Dumfries and Galloway breeders certainly made their presence felt amongst a bumper show of sheep at Ingliston, winning the champion and the reserve honours in the two main inter-breed competitions.
More impressive was the fact that it was the young ones who stole the show, with the lead Charollais from 27-year-old Ben Radley, presented the supreme overall, while the reserve was a Dutch Spotted exhibited by near neighbour and younger exhibitor Ali Jackson.
“The Charollais just hit me as soon as I came into the ring,” said the judge, Clark Stewart, a former chairman and director of the Royal Highland Agricultural Society of 23 years, who had the unenviable task of selecting a supreme overall from no fewer than 27 sections winners.
“She is so sweet for her size and there are not many faults about her, if any. She’s a very, very good sheep,” said Mr Clark, who was equally complimentary about his choice of reserve. “The Dutch Spotted is also very sweet and handled really well and being a female, she was feminine. Female sheep have to be feminine."
Taking all the plaudits was Wa Wa Wee, a home-bred gimmer from Ben’s 25-strong Loaningfoot ewe flock, at Dumfries, which was winning its first tri-colour at the Highland. A previously unshown daughter of the 5500gns Logie Durno Ultimatum shared with the Rowanston flock, she is out of a ewe by Wernfawr Storma.
The Dutch Spotted – which had competitive classes for the first time at Ingliston – also produced the supreme pairs, which again were from Ali Jackson. They comprised the champion, Tiptop Diana and the male champion, Dutchman, the new stock ram for the flock which was imported earlier in the year from Holland.
Just pipped at the post was Tiptop Diana, a one-crop ewe from Ali Jackson’s 70-ewe flock which just three years ago made history at the Great Yorkshire by producing the breed’s first inter-breed winner in Tiptop Hannah, named after his fiancée, Hannah Sloan – who he is marrying this weekend!
"I've never handled a Dutch Spotted before and the winning pair were real sheep," said the overall pairs judge, Willie Dunlop, Elmscleugh, Dunbar. "They handled really well with a good cover of meat on them and they were also really good on the legs with great hair," Mr Dunlop. His choice of the reserve, the Blackfaces were also a 'real matching pair,' he said.
The reserve duo comprised the champion, a home-bred ewe from the Ramsay’s Milnmark flock, from Dalry, Castle Douglas, and their male champion, a four-shear ram purchased from JJ Marshall, Gosland, for £2800, in 2020.
Inter-breed male champion and honorary reserve individual was Alan McClymont and sons, Sam and Oli’s two-shear traditional Bluefaced Leicester ram from Kirkstead, Yarrow. He was bought last year at Kelso from the Bonvilston flock for £3200 and was on his first outing since.
Young handlers
Judge, Willie Dunlop, Elmscleugh, Dunbar, certainly had his work cut out for him in inter-breed sheep pairs competition but selecting the top winners from more than 40 young handlers was equally challenging, if not more so.
“The quality of stockmanship amongst the young handlers was fantastic and the knowledge they all had about their sheep was amazing,” said Mr Dunlop, who presented the winning rosette to 13-year-old Fraser Brown, from Castle Douglas.
“Fraser is devoted to his sheep and had his Blue under control at all times, but it was a close decision between him and the reserve," he said after giving the runner up ticket to first time competitor Archie Barclay (7), Maybole.
Fraser, who has won the young handlers at Stewartry Show in the past but was competing at Ingliston for the first time, was exhibiting a home-bred four-crop traditional Bluefaced Leicester ewe from his parents' Drumhumphry flock.
Reserve overall was the winner of the junior section, Archie Barclay, who was making his show debut as a young handler parading a Beltex tup lamb from his parents’ Beechy flock, which runs alongside his own Twins plus One flock.
Blackface
The late Bill Ramsay, Milnmark, Dalry, Castle Douglas, would certainly have been proud as punch of his boys when they brought out both the champion and reserve from the 1000-strong ewe flock.
Furthermore, the boys – Wilson, Jim and Colin and their families – ‘did the double’ for a fourth time, landing the top two awards with previously unshown sheep.
The Wights from Midlock, Crawford, were as always in the tickets, taking the silverware for the reserve female and the best bred male. The former, a gimmer by the £200,000 Dalchirla lamb, is by a home-bred son of a £40,000 Dalchirla.
Their top male was a shearling son of an £1100 Elmscleugh shared with Dougie Fleming, Nisbet, and bred from a ewe by the £24,000 Connachan shearling.
Supreme, selected by judge, Andy Woodburn, Netherwood, was the popular champion, a home-bred suckled gimmer by a £9000 Grimmet tup bought in 2019 at Newton Stewart. Her dam is by a £4800 Milnmark.
Reserve overall was the male champion, a four-shear Gosland-bred ram also bought in 2019 from JJ Marshall, Gosland, for £2800. He is by an £11,000 Auldhouseburn.
The blue and white sash amongst the males was presented to a two-shear ram from Angus Kennedy and son Angus, Mitchellhill, Broughton, Biggar. This was a £14,000 Livet bought at Stirling last year from Stephen Duncan and son, Stephen. The breeding behind this fella includes a £5200 Elmscleugh onto a ewe by a £10,000 Allanfauld.
Suffolk
Young Finn Christie (18) took the Suffolk sheep section by storm, winning the supreme overall with a home-bred gimmer.
