National shows for the Hereford and Limousin cattle staged at Perth

Torrential rain forecast had the good manners to steer clear at least until the afternoon proceedings, allowing most of the judging in the morning to be completed in the dry. However, selection for the prestigious champion of champions – judged on a points system by the inter-breed judges – was hard hit and the parade of livestock was cancelled as a result.

Despite torrential rain, Jim Greenhill and his daughter Louise had plenty to celebrate when their world champion Clydesdale, Tulloes Emily, was tapped out as supreme overall.

Their show stopper from Upper Tulloes, Forfar, is a three-year-old filly by Arradoul Balvenie, out of Tulloes Lady Jane, and boasts several championships before her big win at the World Championships at Aberdeen, last year. Since then, she has only been shown twice, winning the supreme at the Stallion Show earlier in the year and at Angus Show, in May.

For the overall championship, she was up against the inter-breed beef, sheep, and goat winners, with the former being the winner of the Scottish Limousin Club’s Grand Prix. This was Ian and Moyra Nimmo and son Andrew’s Maraiscote Tangerine, a two-year-old heifer from Wishaw, paraded by Sophie Harvey, which earlier scooped the inter-breed heifer honours. Another big show winner this year, this Slibh Felim Mourinho daughter was reserve and junior inter-breed champion at the Royal Highland and champion at Biggar and the Great Yorkshire.

Inter-breed beef judge, Allen Drysdale, Blairgowrie, found his reserve in Wilson Peters’ commercial heifer, Sassparilla, a two-year-old home-bred Limousin cross that also boasts a kist load of awards to include an overall champion of champions title from Fife and Alyth Shows.

Inter-breed beef champion was the Limousin, Maraiscote Tangerine from Ian Nimmo

A strong entry of Limousins forward for the Grand Prix ensured the breed won the inter-breed pairs too. The winning duo, comprised young bulls from Thomas and Stephen Illingworth’s Glenrock herd and included Glenrock Topgun – the reserve breed champion, and Glenrock Terminator.

Aberdeen Angus from new breeder, Norman Bellfield, Cheshire, but paraded by Richard and Carol Rettie and the team, scooped the reserve inter-breed pairs, while a Beef Shorthorn heifer owned by the Retties, bagged the reserve inter-breed heifer title.

Robert Neill, Dunning, also had a big task in selecting the supreme sheep and inter-breed sheep pairs from no fewer than 12 breeds/sections, but soon whittled the numbers down, finding his overall in a Texel gimmer from Robert Cockburn’s Knap flock from Errol.

Securing a fourth inter-breed sheep title here for the 35-strong ewe flock was a gimmer by the 24,000gns New View Electrifying, out of Knap Daisy Duke – the National Show winner at Carlisle, in 2021.

The gimmer, which stood first at Turriff Show and third at the Royal Highland, then teamed up with Mr Cockburn’s male champion, a home-bred shearling ram also by the New View sire, but bred from Daisy Duke’s dam.

Suffolks were also in the money, with the breed champion, a previously unshown gimmer from Robert Bryce, Chalmerston, bagging the reserve individual. She is Redbrae Jagerbomb, and out of a home-bred ewe by Leitrim Lucky Lad.

Taking the runner up sash in the pairs, was a Suffolk duo, a tup lamb and ewe lamb from Gordon and Donald Mackie, Drimmie.

The event also included the Scottish National Hereford Show, which was won by the rising three-year-old bull, Coley 1 Vincent, the breed leader at the Royal Highland and Northumberland Shows, paraded by Andrew Hughes.

LEADING awards

Tonely Ranald was the Charolais champion for Brailes Livestock

Charolais (Judge: C Wight, Lanarkshire). Champion – R Hassell and R Wyllie, Brailes Livestock, with the three-year-old bull, Tonley Ranald, a son of Silver Josh, out of Tonley Nancy. Purchased for 11,000gns at Stirling. Brought out the by Retties, male champion and reserve breed champion at the Great Yorkshire, male champion and a member of the winning group of five and the winning group of three at the Royal Welsh and reserve pairs at the Royal Welsh. Reserve – Brailes Livestock with Gower Sequin, a 22-month-old heifer by the French AI sire, Hatenon, out of Gower Insignia, also brought out by the Retties. Champion at Fife, breed champion and reserve inter-breed junior at the Great Yorkshire, inter-breed junior continental champion at the Royal Welsh. Senior bull, senior heifer, pair, group of three – Brailes Livestock. Junior bull – M Lyle. Cow, junior heifer, calf – Major D Walter.

