GUILDEN EVA, a four-year-old British Saanen from the two Gordons of Guildy Den – Messrs Webster and Smith – triumphed in the RHS dairy goat competition, as so many of her Guilden prefix compatriots have done in years gone by.

Home-bred by Mineshop Melborn out of Toddbrook Elentari, Eva was champion at both Scottish Goatkeepers' Federation Forfar shows earlier this year, and as the Guildy Den team put it, 'she has the lot'.

Her win at Ingliston amounts to an elusive full championship, as she also scored more than 20 points in the milking competition, carrying with her a 'Q' star for achieving 4% BF twice, morning and night.

However, this latest in a long line of wins for Messrs Webster and Smith highlighted an apparent inequity in the Royal Highland Show's awarding of the Queen's Cup, which historically rotates through the champions of the show's various livestock sections – and by rights should go to the dairy goat champion every six or seven years. But Mr Smith noted the last such award was now well over a decade ago and claimed that goat exhibitors had been given no explanation as to why. "I'd like to see my name on that cup," he added, with some conviction.

Overall reserve champion was Hannah Campbell's Capitol Freja, a three-year-old British goat, by Homeacres Hugo out of Capitol Artemis, that has had a tremendous 2022 show season so far, albeit more than once kept from the top spot by Guildy Den's champion. Freja – whose great grandmother was also reserve champion back in 2011 – was previously full champion at Angus Show, and reserve to Guilden Eva at Ayr County and the SGF Forfar events.

Messrs Webster and Smith also brought out the best goatling, in the shape of Guilden Elma, by Guilden Bryson out of Guidlen Elm, which had previously been best goatling at Angus.

Leading in the kid competition was Beth Fairley, with the brown-and-white British kid, Ballingall Roxy, by Linnavon Linnaeus out of Ballingall River, who may well have more glory ahead of her, judging by her great stance in the ring.

Champion pygmy goat was Brucklay Harmony, brought out by Ailene Charlton, of Aylswood Rare Breeds. This six-year-old white-and-brown pygmy was bred by Claire Bailey, by Moorview Hysopp out of Brucklay Bess.

The Highland's fledgling boer goat competition, which was only just getting established when lockdown closed the doors at Ingliston for two years, got restarted here with a win for M and M Ross, showing Balmedie Greta, a two-year-old Boer milker, by Topknot Tonic out of Balmedie Buttercup.