Mr Christie, who runs the 15-strong Maidenstone flock, at Inverurie, alongside his father Graeme’s Balquhain flock, went straight to the top with a daughter of the 5500gns Lanark purchase, Howgillfoot Snipper. Her dam, a Birness-bred ewe by Limestone Legacy, bought at a former Aberdeen Christmas Classic, is also a star performer, having bred the 16,000gns Maidenstone lamb sold last year at Shrewsbury.
Stewart Craft’s Lakeview flock, from Glenrothes, was another in the tickets winning the male championship and reserve overall with a tup lamb shown by Peter Stubbs. Another backed by the best of genetics, this January-born embryo entry is the result of a flush from a Lakeview ewe, by Rookery Rodeo, that bred Mr Craft’s 40,000gns tup lamb in 2020, and sired by the 50,000gns Mullinvale Munro.
The second prize tup lamb from Aberdeenshire breeder, Gary Troup’s Whitestone flock, from Sauchen, followed through to lift the runner-up award amongst the males. Another ET, this time bred from a home-bred ewe by Baileys Rock Solid that stood third here in 2014, he is sired by Cairness Mike Tyson, a tup shared with his breeder, Jimmy Douglas.
The equivalent amongst the females was presented to a one-crop Birness ewe by Castleisle Capaldi, from Stewart Lathangie, Pyeston, Glenrothes. She was bought from the Stuart family at the Aberdeen Christmas Classic, and was on her first outing.
NCC park-type
There were many celebrations in the Cheviot lines, when the Campbell family’s Bardnaclavan flock, Thurso, landed the top award and its second Northie supreme – 20 years after the first!
Jonnie Campbell, who brought out the flock’s 2002 champion and 10-minutes later back then met his wife to be, Christine, took the tri-colour this year with a home-bred shearling ram by Cairnside Action Man – a tup bought privately as a tup lamb after standing reserve at Caithness Show in 2019. He is out of a home-bred ewe – one of 150 park-type which run alongside a further 850 – and will be sold at Quoybrae, in September.
NCC hill-type
A home-bred four-crop ewe from Roderick Runciman and son, Lewis, Allanshaws, Galashiels – who are better known for their park-type Cheviots – stole the show amongst the hill type sheep.
Taking the tri-colour was a previously unshown female backed by the best of genetics. A daughter of Inkstack VIP, a ram used on loan from Tina Coghill, which was bred from her two times Lairg show champion winning female, the ewe is out of an Allanshaws dam – one of 80 in the hill-type flock.
Borders-based breeders, Bob and Becca Rennie, of the Bowmont flock, from Kelso, bagged the reserve overall championship with the supreme male, Badanloch Xtra-Special, a four-shear tup bought last year at Lairg for £16,000. He is a son of the £5000 Armadale Seagull.
Near neighbour, Mike Elliot's Woodside flock had another successful venture to Ingliston, bagging the silverware for the reserve male and female. The former, a home-bred shearling is by Inkstack Vodka Shot, a tup bought at Dingwall in 2020 for £4500.
Second best female was a home-bred gimmer by the £7000 Woodside sold at Lairg, in 2019 to Bowmount Farming, out of a dam by Woodside Terry.
Lleyn
Borders-based brothers, Tom and Ian Walling, of Farmstock Genetics, Selkirk, had a field day amongst the Lleyns, winning three of the four top awards.
Taking centre stage for their 1000-strong ewe flock was a two-shear ram on his first outing. Bred by Declan Mullan and sired by a Dylan Jones-bred tup, he was bought at Ballymena for 2600gns after Ian placed him pre-sale champion.
The second prize aged ram followed him to land the reserve male honours for the flock, which runs alongside an equally well known herd of Salers cattle. This was a similarly aged Dylan Jones-bred ram, by a Fort sire.
Adding to the celebrations, the Walling’s reserve from Ingliston in 2019 and champion at the 2021 Great Yorkshire, was awarded the blue and white sash amongst the females. This home-bred four-crop ewe is by a John Blakey sire.
Standing in front of her, to land the female championship and reserve overall was a gimmer from Aberdeenshire breeders, Colin and Carol-Anne Crawford, and daughter Carie. The Crawfords, who were securing not only their first championship, but also a first red ticket in 12 years of exhibiting at Ingliston, enjoyed their best day to date with a home-bred entry by a Crag sire bought at Carlisle.
Ryeland
France-based podcaster, Andy Frazier, certainly made his presence felt amongst the Ryelands, winning the supreme overall following a 20-year absence from the show ring.
Mr Frazier, who records the popular Toplines and Top Tails podcasts, went into Ryelands because they orginate from his homeland on the Worcester/Hereford marches and he landed the tri-colour with a white gimmer which had been bought as a ewe lamb at Worcester.
Bred by Ann Davies, in her Catherton flock, the gimmer had been residing at Upper Auchenlay, Dunblane, and was brought out by Robert Paterson and son, Robert, from there. She boasts show winning genetics on both sides and is by Dolwen Young Uther, the 2019 Royal Welsh Champion, and out of a Mansell ewe that was champion at the Three Counties the same year.
The reserve male champion came from the same home and was a shearling bred from Mr Frazier’s foundation ewe bought from the Dolwen flock, at Worcester. The sire is Dolwen Zonic. Both sheep are now destined for the Great Yorkshire and the Royal Welsh.