Limousin Scottish Club Show (Judge: T Russell, Stirling). Champion, inter-breed heifer champion and inter-breed beef champion – I Nimmo, with the two-year-old heifer, Maraiscote Tangerine, by the €11,000gns Roscrea purchase, Slibh Felim Mourinho, out of the Bassingfield Machoman daughter, Maraiscote Orange. Paraded by Sophie Harvey, reserve and junior inter-breed champion at the Royal Highland, champion at the Great Yorkshire and at Biggar. Reserve – R and J Graham, with Graham’s Ruth, a three-year-old by Claragh Franco, out of the French cow, Gigue, shown by Stewart and Lynsey Bett. Inter-breed champion at Drymen, Stirling, Gargunnock, Royal Highland and the Royal Welsh. Male champion – Stephanie Dick, with Ronick Sabotage, a November 2021-born son of Wilodge Granville, out of Ronick Nailsa. To be retained as a stock bull. Reserve male, inter-breed young bull and a member of the inter-breed pairs – S and T Illingworth, with Glenrock Topgun, a 17-month-old son of the 14,000gns Goldies Oxo, out of Eagleside Novalia. He made up part of the inter-breed pairs with the similarly aged Topgun Terminator, by Goldies Northstar. Yearling bull, bull born in 2021, yearling heifer, cow – S Dick. Bull born April 1, 2022-May 31, 2022, heifer born April 1, 2022-May 31, 2022 – I Nimmo. Bull born Jan 1, 2022-Mar 31, 2022 – S and T Illingworth. Senior bull, heifer born Jan 1, 2022-Mar 31, 2022, heifer born Jan 1, 2021- May 31, 2021 – Aileen Ritchie. Three-year-old heifer – R and J Graham.

Heather Duff's Pitmudie Montana was Simmental champion

Simmental (Judge: C Wight, Lanarkshire). Champion – Heather Duff with the two-year-old heifer, Pitmudie Montana, a daughter of Over Hillhouse Eragon, out of Pitmudie Éclair. Fifth at the Royal Highland and a member of the inter-breed pairs and groups of three at Angus, Kirriemuir and Banchory. Reserve – Heather Duff’s Pitmudie Nala, a 15-month-old heifer by Over Hillhouse Eragon, out of Pitmudie Glitzy. Champion and overall champion of champions at Fettercairn, inter-breed beef at Kirriemuir and reserve at Banchory. All classes – H Duff.

Aberdeen-Angus (Judge: D Allen, Northumberland). Champion – Brailes Livestock, with Carbery Urban Boss, a 21/2-year-old by Rawburn Boss Hogg, out of Rosscarbery Lady Hawaii, shown with calf at foot, brought out by Retties. Champion at Stirling, female champion and member of winning inter-breed pair at National Show at Turriff. Reserve – N Bellfield, with Daneside Bombadier, an ET December 2021-born son of Gretnahouse Blacksmith, bred from Tonley Brenda, brought out by the Retties. Reserve male at Turriff and bound for October Bull Sales at Stirling. Senior bull, pair – N Bellfield. Junior bull – M Lyle. Cow, senior heifer, junior heifer, calf – Brailes Livestock.

Beef Shorthorn (Judge: G Irving, Yarrow). Champion and reserve inter-breed heifer – Brenda Wear, with Dunsyre Gigha 42, a yearling heifer by Dunsyre Lord Nelson, out of Dunsyre Gigha 27, bought at herd dispersal alongside her dam. Champion at Turriff, champion yearling heifer at Great Yorkshire 2023; champion at Agri Expo 2022. Brought out by the Retties. Reserve – R and Carol Rettie, with Aberdona Rothes Layla, a six-year-old cow by Cairnsmore Thresher, out of Wavendon Rothes Mynah. Reserve female at the Royal Highland, champion and reserve inter-breed beef champion at Dunblane. Senior bull, intermediate bull – A Haigh. Junior bull, cow, senior heifer, pair – R and C Rettie. Junior heifer – B Wear. Calf – Balnabroich Farms.

