Biggar Show: The Hodge's Aberdeen Angus heifer takes all

The April 2023-born maiden heifer, Rulesmains Priceless Z872 is sired by Blelack Lord Heartford, a bull bought privately prior to the Blelack dispersal, whilst the dam, Rulesmains Priceless T886, is a former show cow.

Champions of champions judge, Matthew Hamilton, Woolfords, West Calder, commented: “She is a really good pedigree animal but still has all the qualities a commercial animal requires. She caught my eye with her character.”

AOB champion was the Aberdeen Angus from Emma Hodge which went on to stand champions of champions Ref: RH200724087

Runner up in the beef lines, was Jack, a 16-month-old Limousin cross bullock from Lucy Clark, West Shawtonhill, Chapelton, Strathaven. The bullock, by Ampertaine Lance, was bred by Hugh Mackinnon, Tiree, and purchased at the Oban calf sale in December.

@thescottishfarmer Cattle judging underway at Biggar Show #biggarshow ♬ original sound - The Scottish Farmer

An added attraction was the Scottish National Hereford Show which attracted 32 entries and saw another big win for Milovaig 1 Vindicator, for Martin Poyser and daughters, Molly, Maisie and Hope, New Aberdour, Fraserburgh. Their three-year-old bull by Shraden 1 Perostroika, was champion of champions at Echt Show the previous week.

Beltex champion from the Wood family took the sheep inter-breed Ref: RH200724092

Leading the sheep section and taking the reserve champions of champions was a Beltex two-crop ewe from Richard Wood and his father John, Kingledores. Claiming their first sheep inter-breed here for the 25 ewe flock was Kingledores Gina G, which was described by Mr Hamilton as ‘an excellent example of the breed.’

Champion at Lesmahagow Show, Gina G is a daughter of Skiddaw View Endurance, and out of Kingledores Betty Boo which is a former Royal Highland Show winner. She is the dam of their second tup lamb for the breed sale at Carlisle.

Mule and reserve inter-breed sheep champion from the Dawyck flock Ref: RH200724083

The Thornborrows, Dawyck, were awarded the reserve sheep honours with their Scotch Mule ewe lamb by an Auld Tinnis shearling purchased at the Kelso Ram Sales.

The Scottish National Texel show was also staged and saw a ewe lamb from Archie and John MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth, emerge triumphant. This Februaryborn lamb is a daughter of Knap Godzilla, a tup purchased out of Worcester for 8000gns.

Texel champion from the MacGregor family Ref: RH200724090

Colin Laird and family, Blythbridge Holsteins, took the dairy championship with their second calved Holstein, Washfold Royal Leona, which is jointly owned with Metcalf farms. Classified VG87 as a heifer, she calved in May and is giving 60 litres.

Dairy champion was the Holstein from the Laird family Ref: RH200724081

There was a third consecutive Clydesdale win here too for Doura Sorrento from the Dunbars, East Fairybank, Newhouse. This three-year-old was bred by Charlotte Young, and is sired by Doura Magic Touch.

Doura Sorrento took the Clydesdale horse supreme for the Dunbars for the third consecutive year here Ref: RH200724098

LEADING awards

Dairy cattle (Judge: M Yates, East Logan, Castle Douglas). Champion and dairy supreme – Messrs Laird, Blythbridge Holsteins, with the second calver, Washfold Royal Leona, which is jointly owned with Metcalf Farms. A daughter of Blondin J Crown Royal, she is out of the Ex92 classified dam, Washfold Lambda Leona. Classified VG87 as a heifer, she calved in May and is giving 60litres per day. Reserve – A and E Lawrie, Grangehall, Lanark, with the fourth calver, Grangehall Amino Stella Ex91, which was reserve here two years ago. She is sired by Logan Amino and bred from Grangehall Dreamweaver Stella VG87. Calved in May she is giving 60l. Quey, cow in calf – A and E Lawrie. Cow in milk – C Laird.

Jersey (Judge: M Yates). Champion and reserve – D Hume, Kingsbeck, Coulter Haugh, Coulter. Supreme was the heifer in milk, Kingsbeck Webcam Celery, which calved two months ago. A daughter of Unique Webcam she is out of Kingsbeck Celery and is giving 30l. Runner up was Kingsbeck Goergie, a second calver on its first outing. She is sired by VJ Bybmose Samson Sort, out of a Danish-bred cow, is giving 32l per day having calved in April. All classes – Kingsbeck. Young handlers – Dairy – Under 12 – 1, Matthew Gray; 2, Murray Lawrie; 3, Cameron Lawrie. Aged 12-16yrs – 1, Cayden Lawrie. Beef – Under 12 – 1, James Reive. Aged 12-16yrs – 1, Molly Poyser; 2, Ella Burgess; 3, Lucy Clark.