An aged ram from Janice Milne, Thornhill, Stirling, head of energy at SEPA, secured the reserve overall. Red Sewell Zuperman, a three-shear ram bought privately as a lamb from Tom Redmayne, is by Ryeside Xylon and out of a Red Sewell ewe. He was champion at Stirling earlier in the month.
David Mitchell’s Wellhill flock, from New Cumnock, was another in the tickets, with his second prize gimmer from Ayr, Lesmahagow and Northumberland, lifting the reserve female honours. She was bought at Worcester last year from Russell Howell’s Mansell flock.
Commercial
History is believed to have been made in the commercial lambs when two pairs of seven-eighths, March-born Beltex cross ewe lambs from the same home, took the top two awards.
Supreme was a pair scaling 77kg from Andrew and Hilary Morton, daughter Kirsty and son Andrew, Lochend, Denny, who were winning their second supreme overall at Ingliston.
The family picked up the blue and white sash with a pair of 84kg lambs. Both lots were by a home-bred Lochend sire retained for breeding.
Border Leicester
Heavy horse head steward, Tom Tennant and son, Andrew, Gilmanscleugh, Selkirk, went straight to the top to win the supreme in their first year competing amongst the Borders at Ingliston.
The duo, who run 25 ewes in their Forth flock alongside a larger South Country Cheviot flock, went all the way with a home-bred gimmer that stood second at the National breed show at Carlisle last year as a ewe lamb. A daughter of Kininmonth Galileo, a tup bought at Lanark, in 2020, in partnership with the Bonniebraes and Millmoor flocks, she is out of a home-bred ewe by Alticane Thistlecrack, that won a red rosette at a previous Carlisle National show.
Stranraer-based breeder, John Barrowman, of the Knockglass flock, and his grandson, Gregor Grierson, were also in the prize money, winning the top two awards amongst the males. Their champion male, the three-shear tup, Drennans Class Act, which was bought at Lanark as a lamb and is by Didcot Duster, also landed the reserve overall. First in his class in the age ram class at the National last year, he was also second at the Royal Highland Showcase.
The blue and white ribbons amongst the boys were presented to a Lyham-bred shearling bought last year at Lanark from Neil Howie, on his first outing. He is by Knockglass Spitfire.
This year’s overall sheep champion from Neilston and Beith and breed leader at Ayr, made her presence felt for Duncan Whyte, Newton Mearns, Glasgow, too, when she picked up the award for the second best female. A home-bred two-crop ewe by Clola Double Deal, she secured the same honours at the National last year.
Berrichon
Criffel Unique, a home-bred ewe from Dumfries breeder, Ewan Burgess, certainly lived up to her name amongst the Berrichons, when she was crowned breed champion.
This two-crop female by the Carlisle purchase, Burradon Samson, is bred from the former Cumberland Show champion, Criffel Paris, a daughter of a Hillhead sire. She is one of 15 ewes in the Criffel flock which run alongside Mr Burgess’ pedigree Charolais herd.
Taking reserve overall was the male champion, a home-bred shearling ram from Francis Barbour’s Newark flock, from Sanquhar, brought out with assistance of daughter in law, Lynn Barbour. Backed by the best of genetics, this big lad goes back to Mrs Barbour’s 2012 Highland Show champion and reserve winner at Ingliston in 2011 on the dam side, while the sire is Newark Vulture, a tup used at home as a lamb.
Vulture, which sold privately to a Northern Ireland breeder, was also behind the flock’s reserve female, Newark Winnie The Pooh, a gimmer bred from one of the top breeding females in the 40-ewe flock, which has been flushed on several occasions.
Runner up amongst the males was a tup lamb from ????
Jacob
Head of delivery for the Food Standards Agency in London, Robert Locker, Greenlaw, took centre stage in the Jacob ring, winning his first supreme overall in 22 years of exhibiting at the Ingliston showground.
His star performer from his 30-ewe Edingale flock was a home-bred gimmer got by artificial insemination (AI), with the sire being Hope Rocky. The dam, a home-bred ewe is an AI daughter of Blackbrook Darcy, a former National champion winner here for Barbara Webster.
Regular Jacob winners, Scott Dalrymple, Mary Connor and her daughter, Mairi, of the Dun’Mor flock, from Linlithgow, landed the reserve overall championship with the supreme male, and the award for the second best female.
The former was Dun’Mor Hugo, a previously unshown home-bred shearling by the former Highland and Great Yorkshire show champion, Dun’Mor Ace, out of a Northlands-bred ewe bought at Skipton.
The flock’s runner up female was the second prize gimmer to the champion, Dun’Mor Hannah, another by Ace, this time out of a Herries-bred ewe bought privately as a ewe lamb. She was second at Fife Show.
Adam Christie, of the Adamski flock, from Huntly, also came up with the goods, lifting the reserve male honours with a February-born tup lamb by Harbell Harper, the reserve champion winner at the St Boswells breed sale in 2019 bred by Max Harper. The dam was Adamaski Stella.
Cheviot
Regular winner, Billy Common, Crossdykes, Lockerbie, was back in the tickets amongst the Cheviots, winning the top two awards amongst the males, including the supreme overall.