National Hereford champion was Coley 1 Vincent, shown by Andrew Hughes

Hereford Scottish National (Judge: I Wilkinson, Perthshire). Champion – L Jackson-Carr, with the three-year-old bull, Coley 1 Vincent, by Fabb 1 Northern Starr, out of Gouldingpoll 1 Duch-ess, shown by Andrew Hughes. Champion at Northumberland and the Royal Highland. Reserve – G and Sophie Harvey, with the 16-month-old bull, Harveybros 1 Willy-The-Womaniser, by Wirruna Matt out of Harveybros 1 Crocus N1. Champion at Drymen, Gargunnock, Stirling, Dunblane, junior champion at the Royal Highland and reserve at the Royal Welsh. Female champion – Audrey Anderson, with Panmure I Plum W1, a 20-month-old heifer by Romany 1 Distiller, out of Panmure 1 Plum P10. Senior champion at Stars of the Future in November 2022. Reserve female – G Dunbar, with the Drumboy 1 Sophia, a five-year-old shown with November-born calf at foot. Sired by Romany 1 Distiller, out of Fisher Drumboy 1 Olivia. Former champion at Catrine and Ayr. Champion AOB native at Newmilns 2023. Yearling heifer, bull born Mar 1, 2022-Jul 31, 2022– G and S Harvey. Heifer born Mar 1, 2022-July 31, 2022 – JA Cameron and Son. Heifer born Aug 1, 2021-Feb 28, 2022 – A Anderson. Female born Aug 1, 2020-Jul 31, 2021, bull born Aug 1, 2021-Feb 28, 2022 – I Skea. Cow – G Dunbar. Senior bull, bull born on or after Aug 1, 2022, pair – A Hughes.

Highland (Judge: A McArthur, Argyll). Champion – Balnabroich Farms, with the three-year-old heifer, Sidonia 12 of Balnabroich, by Angus Ruadh of Wester Croachy, out of Sidonia 4 at Balnabroich. Champion at Alyth and Kirriemuir. Reserve – G Easton, with the two-year-old heifer, Vicky of Ranch, by Donnachadh Ruadh 4 of Mottistone, out of Fraoch 19 of Achmore. First at Great Yorkshire. Bull – A Polson. Three-year-old heifer – Balnabroich Farms. Two-year-old heifer – G Easton. Yearling heifer – Drumad Estate. Calf – S Howie.

Any other native (Judge: G Irving, Yarrow). Champion – A Mylius and Partners, with St Fort Atlas Junior, a 27-month-old Lincoln Red bull by St Fort Xcalier out of St Fort Anne, champion at Fife and reserve at the Royal Highland. Reserve – A Mylius and Partners, with the yearling bull, St Fort Baliff, a Ballyvaddy Warlord son out of St Fort Hetty. Champion at the Royal Highland and the Great Yorkshire. Two entries.

Commercial (Judge: A Wyllie, Ayrshire). Champion – W Peters, with the two-year-old heifer, Sassparilla, a home-bred black Limousin cross heifer by Carmorn Lionbar out of a British Blue cross cow. Member of the inter-breed team at Ayr, champion of champions at Fife and Alyth; inter-breed beef at Braco; champion at Kirriemuir. Reserve – A Gammie, with the 17-month-old bullock, Top Boy, bred by Hugh and Stewart Dunlop, by Johnstown Premier. Champion at the Spring Show, West Fife, male champion at the Royal Highland and reserve male at the Great Yorkshire. Stot born before July 31, 2022 – A Gammie. Stot born Aug 1, 2022-Dec 31, 2022, heifer born July 31, 2022, pair, bred pair – W Peters. Heifer calf born Aug 1, 2022-Dec 31, 2022, champion baby calf – J Robertson and Co. Heifer calf born after Jan 1, 2023 – I Miller.

Cattle young handlers (Judge: G Irving). 1, Ruby Simpson; 2, Sam Vance; 3, Ruby Rowbottom.

Goats (Judge: Anke Sieker, Melrose). Champion – Mr and Mrs O Southwood, with the British Toggenburg, Guilden Gypsum, by Guilden Eton, out of Guilden Gemmeni. Reserve – Ailene Charlton, with the seven-year-old pygmy female, Brucklay Harmony, by Moorview Hysopp out of Brucklay Bess. White female in milk, coloured female in milk, coloured goatling, Anglo Nubian goatling, coloured kid, Anglo Nubian kid – O Southwood. Adult pygmy female, pygmy goatling, pet goat – A Charlton. Pygmy kid – Clare Bailey. Young handlers – Cerys Southwood.

Clydesdales (Judge: A Christie, Balfron). Champion and overall champion of champions – J Greenhill, with Tulloes Emily, a three-year-old filly by Arradoul Balvenie out of Tulloes Lady Jane. World champion at Aberdeen Clydesdale Show, 2022; champion at the Stallion Show and Angus, 2023. Reserve – R Sibbald with the yearling filly, Shielhill Platinum Queen, by Macfin Starlight, out of Shielhill Diamond Jubilee. Yearling male – B Ferguson. Brood mareare – K Wilson. Foal – Natalie Leslie. Yeld mare – R Brewster. Three-year-old filly – J Greenhill. Two-year-old filly – J Fairbairn. Yearling filly – R Sibbald. Young handlers – Blythe Duncan. Ridden – Yvonne Pringle. Driven heavy horse and HOYS qualifier – R Brewster.