Charolais champion from J Forrest Ref: RH200724082

Charolais (Judge: J Mackay Parker, Auchenairney, Kirkmichael). Champion – A and JJ Forrest, Roberton, with the January 2023-born home-bred bull, Ladygill Uptonogood. A son of Coolnaslee Natan, he is out of Ladygill Naughtybutnice. Reserve – C Wight, Carwood, Biggar, with the 14-month-old bull, Carwood Uist. He is from the first crop of calves sired by the 20,000gns Westcarse Ruler, and out of Carwood Leona, an Elgin Emperor daughter. He is destined for Stirling Bull Sales in February. Bull – A and JJ Forrest. Cow or heifer in calf – J and E Wight. Yeld heifer – C Wight.

British Blue champion from Kelly Blackwood Ref: RH200724086

British Blue (Judge: J Mackay Parker). Champion – K Blackwood, Nether Abington, Biggar, with the February-born bull, Blackstane Triumph, a son of Abington Nitro, bred from Blackstane Little Princess. Reserve – G Scott, Gateside, Linlithgow, with the two-year-old bull, Thistle Show A Leg, which is a son of Bedgebury Kent, bred from Solway View Kesha. Champion at West Fife Show. Bull – K Blackwood. Cow – A and S Comrie. Yeld heifer – G Scott.

Lucy Clark's commercial cattle champion Ref: RH200724079

Prime cattle (Judge: R Prentice, Downfield, Ladybank). Champion – L Clark, West Shawtonhill, Chapelton, Strathaven, with Jack, a 16-month-old Limousin cross bullock. Bred by Hugh Mackinnon, Tiree, he was purchased at the Oban calf sale in December. Sired by Ampertaine Lance, he is destined for the back end shows. Reserve – L Graham, Greenshields, Biggar, with a Limousin cross bullock purchased at Lanark from Buteland. Bullock – L Clark. Young Farmers – L Graham.

Beef cow and calf (Judge: R Prentice). Champion – The Warnocks, Dreva Farm, Broughton, with a cow and spring-born calf. Reserve – I Minto, Townhead, with a cow with spring-born native-bred heifer calf. Cow with spring-born native-bred bull calf; group of cows and calves, minimum 12 in a field – T Lang, Parduvine, Rosewell. Cow with spring-born native-bred heifer calf – I Minto. Cow with spring-born bull calf; cow with spring-born heifer calf – Dreva Farm. Native cow and native calf – A and B Allison, Fernielea, Carnwath.

Highland cattle champion from Dexter and Carolyn Logan Ref: RH200724080

Highland cattle (Judge: W McLean, Inverglen, Barcaldine). Champion – D and C Logan, Greenhead, Alva, with the twoyear-old heifer, Bonnie of Blairlogan. First time exhibiting here, she was champion at Stirling and first in her class at the Highland Show. A daughter of Cameron of Sguir Mor, she is bred from Mairina Ciatach 14 of Glengorm. Reserve – T Sloan, West Linton, Coatshouse, Netherurd with the two-year-old heifer, Somasag of Lyntoun, by Eion Mhor 23 of Mottistone out of Carole 3 of Gray Brae. Champion at local shows. Cow in calf or in milk – S and R Hunter. Three-year-old heifer – D and C Logan. Calf – T Sloan.

Hereford Scottish National Show (Judge: B Birch, Weston). Champion – M Poyser and daughters, Molly, Maisie and Hope, New Aberdour, Fraserburgh, with Milovaig 1 Vindicator, a three-year-old Hereford bull by Shraden 1 Perostroika, out of Milovaig 1 Bonnie Belle 6, bought privately from Callum Smith. Second at the Royal Highland and champion of champions in Echt Show. Reserve – T and D Harrison of Moralee Herefords, with a cow and calf outfit. The six-year-old cow Moralee 1 Kylie KS S3, is a daughter of SMH King Size 87K and out of Moralee 1 Kylie. She was shown with her twin Aprilborn calves at foot, the bull calf, Moralee 1 Billy-Bob PR353 and the heifer calf, Moralee 1 Kylie PR354 by Moralee 1 RHS Prince. Heifer born after August 2023 – E Burgess. Heifer born Mar 2023-July 2023, Heifer/cow in milk or in calf – J Hodge. Heifer born Aug 2022-Feb 2023, cow in milk or in calf born between Aug 2021-July 2022 – E Hodge. Cow in milk or in calf born before August 2021, bull born after Aug 2023 – T and D Harrison. Bull born Mar 2023-Jul 2023; group – G and S Harvey. Bull born Aug 2022-Feb 2023; pair – JM Cant and Partners. Bull born before Aug 2022 – Coxon Herefords.