His show stopper from the 885-strong ewe flock, was a home-bred shearling ram by Becks Revolution, a £5500 shearling bought at Lockerbie in 2020 which bred last year’s £20,000 Becks shearling for his breeder, Jim Robertson. The dam, a former champion and reserve inter-breed winner here, is by Mainside Viscount.
Following him to be reserve male was the three-shear ram, Mountbenger Ace of Diamonds, a £2200 purchase at Lockerbie, on his first outing since the sale. His dam is a daughter of Crossdykes Optimus.
The breeder of that tup, George Irving, Yarrow, bagged the equivalent amongst the females with a home-bred rough ewe. She is by the £7000 Crossdykes Optimist, out of a ewe by Catslack Ace and was brought out with the assistance of shepherd, John Allan.
The female champion, a home-bred two-crop ewe from Norman and David Douglas’ Whitehope flock from, Catslackburn, Yarrow, was reserve overall. Previously unshown, she is a daughter of Mainside Yarrow, a ram bought at Builth Wells, and out of a home-bred ewe. She was part of the show team in 2020 before the pandemic struck.
Dutch Spotted
A star studded entry of Dutch Spotted for their debut breed competition at Ingliston, saw the champion go on and take the reserve inter-breed sheep honours and the top two land the supreme overall pairs.
Noted Dumfries-shire breeder, Ali Jackson, who gets married to his fiancée, Hannah Sloan today (Saturday), first put the breed on the map in 2019, when his home-bred Tiptop Hannah, landed the inter-breed sheep honours at the Great Yorkshire.
This time, Mr Jackson who produced several top award winning sheep of several breeds and cattle for Kevin Watret at the show, took centre stage with the home-bred one-crop ewe, Tiptop Diana.
Female champion and reserve overall at the 2021 Great Yorkshire Show, Diana is a daughter of Tiptop Charlie and bred from one of 70 ewes in the flock established in 2016.
Adding to the pre-wedding celebrations, the flock also secured the reserve honours and the male championship with Dutchman, an imported shearling ram and future stock ram, which together with Diana made up the winning pairs. Both are heading for the Great Yorkshire and the Royal Welsh in July.
The trophy for the runner-up male, was presented to Tiptop Falcor, an end of February-born ram lamb by Tiptop Ed which was bred from a 6500gns gimmer sold last year. The dam of Falcor is Tiptop Dancing Queen – last year's show gimmer.
The No 1 flock in the book, Andrew and Pam Parker’s Lochlad flock, from Lochmaben, Dumfries-shire, also had a good day, bagging the reserve female with the gimmer Lochlad Ellie. Champion at Cheshire Show, last year, she is by Lochlad Admiral and bred from the imported ewe, Lochlad Bethany.
Texel
Aberdeenshire judge, Robbie Wilson, of the Milnbank flock, was most impressed by the quality of Texels forward, which he said were better than in previous years, with his choice of champion described as ‘sheer magic.’
“It was a great show of sheep and the females in particularly were very, very good. The gimmers were absolutely fantastic,” said Mr Wilson, who found his supreme from that same class.
Taking all the plaudits was a daughter of the 16,000gns Proctors Chumba Wumba, from Alan Clark’s Garngour flock, from Lesmahagow. Bred from a top female line that produced the 30,000gns Crackerjack and Cinnamon, she is out of a ewe by Knock Bantastic – one of 30 in the flock which run alongside 120 Holstein dairy cows.
This gimmer was second at last year’s National Show, at Carlisle, as a ewe lamb and was also champion and inter-breed sheep at Lesmahagow Show, last month. She is entered for the Great Yorkshire Show.
John Forsyth’s Glenside flock and his grand-son, John Patterson, had a cracking show, striking gold amongst the males with a two-shear ram which went on to win the reserve overall. Star performer for their 40-ewe flock, from Maybole, which also bagged blue ribbons in the gimmer and tup lamb classes, was Mellorvale Deja Vu purchased at Lanark in 2020, for 40,000gns in partnership with Stuart Barclay, Harestone. Backed by Garngour genetics on both side, this tup is bred from an Alabama-sired ewe and by the 65,000gns Craftsman.
Standing behind him to lift the blue and white sash amongst the males was a home-bred shearling ram from Douganhill, Castle Douglas, brought out by Brian and David MacTaggart. Previously unshown, this big lad will be bound for Kelso, in September and is by the Strathbogie Cannonball son, Claybury Dazzler, a 3000gns purchase from Carlisle, and out of a home-bred ewe by Glenside King.
Another previously unshown sheep landed the same award amongst the females for Proctors Farm, Slaidburn, brought out by Jeff and Jennifer Aiken, daughter Katie and son Robbie. Their home-bred one-crop ewe is by the 100,000gns Sportsmans Batman with the dam going back to Anglezarke Uno.
Flying the flag for Aberdeenshire, Willie Knox and sons, Graeme and Andrew, won both the recorded and open ram lamb classes. The former, by the 7000gns Harestone Eldorado, is bred from a 9000gns Proctors gimmer by Sportsmans Batman, bought in 2020. The open champion, by Hexel Born to be Wild, is bred from the second prize ewe, an ET sister to Haddo Balvennie – the 2018 champion winner here.
Hampshire Down
It was very much a red letter day in the Hampshire Down lines for Geoff and Angie Todd when they produced their first champion at the Highland.