Highland ponies (Judge: Heather Fisher, Glasgow). Champion – Dr Wendy Taylor, with the seven-year-old yeld mare, Royal Amber of Sunnyneuk, by Lochlands Military Piper, out of Rheanna of Sunnyneuk. Champion and supreme native at Fife, supreme horse at Angus. Reserve – A Baird, with the seven-year-old brood mare, Yvetta of Whitefield, by Whitefield Prince Platinum, out of Moyra of Whitefield. Stallion – R and K Stewart. Gelding – Fiona Bell. Yeld mare – Dr Wendy Taylor. Brood mare, foal – A Baird. Three-year-old – Rebecca Chalmers. Two-year-old – WD Simpson. Yearling – WKA and JA Allan. Ridden – Judith Strange and Fiona Robertson.

Shetland ponies (Judge: D Gibson, Leeds). Champion and supreme Shetland – Eynhallow Stud with Eynhallow Prism, a three-year-old colt by Harviestoun Drum, out of Eynhallow Linny. First at Stallion Show and at the Black Isle. Reserve ¬ Sarah Ross, Transy Stud, with the seven-year-old yeld mare, Roserio of Transy, by Dalton vs Bunsward, out of Rosekate of Transy. Stallion, two-three-year-old male – Eynhallow Stud. Gelding, yeld mare – Sarah Ross. Brood mare – Mawburn Shetlands. Foal – Donna Lochtie. Two-three-year-old filly – Murrin Thomson. Yearling – Susan Bridgeman. Young handlers – 7-11yrs – Olivia Lochtie. 12-16yrs – Annina Leavey.

Miniature Shetland (Judge: Emma Gibson, Leeds). Champion – Lynda Cochrane, with Abbeygreen Kelda, a three-year-old filly By Chewvalley Alfie, out of Gott Kule. Reserve – Lynda Cochrane, with Snelsmore Ursula, a six-year-old mare by Snelsmore Mandrake, out of Snelsmore Oasis. Stallion, two-three-year-old filly – L Cochrane. Brood mare – Charlotte Mills. Yearling – Claire Andrews. Two-three-year-old male – A Thonley. Ridden – Sophie Bettie.

Donkeys (Judge: E Lewis, Gainsborough). Champion – Lorraine Rae with Bluemanor Monte Carlo. Reserve – Nicki Donaldson with Lucy Lexy of Oldmill.

Euan Mill won the Border Leicesters

Border Leicester (Judge: A Watson, Galashiels). Champion – E Mill, with a gimmer by Mearns Thunder Struck, out of a home-bred ewe by Intock Quality. Reserve at West Fife, third at the Royal Highland. Reserve – R Brown, with a ram lamb by a Clola sire out of a home-bred ewe. First at Fife, destined for the breed sale at Lanark.

Robert Bryce won the Suffolk championship and was reserve inter-breed sheep

Suffolk (Judge: A Stewart, Fife). Champion and reserve inter-breed sheep – R Bryce, with a gimmer by Redbrae Jagerbomb, out of a home-bred ewe by Leitrim Lucky Lad. First outing. Reserve – R Bryce, with a shearling ram by the same sire, out of a home-bred ewe by Tullywinney Thomas. Bound for UA Stirling sale, mid September. Aged ram, shearling ram, ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb – R Bryce. Ram lamb, pair, reserve inter-breed pair – G Mackie. Untrimmed lamb pair – TA Sands.

Blackface North-type (Judge: S Adams, Northern Ireland) Champion – D Baillie, with a gimmer by a home-bred ram that was a twin of the £18,000 Calla, by an 8500gns Thomas Harkin, out of a home-bred ewe. First outing. Reserve – Cadogan Estate, Achnacloich, with a shearling ram bought from Sean McCosker at Ballymena, last year for 10,000gns after shepherd, Ben McKinnon, placed him pre-sale champion. He is by a 950gns Billy Grant tup. Aged ram, shearling ram, ewe lamb, pair – Cadogan Estate. Ram lamb – M Hamilton. Ewe, gimmer – D Baillie. Two-shear – T and M Paterson.

Blackface South-type (Judge: W Dunlop, East Lothian). Champion – S Heads, with a one-crop ewe by a £13,000 Gass, Straiton, out of a ewe by a £20,000 Aitkenhead. First outing. Reserve – M Hamilton, with a gimmer by a £10,000 Crossflatt, out of a home-bred ewe. First outing. Shearling ram, gimmer – M Hamilton. Aged ram, ewe, ewe lamb – S Heads. Ram lamb – T and M Paterson.