AOB (Judge: R Prentice). Champion, beef inter-breed and champions of champions – A and E Hodge, Rulesmains, Duns, with the April 2023-born maiden Aberdeen Angus heifer, Rulesmains Priceless Z872. A daughter of Blelack Lord Heartford, a bull bought privately prior to the Blelack dispersal, she is out of Rulesmains Pricelless T886, which was shown successfully. Sole entry.

Texel Scottish National Show (Judge: G Pyman, Prkview, Stainton). Champion – A and J MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth, with a February-born ewe lamb on its first outing. Sired by Knap Godzilla, a tup purchased out of Worcester for 8000gns, she is out of a Procters Chumba Wumba bred ewe. Reserve – R Cockburn, Knap, with a one-crop ewe purchased at Carlisle Christmas Stars sale for 10,000gns from Charlie Boden of the Mellor Vale flock. She is sired by Seaforde Empire King. Aged tup, tup lamb, gimmer, group of five – A Clark. Shearling, ewe lamb – A and J MacGregor. Natural-born tup lamb, ewe, natural-born ewe lamb – R Cockburn.

Border Leicester champion from J Hamilton Ref: RH200724084

Border Leicester (Judge: W Pate, Mossilee, Galashiels). Champion and reserve – J Hamilton, Silvermuir. Supreme was a two-shear tup bought at the Kelso Ram Sales from the Lyham flock. He is jointly owned with Westforth and Milmoor flocks and is sired by Westforth Barbarian. Runner up was a February-born tup lamb sired by the champion. Aged tup, tup lamb, ewe lamb, pair – J Hamilton. Ewe – C Carruthers. Gimmer – J and M Kinloch.

Suffolk (Judge: W Pate). Champion and reserve – G Brown, Springfield, Penicuik. Champion was a January 2021-born ewe, which is sired by Logie Durno Lockdown, out of a Forkins Fire Starter sired-ewe. Runner up was an ET gimmer bred from a Capielaw ewe and sired by Oxmuir Outlaw F48. She was champion at Haddington and Dalkeith. All classes – G Brown.

Beltex (Judge: A Miller, Lurg). Champion, sheep inter-breed and reserve champions of champions – R Wood, Kingledores, with the two-crop ewe, Kingledores Gina G, which was champion at Lesmahgow Show. Sired by Skiddaw View Endurance, the dam, Kingledores Betty Boo is a former Royal Highland Show winner. Reserve – A Taylor and G Harrison, with the two-crop ewe, Gordy’s Glamour Girl. Sired by Buckles Dark Dawn, she is out of Lurg Ella, which was champion here two years ago. Aged tup, shearling, ewe lamb born March 2024 onwards – A Baillie, Carstairs Mains. Tup lamb, tup lamb born March 2024 onwards, ewe, ewe lamb – RE Wood. Gimmer, group – J Hamilton, Mid Shawtonhill.

Blackface (Judge: R Paterson, Dunruchan, Muthill). Champion – J Wight and Sons, Midlock, Crawford, with a home-bred three-crop ewe by a son of a £8000 Dyke that sold for £4500. Reserve – M Hamilton, South Cobbinshaw, with a gimmer, sired by a £32,000 Glenrath. The dam was purchased at the in-lamb breed sale at Lanark from Nunnerie and is sired by a £18,000 Auldhouseburn tup. Aged tup, shearling, tup lamb – CC MacArthur and Co. Pair of tup lambs, gimmer, ewe lamb – M Hamilton. Ewe – J Wight and Sons. Group – G Pate, Moorfoot. Shepherd’s ewe – A Maclarty. Shepherd’s gimmer – G McPherson. Shepherd’s ewe lamb – S Wallace.

Top ticket in the Bluefaced Leicester Traditional section came from Kirkstead Ref: RH200724073

Bluefaced Leicester traditional type (Judge: K Smith, Low Arkland, Castle Douglas). Champion and reserve – RA McClymont, Kirkstead. Supreme was a home-bred three-crop ewe on its first outing. Sired by the two times Royal Highland Show champion, Burndale G1, she is out of a Leadburnlea-sired ewe. Runner up was a ewe lamb sired by 22 Blythbank and out of the show gimmer by a Blacketthouse tup. Shearling, tup lamb, ewe, ewe lamb – RA McClymont. Gimmer, group – H Brown. Pair – S Nelson.

Crossing type Bluefaced Leicester champion from Hartside Ref: RH200724076

Bluefaced Leicester crossing type (Judge: R McKie, Finniness, Castle Douglas). Champion – Hartside Farms, Biggar, with a two-crop ewe purchased from Alan Shennan, Farden, at Harrison and Hetherington’s online sale. She is sired by Temain Gambler. Reserve – S and T Fallows, Cockrig, Lanark with a home-bred gimmer by a P3 Midlock tup purchased at Carlisle for 8000gns, and out of a home-bred ewe. Champion at Dalkeith Show. Aged tup – RE Woods, Kingledores. Shearling – J Warnock, East Field. Tup lamb – J Wight and Sons. Pair of tup lambs, gimmer, ewe lamb, group – S and T Fallows. Ewe – Hartside. Pair of ewe lambs – Dreva.