The couple, who now run two flocks – West Mains and Portpatrick, having moved from the former down to the South-west – took the main silverware with a two-crop ewe. Wilstrop-bred, she was purchased at Carlisle in 2019 from Judith Galbraith, after standing pre-sale show champion. A Normande Raptor-sired entry, she also boasts supreme wins at Masham and Wensleydale Shows the same year.
A massive shearling ram from Roy and Jane MacFarlane and their daughter, Lorna Rennie’s Lecropt flock, from Bridge of Allan, won the male title and reserve overall. This was a Yarcombe-bred tup by Yarcombe Hero which was bought last year at Shrewsbury.
Runner-up male was a December-born ram lamb from first time exhibitor Adrian Rundle, all the way from Cornwall. His best, by Greylan Churchill, a tup bought privately as an aged ram, is out of a home-bred ewe.
Powblack Bonnie, a home-bred two-crop ewe from Bruce and Zoe Steel, Thornhill, Stirling, lived up to her name too, taking the blue and white ribbons amongst the females. Placed here as a lamb, she is by Isle of Bute Oberon and out of a home-bred ewe.
Swaledale
Well-known photographer, Wayne Hutchinson and his parents, Harry and Mary, Kirkby Stephen, scored a hat-trick amongst the Swales, winning a third championship here.
Taking the main plaudits was a home-bred gimmer from their 320-ewe flock shown by Wayne’s son, Sam (19). Second at Westmorland Show, last year, she is a grand-daughter of the 2009 and 2010 champion winner here and sired by a £6500 Craig Hutchinson, Spital, tup bought at Kirkby Stephen.
Male champion and reserve overall was a home-bred tup hogg on his show debut from Stanley and Pat Brogden and son, Thomas, of the Helbeck flock, from Brough. This was a son of Bull and Cave Jackpot, a £25,000 purchase in partnership with the Catlow flock three years ago, out of a ewe by Kisdon Jimmy Choo.
The same sire was also behind the family's reserve female, a previously unshown ewe hogg, out of a ewe by a home-bred Helbeck sire.
Runner up amongst the males was an aged ram from breed president, Dick Dalton, of the Wellhope flock, Weardale. He was bred by Len Smith, Roachburn, and was bought at Middleton in Teesdale in 2020 for £5000.
Bluefaced Leicester – traditional
Regular winners, Alan McClymont and sons Sam and Oli, Kirkstead, Yarrow, were back to claim the silverware amongst the Blues, winning two of the top four awards, including supreme.
Their show topper from the 30-ewe flock this time was a two-shear ram bought at Kelso last year for £3200 from Tudor Harris’ Bonvilston flock, from Wales. Male champion at the Welsh Progeny Show, last year, he is by a Burndale L1 and out of a Robleston H1 ewe.
The McClymonts, who have won the tri-colour four times out of the past five years exhibiting, also lifted the reserve female trophy with a home-bred three-crop ewe that was first at the Royal Highland Showcase, last year. She is by the two times champion winner here, Burndale G1 and bred from a former show ewe lamb and gimmer by an Aled Jones ram.
Kirkstead genetics were behind the female champion and reserve overall too, from first time exhibitor, Lisa Fleming’s Falnash flock, from Hislop, Teviotdale. Her gimmer, which was bought in utero of a Kirkstead gimmer by a Mendick ram, bought at the Carlisle Blue Belles sale, is sired by the M3 Leadburnlea.
The second prize aged ram from Alan Cowens, Philiphaugh, Selkirk, shown by Scott Bell, took the trophy for the second best male. This was an N10 Gefrin ram, a son of a Mendick-bred tup, bought at Kelso for £1000.
Bluefaced Leicester – crossing
A massive home-bred gimmer from the Wight family’s Midlock flock, from Crawford, topped a strong show of crossing-type Blues.
This star performer is a full sister to the £40,000 P1 Midlock Commander, being bred from a ewe by the retained L27 Midlock ram and sired by the £13,000 M1 Riddings bought at Hawes.
Allan and Ben Wight also brought out the reserve female, a three-crop ewe by a K1 Shafthill. She is a former champion at Peebles Show.
There was also top breeding behind the reserve overall, from father and son team, Andrew and Euan McQuistin, Barnshangan, New Luce. Also the the male champion, he is a full brother to last year’s breed leader and inter-breed sheep winner at the Royal Highland Showcase. A tup lamb got by semen from the G34 Midlock, he is bred from a home-bred ewe by the J14 Blarnavaid – one of just 12 ewes in the flock.
Young Finlay Robertson's Beeches flock, West Calder, picked up the runner-up male award with a home-bred shearling ram by the L22 Blarnavaid, a son of the K20 Midlock bought privately from Jamie Pirie. He is out of a home-bred ewe by a B41 Hewgill and bound for the ram sales at Kelso.
Charollais
It was very much a case of Wa Wa Wee for Dumfries-shire breeder, Ben Radley (27), who not only won his first breed championship at Ingliston but also the inter-breed honours and the coveted Queen's Cup, which this year was presented to the supreme winner of the sheep section.
Mr Radley, who owns the 25-strong Loaningfoot ewe flock and has one year’s training to go as a financial advisor to work alongside his father, Scott, went all the way with the home-bred gimmer. A daughter of Logie Durno Ultimatum, a 5500gns ram bought in partnership with the Rowanston flock, at Worcester, in 2019, Ben’s gimmer is out of home-bred ewe by Wernfawr Storma.