Cheviot champion from Andrew Polson

Cheviot (Judge: A McCarthy, Dundee). Champion – A Polson, with a gimmer by the privately purchased Durran Baccarat. First at Echt, second at New Deer. Reserve – Andrew Polson, with a ram lamb by an Achscrabster tup bought at Quoybrae 2022. Aged ram, shearling ram, ram lamb, gimmer, pair – A Polson. Ewe – A Grant. Ewe lamb – A and J Morris.

Any other breed MV accredited (Judge: A Stewart, Fife). Champion – T Sands, with a Charollais shearling ram by a Foulrice tup bought at Kelso, out of a home-bred ewe. First outing, bound for Kelso Ram sales. Reserve – T Sands with a three-crop Charollais ewe by a Lyonpark tup, out of a home-bred ewe. First outing. All classes – T Sands.

Bluefaced Leicester (Judge: A Watson, Galashiels). Champion – D Macniven, with a five-shear ram got by semen from a Hedden Valley sire owned by Martyn Archer, out of a home-bred ewe. Reserve – D Macniven, with a five-crop ewe by the same sire, out of a home-bred ewe. First outing. All classes D Macniven.

Any other breed non-MV accredited (Judge: R Wood, Biggar). Champion – R Morris, with a home-bred three-shear Kerry Hill ram, by a Calcot sire bought at Ludlow. Reserve – Masters Jack and Andrew Robertson, with a three-crop Mid Shawtonhill-bred Blue Texel ewe gifted to them by Santa. First time shown. Aged ram, shearling ram, gimmer – R Morris. Ram lamb, pair – Jennifer McLaren. Ewe – J Robertson and Co. Ewe lamb – C Nicholson.

Texel champion and inter-breed sheep was Robert Cockburn's Texel gimmer

Texel (Judge: K Jarvie, Dunblane). Champion, inter-breed sheep and inter-breed pairs – R Cockburn, with a gimmer by the 24,000gn New View Electrifying, bred from the former National champion, Knap Daisy Duke. First at Turriff, third at the Royal Highland. Reserve – R Cockburn with a one-crop ewe by Sportmans Cannonball, bought at the Festive Crackers sale from Ally Breen, Drumderg for 2800gns. Third at Lesmahagow. All classes – R Cockburn.

Lleyn (Judge: H Gillan, Cupar) Champion – D and Becky Henderson, with a gimmer by a Laga sire, out of a home-bred ewe. First at Fettercairn, second at the Royal Highland. Reserve – F McGowan, with a three-shear Thistleyhaugh ram bought privately from Duncan Nelles, by a Thistleyhaugh sire. Sire of 12 shearling rams for sale at on-farm Farm Genes Sale next month. Aged ram – F McGowan. Tup lamb, ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb, pair – D and B Henderson.

Lleyn champion from David and Becky Henderson

Beltex (Judge: R Wood, Biggar). Champion – A Morton, with a shearling ram by Gyffin Dexter out of a Clary ewe. First outing and to be sold at Carlisle breed sale on Friday. Reserve – I and A Reid, with a home-bred gimmer by Mortons Emanuel, out of a Kingledores-bred ewe. Aged ram, shearling ram, ewe lamb – A Morton. Ram lamb, ewe, gimmer – I and A Reid.

Andrew Morton won the Beltex championship with this shearling

Cross sheep (Judge: R Henderson, Perthshire). Champion – M Rattray, with a pen of three end of April-born Beltex cross ewe lambs by a Wannops sire bought at Carlisle last year, out of home-bred Beltex cross ewes. Scaled 44kg, first at Braco. Reserve – J Guthrie, with a pen of three mid-April-born Beltex lambs by a Lochend sire bought at Stirling in 2022, out of home-bred Beltex cross ewes. First outing. Breeding sheep – Kim Stretch, with a pen of three Texel cross gimmers out of Cheviot Mules. Three cross-bred ewes – K Stretch. Three cross gimmers – R Morris. Three Mule gimmers, three native-bred lambs – M and J McLaren. Three ewe lambs, three lightweight continental lambs – J Guthrie. Three heavyweight continental lambs – M Rattray.

Sheep young handlers – Under 12yrs – 1, Alfie Wood; 2, Murray Knox; 3, Brodie Henderson. 13-16yrs – 1 and champion, Charlie Simpson; 2, Bo Taylor; 3, Rory Wood.

JAC Butchers’ lambs – Champion – Ben MacDonald. Reserve – Struan Whyte