Scotch Mule (Judge: R McKie). Champion – Thornborrow family, Dawyck, with a ewe lamb that was second at the Highland Show. Sired by an Auld Tinnis shearling purchased at Kelso Ram Sales. Reserve – M Ross, Dumfries, with the reserve champion from the Highland Show, an Allanfauld-bred gimmer that had been bought at Stirling as a ewe lamb. She is by a Firth sire bought at Kelso. Ewe lamb, pair of ewe lambs – Thornborrow family. Gimmer – M Ross. Ewe – J Wight and Sons.

Blue Texel (Judge: D Alexander, Galston). Champion – C Rae, Dumfries, with the home-bred one-crop ewe, Wallacetown Grace, purchased inside her dam which was a Belgium import, she is sired by Whatmore E-male. Reserve – A Flynn, Bathgate, with the one-crop ewe, Solway View Gaelic, which was purchased from Kevin Watret at Carlisle. Sired by Matt’s Freedom, she is bred from Solway View Daisy. Tup – Dreva. Tup lamb, ewe – C Rae. Gimmer, ewe lamb – E Bell. Pair, K Flynn.

Shetland (Judge: B Watson, Fieldcroft, Carleton). Champion – D Alcorn and G Ingram, Biggar, with a two-shear tup, purchased privately from Kate Sharp. Reserve – C Galloway, Kirknewton, with a three-year-old coloured ewe. Home-bred she is sired by a Rosebank tup and was awarded best coloured Shetland at the Highland Show in 2022. Coloured ram – M Macfarlane. Coloured tup lamb, coloured ewe, coloured ewe lamb – C Galloway. Coloured gimmer, white ram, white tup lamb, white ewe, white gimmer, white ewe lamb – David Alcorn and Gavin Ingram.

Prime lambs (Judge: A Taylor, Heatheryhall, Thankerton). Champion – I Wallace. Reserve – JJ Frame, High Dyke. Three continental cross lambs, other than Texel – JJ Frame. Three Texel cross lambs – I Minto. Young Farmers – I Wallace.

Zwartbles champion from Kate Flynn Ref: RH200724089

Zwartbles (Judge: A Baillie, Broomfield). Champion – K Flynn, Bathgate, with the one-crop ewe, Bridgelands Kelpie. A daughter of Pendle Fingerskeepers she is out of Bridgelands Garbo. Reserve – G Smith, Balmurrie, with the gimmer, Balmurrie Lolo. She is backed by homebred genetics being sired by Balmurrie Cool Kid and out of Balmurrie Bora Bora. Aged tup – K and S Cowin. Shearling, pair – R Walton. Tup lamb – C Rae. Ewe – K Fynn. Gimmer – G Smith. Ewe lamb – T Graham.

AOB (Judge: A Taylor). Champion – F Kay, with a two-crop park-type North Country Cheviot ewe. Purchased privately from Steven Turnbull, Jedhart, she is sired by Gilston Xerxes. Reserve – B Graham, with a home-bred Charollais gimmer sired by Foxhill Walkabout, out of a Logie Durnobred ewe. Tup, pair – C Brown. Tup lamb – S McCarlie. Ewe – F Kay. Gimmer – B Graham. Ewe lamb – S Lindsay. Young handlers – Under 12 MV accredited – 1, Megan Clark; 2, Matthew McGregor; 3, Robert Denholm. Under 12 non-MV accredited – 1, Callan Young; 2, Liam Howatson; 3, Lennox Wright. Aged 12- 16 MV accredited – 1, Lachlan Rae; 2, Ella Boyes; 3, Isaac Boyes. Aged 12-16 non-MV accredited – 1, Stewart McLeod; 2, Mac Gilchrist; 3, Kayleigh McKinlay.

Clydesdales (Judge: SM Ferrie, Carthagena, Hornby). Champion – W and J Dunbar, East Fairybank, Newhouse, with Doura Sorrento, a three-year-old bred by Charlotte Young. Sired by Doura Magic Touch, she is a daughter of Collessie Flash Girl. She has won Biggar Show for three consecutive years. Reserve – McMillan family, Bute, with the two-year-old, Mill Rose. She is sired by Kirnath Maverick out of Mill Miss Kerinn. Mare with foal, foal, colt, filly – A Jackson, Covington Mill. Yeld mare three years old – W and J Dunbar. Filly two years old – JM McMillan, Greenan Mill. Colt – R Hamilton. Gelding – TJ and P Tennant