The second prize gimmer from Johnny Aiken, Cumbria, followed her all the way to lift the runner up female for the Carnew flock, which continues to champ at the bit for the top spot after clocking up no fewer than seven reserve overall wins here. She is by Ffwrd Topnotch, a tup that originally sold for 22,000gns but was bought privately as a two-shear from Dave Roberts, and collected the reserve honours at Northumberland.
Leading the males was Maerdy Esmor, a massive 26-month-old two-shear ram from Mike and Melanie Alford’s Devon-based Foxhill |Farm flock, brought out by Will Price of Pedigree Livestock Services. The tup, which was purchased at Builth Wells last year for 3500gns from Esmor Evans, was champion at Cornwall Show and male best at Bath and West.
Foxhill genetics were behind the runner-up male from William and Carole Ingram, sons Gregor and Bruce and daughter Amy, Logie Durno, Inverurie. Their second prize aged ram, Foxhill Vavavoom, a 16,000gns purchase at Worcester as a ram lamb, is by Loanhead Triathalon, a tup sold privately to the Alfords.
Hebridean
Isle of Mull breeders, Jeff and Enid Moore, came up trumps amongst the small black primitive sheep, bagging the silverware for champion animal for a second time.
Winner for this 48-ewe flock was Cillimore Eilidh, a home-bred ewe on her show debut.
A home-bred gimmer from Nantwich breeder, Vicky Mason, was reserve overall. Sycamore Nnymphea, is by the privately purchased Ronasvoe MacMorair, out of Weston Orangeflower, and boasts a prestigious show career, having stood champion at Cheshire and primitive supreme at the Three Counties this year.
The same flock also landed the reserve male honours with the shearling ram, Sycamore Noughtie, another by MacMorair but out of Sycamore Kingfisher. He was placed at the Three Counties and Cheshire.
Topping the males was a home-bred shearling ram on his show debut from Sedbergh breeder, Nick Fecitt. This was Sparran Wood, which is a son of a Sparran ram.
North of England Mules
A gimmer bred by the Reed family, Lands Farm, Westgate, but owned and shown by Penrith-based Philip Elliot, Bank House, was the star attraction amongst a strong show or North of England Mules.
Supreme was a previously unshown entry that made up the champion pen of 10 from Lands Farm, at last year’s Hexham ewe lamb sale. She is a daughter of the West Biggins N10 which is a son of the H2 Highberries.
Julie Brough, Clappers, Wigton, had another good day, too, winning the hogg and lamb class for a third consecutive time. This year, she went one better to bag the reserve overall with a ewe hogg that had been purchased at Lazonby last year from Geoff Wharton. She was paraded with a Suffolk cross lamb at foot and will be kept as a breeding female.
Neil Marston’s Highberries flock, from Cockermouth, produced the lead ewe lamb, which had been champion at Eastgate. She is sired by the B13 Smearsett son, M1 Highberries which is owned in partnership with Alec and Anders Brown, Macqueston.
Rouge
James Theyer and his shepherd, David Bradley Farmer, were well rewarded for their long trip north from Oxfordshire, when they produced two of the top four winners, including the supreme.
Taking centre stag was a home-bred gimmer that had taken the any other breed championship at the Three Counties from their two-ewe flock which runs alongside a 14-ewe Texel enterprise. Bred from their foundation female, a Knighton ewe by Tullyvallen Schumacher bought on line from the late Percy Tait, she is sired by a Millcroft tup purchased privately from Anthony Carter.
Her flock mate, Ian’s Yankee Doodle, a shearling ram which together with the gimmer were reserve inter-breed pairs at the Three Counties Show, was male champion for Mr Theyer. This big lad was purchased at Carlisle last year from Dumfries-shire breeder, Ian McConnell and is by Powerful Jeffrey, out of Ballylane Toe.
Fellow Dumfries-shire breeder, Ali Jackson, who was exhibiting no fewer than 32 sheep and four cattle with Kevin Watret, secured the silverware for the reserve overall with the female champion, Knighton Wagamamma. Inter-breed sheep champion at Ayr and reserve at the Great Yorkshire, last year, this one-crop ewe, which is also by Tullyvallen Schumacher, was bought at the Knighton dispersal. Wagamamma was reserve inter-breed at the Royal Lancs and last year's Great Yorkshire, but then, she is bred from the former top show winner, Knighton Sugarbabe
First time exhibitor, Richard Rundle, from Newquey, Cornwall – who described his trip north as ‘a dream’ – was also well rewarded when his Glenkeen-bred aged ram, bought as a shearling, picked up the blue and white sash amongst the males. Reserve male at Carlisle when he was purchased as a shearling, he is by Tullyvallen Van Goch.
Beltex
It was very much a family affair for the championship in the Beltex rings, when Richard and Helen Wood, their family of Zara and Struan, and Richard’s parents, John and Marion, Kingledores, Tweedsmuir, bagged their fourth supreme.
Taking the main plaudits was Kingledores Guinevere, a home-bred gimmer brought out with assistance of Connor McMurdo and Hamish Michie. Backed by the best of breeding, Guinevere is a grand-daughter of the 2013 Highland Show champion, Kingledores Pearl, being bred from Kingledores Bessie. The sire is Ryders Dick Turpin.
