Hardens’s home-bred ewe hogg, Hardens Jasmine from Hardens View, Duns.
A daughter of Beatties Harrison, a tup used on loan from Simon Hyslop, this unbeaten ewe lamb was also champion at Drymen Show last month. She is out of a ewe by Hardens Bell – one of 20 ewes in the flock established in 2014.
Male champion and reserve overall was a previously unshown March-born ram lamb from Robert and Katrina Taylor's Whiterigg flock, Falkirk. A son of Deepdale Harley, a ram used on loan from Tom Blackwood, he is out of Whiterigg Isla, a maximum pointed female by Prendwick Tiger Tim.
The Taylors' genetics were also behind the runner up male, Whiterigg Jubilee Royale, a shearling ram from first time competitor, Julie Eley of the Kinaldy flock from Blair Atholl. Jubilee Royale which was bought privately, is a son of the show tup, Moorahill Godfather and out of Ayrshire Gina – one of only nine ewes fin the flock.
A home-bred gimmer that was champion at the Royal Bath and West from Cheshire breeder, Steven Dace, Alderley Edge, took the blue and white female ribbons. She is by Westmorland Frankie and out of Cheshire Giselle.
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