The male champion, Hackney Gladiator, a home-bred shearling ram from Paul and Christine Tippetts, Shropshire, followed to take reserve supreme. He is by Lakeview Doozer and bred from the top breeding ewe, Hackney Cancan. The tup will be sold at the breed sale at Carlisle in August.
Hackney Cancan, the inter-breed sheep champion at the Great Yorkshire Show in 2018, also produced the reserve male, a tup lamb, for Aberdeenshire breeder, Alan Miller, Midmar, Inverurie. The result of a frozen embryo, he is by 30,000gns Buckles Darkdawn.
The equivalent amongst the females was presented to a similarly aged entry from Alyth-based breeders, Graham and Fiona Burke's Pentland flock. She is by Ainstable Factorial, a tup shared with Andrew Baillie and Neil Laing, and bred from a Clary Desperado daughter.
Zwartbles
Dumfries-shire breeder, Colin Rae, Wallacetown, had a field day amongst this popular breed, winning his first championship trophy here, and the reserve.
Mr Rae who runs 15 ewes in his Wallacetown flock, went all the way with Wallacetown Jasmine, a daughter of Craigies Dictator, a tup used on loan from Stuart Craig. The dam is Wallacetown Gazelle which stood second in her class at the show to the reserve female. Jasmine was a big winner at Ayr and Northumberland shows.
East Middle Jezki, bred by the late Charles Scott, landed the silverware for the best male which went on to stand reserve overall. A shearling tup by East Middlet Gallileo, out of Whitestone Grace, he secured red rosettes at Ayr, Northumberland and Cumberland Shows.
A two-shear ram from Hannah Sloan, Carrutherstown, Dumfries, followed to take the runner-up male spot. Stainmore Highland, which was bought privately as a lamb from Fiona Brown, was first in his class here last year at the Royal Highland Showcase.
The bridesmaid honours amongst the females was Ally Baird’s Greystone Hella, a home-bred one-crop ewe from Dunblane, by the 2200gns Pistyll Fire, out of Greystone Eclipse. She was supreme sheep at West Fife and reserve inter-breed at Ayr and Drymen.
Scotch Mule
After a successful show amongst the crossing-type Bluefaced Leicesters, team Midlock continued on their winning ways to secure the championship for a fifth time in the Scotch Mules.
It was the red ticket holder from the strongest section too that was presented the tri-colour, when a ewe lamb from the Wight family’s Crawford-based enterprise was tapped out as supreme. Sired by the M2 Asby Hall bought at Kirkby Stephen for £4500, she is out of a home-bred Blackface ewe.
Midlock also landed the red rosette amongst the ewes with a three-crop daughter of Midlock Mustang that had been placed at Ingliston as a gimmer.
Reserve overall was the first prize gimmer from Finlay Robertson’s Beeches flock, from West Lothian. His best, by the L2 Sealhouses ram that stood reserve male here in 2019, is out of a Crosswoodhill-bred ewe and was on her show debut.
Bleu du Maine
A top lady from Neil Millar and his mother, Joyce’s Joyfield flock, from Dumfries-shire, produced the family’s first Highland Show breed championship.
Their home-bred two-crop ewe, Joyfield Toplady which stood second in her class at the Great Yorkshire, last year, is backed by Scottish genetics being a daughter of Balbrydie Ramos, a tup lamb bred by Brian and Andrew Wylie, that was bought at Carlisle. The dam is Aviemore Ruby, a daughter of a Perdi sire, bred by Bruce Mair, that was reserve here in 2019.
The second prize ewe to the champion followed to lift the blue and white sash amongst the females and the reserve overall for Jonathan Stables’ Dunelm flock, from Low Esh, Durham. This was a similarly aged entry by Dunelm Only Looking – a son of Cysgod Look At Me out of Romwell Muse – which is still going strong at seven years of age. The dam is a Hayden ewe bought at the flock dispersal. The winning ewe was on the breed stand at North Sheep in 2019 as a ewe lamb.
Top male was the shearling ram, Hayden Victory, from Andrew Wyllie’s up and coming Balbrydie flock, from Kirriemuir. He was bought at Carlisle last year where he stood first in his class and is by a Perdi sire.
Perdi genetics were also behind the sire of the second best male, a tup lamb from Laine Daff, Uplawmoor, Renfrewshire, that had been first in his class at Kilbarchan. February born, he is by the Carlisle purchase, Perdi Lorenzo and out of Greenside Tracey.
Shetland
History is believed to have been made amongst the Shetlands, when West Lothian breeder, Kate Sharp, won the supreme with a third coloured sheep to add to her previous championships with moorit and blacks.
Her champion this time was the home-bred white two-shear ram, Ewingston Jack Frost which stood champion at Fife Show and second at the Royal Highland Showcase, last year. He is by a tup bought from George Morrison, Haggerston, Shetland, and out of an Island Isles ewe bought privately from Eric Graham.
This big win follows Ewingston’s championship wins here in 2012 with a moorit and in 2005 with a black coloured Shetland.
Lorna Carruthers’ 120-strong Cronklea ewe flock, from Lockerbie, was another to have a great day, winning the top two awards amongst the females. Her champion female, Cronklea Wilma 2, a white gimmer brought out with assistance of her daughter, Caitlin (17), boasts home-bred genetics on both sides being sired by Fletcher and out of a previous Wilma. She was second here and first at the Great Yorkshire last year.
Taking the blue and white sash amongst the females was a white home-bred three-crop ewe by Cronklea George, out of the privately purchased Galtress Vanessa Redgrave.
Reserve male was the coloured champion, a katmoget Drum shearling from Rena Douglas, Craigrothie, Fife. Home-bred, he was placed at West Fife.
It was a Shetland fleece that landed the coveted overall fleece championship too. This was a white entry from Joan Brunton, Fieldview, Haddington, with the reserve presented to a fleece from David Gill, of Upperdown Shetlands, Dorchester.
Blue Texel
Another bumper entry of Blue Texels attracted a large ringside of spectators with a Future Star eventually presented the champion silverware.
Supreme overall was Saltire Future Star, a gimmer from Angus Brisbane, son David and his wife and their family of Iona, Erin and Angus, who own the Brisbane flock, outside Stranraer. Their show stopper, which was the top priced ewe lamb when purchased last year at Carlisle, in May, alongside her recipient dam, is the result of a flush from Aberdeenshire breeder, Stasa Moyse’s show ewe, Saltire A Beauty. Her sire is Caryls Captain.
The family, who are better known for their pedigree Zwartbles, were winning their first Ingliston championship.
Barnard Castle-based breeder, Henry Jewitt who was exhibiting Blue Texels from his Sunnycroft flock for the first time at the Highland, also came up with the goods wining the male championship and reserve overall with the shearling ram, Sunnybank Fergus. He is a son of the privately purchased, Boyo Elite and bred from Boyo Duchess, the reserve female at the show, that was bought privately and was on her first outing. She is by Whatmore Bently.
Aberdeenshire equine vet, Deborah Atkinson, won the award for the second best male with the home-bred tup lamb, Tap O’ Noth Gangster an ET-born twin that first won his class of 25 with his twin standing sixth. He is the result of a flush from the flock’s foundation female, a Sams Blue Texel ewe bought at Carlisle which has bred several top show winners. The sire is Saltire Blue Buddy. Gangster is bound for the breed sale at Carlisle in August.
Valais Blacknose
The cutest breed in the world with their long curly white coat and black noses certainly proved popular for their first year of competition at Ingliston, attracting the biggest crowds – and not just on show day but all week.
It was a point highlighted by the judge, David Hodge, from Devon. “People who know nothing about sheep, know what a Valais Blacknose is and they just want to go and see them, so you find that every show with classes for them is buzzing around the Valais,” said Mr Hodge, the joint chairman of the society.
Top show genetics were behind the reserve overall, a home-bred ewe from Willie and Laura Thomson, Hownam Grange, Kelso. Their home-bred three-crop ewe, Vicki – the champion at Kelso in 2019 – is a daughter of Hownam Grange Victoria, the reserve inter-breed sheep champion at the Highland and the Great Yorkshire, in 2019. Her sire is Synton Vespa.
Second best female was a gimmer from 21-year-old Stewart Sleigh, St Johns Wells, Fyvie, who has just re-established the Wells flock, which currently numbers 15 breeding ewes. His show winner, by Bardnaclavan Amazon, a tup bought at Quoybrae, is out of a Durran-bred ewe that was also bought at Caithness Livestock Centre.
Andrew Polson, all the way from Lybster, Caithness, collected the blue and white ribbons with the second prize shearling ram to the champion. His home-bred tup from the Smerlie flock, is backed by generations of home-bred rams, being sired by Smerlie Admiral. Previously unshown, he is bound for the breed sale at Lockerbie in September.
Such is the enthusiasm for the breed that the Valais Blacknose Society, which was formed in January, 2021, boasts in excess of 800 members. However, while breed numbers are growing, sourcing Valais true to type is proving more challenging.
“A true Valais has white wool with no hair through it. They should also have four black knees, four black feet, black ears and a black nose,” added Mr Hodge, who found his supreme in a two-shear ram from joint chairman, Raymond Irvine, and Jenni Mcallister’s Highland flock, from Tomintoul.
This was Highland Hero, a previously unshown ram by Jamie Wood’s Prendwick Eros, out of the twice maximum scoring, Highland Ebony.
The couple, who run 40 ewes in the Highland flock also bagged the reserve female honours with the five-month-old ewe lamb, Highland Jenny which is a daughter of the 10,000gns Highland Egbert out of a home-bred ewe.
Highland genetics were also behind the female champion and reserve overall from Steve Dace’s Cheshire flock, which numbers 65 breeding ewes from Stockport. His Cheshire Hot Stuff, a ewe by Highland Guy, is out of the imported ewe, Idaralla.
Valais Blacknose Stirlingshire’s Whiterigg flock, owned by Katrina and Robbie Taylor, have been completely overwhelmed by the interest in their sheep when showing at Ayr, Stirling and the two Fife shows. Their January-born tup lamb, Whiterigg Imanuel proved a winner too when he was tapped out as reserve male.
A red ticket holder from the any other breed section at Ayr, and blue rosette winner from Stirling and the two Fife Shows, this lad is by the privately purchased Prendwick Tiger Tim and out of a ewe bought from Tom Blackwood, Ayrshire.
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