Simmental wins overall at Stewarton show

Judges from each of the sections had the unenviable task of selecting the champion of champions based on a points system where they couldn’t mark their breed winners.

In turn, Davie Craig’s Simmental champion Kennox Frankie’s Polly, a maiden heifer that was champion at Ayr Show emerged supreme, was one point a head of her nearest rival, the dairy champion.

Adding yet another Stewarton supreme title to the Kennox herd records was a daughter of Ranfurly Confederate out of Kennox Taras Frankie.

The overall sheep champion was the Texel from Duncan Whyte

Reserve overall was a home-bred second calver from Alastair Whylie, Broadstone Farm, Beith.

In the sheep lines, a Texel ewe hogg from Duncan Whyte, Whitelee Gate, Newton Mearns, came out on top. She was champion at Beith.

Leading Awards

Ayrshire (Judge: G Boreland, Mossbog, Mauchline). Champion – National Museum of Rural Life, East Kilbride with the in-calf cow Kittochside Louise Sundance Ex95. In her ninth lactation she is due in August, and boasts a lifetime yield of 53,236kg. She is a Grandage Bright Spark daughter and out of the Ex93 classified, Kittochside Nora Louise. Champion at Neilston. Reserve – A Sempey, Kilmarnock with the 13-month-old red and white heifer, Brieryside Raoul Sarah, sired by Pie X Raoul and out of Brieryside Deluxe Sarah. She is a shared with R Davidson and also stood champion at Dundonald. Cow in-calf, bred – National Museum of Rural Life. Maiden heifer – A Sempey.

Holstein (Judge: G Boreland). Champion, reserve, dairy champion and reserve overall champion of champions – A Whylie, Broadstone Farm, Beith. Champion was a home-bred second calver by Annandale Mickey. She is currently giving 37litres, 220 days in milk. Standing reserve was a home-bred milking heifer by Annandale Mufassa. She is 90 days in milk and giving 41litres. All classes – A Whylie.

The dairy champion came from the Whylie family

Commercial beef (Judge: A Wilson, Westcroft, Kilwinning). Champion – G Scott, Hawhill, Dalry, with the 14-month-old Limousin cross British Blue bullock, Baby Guiness, bought from Jamie Pirie, Blarnavaid fro £4300 at the Clyde and Central Young Farmers’ Calf Rally. Sired by Wilodge Merlin. Supreme overall at Neilston. Reserve – J Stalker, Fenwick with the Limousin cross heifer, Bonnie, bought from Shona Stevenson, Sunnyside. Third at the Young Farmers Rally. Heifer – J Stalker. Bullock – G Scott.

Continental cattle (Judge: A Wilson). Champion and overall champion of champions – D Craig, Kennox, Stewarton, with the Simmental heifer, Kennox Frankie’s Polly, a 15-month-old heifer by Ranfurly Confederate out of Kennox Taras Frankie. Champion at Ayr. Reserve – R Raeside, Laedside, Fenwick with the Simmental heifer, Kennox Diva’s Penny, a 15-month-old heifer by Ranfurly Confederate, bought privately from David Craig. All classes – D Craig.

The Belted Galloway from Allan and Susan Campbell took the native beef title

Native cattle (Judge: A Wilson). Champion – A and S Campbell, Crawlaw, Galston with the Belted Galloway in-calf heifer, Clifton Violet. A daughter of Clifton Dougal, she was bought at Castle Douglas in October 2022 and is bred from Huntfield Verity. Champion at Fife and junior champion at the Highland Show in 2023. Reserve – A and L Wilson, Laigh Highgate, Beith with the Aberdeen-Angus bull, Wensleydale Eros. Bought privately, he is by Blelack Ensign and out of a Wensleydale Effine cow. Belted Galloway heifer, Belted Galloway cow – A and S Campbell. Aberdeen Angus bull – A and L Wilson. Aberdeen Angus cow – J and A Anderson, High Kilbride, Stewarton. Aberdeen Angus heifer – S McNair, Merrymouth, Dunlop.

Highland (Judge: A Fitzsimon, Tregallon, Lochfoot). Champion – A Clotworthy, Kilmaurs with Magaidh 39 of Pollock, a two-year-old heifer by Cliadhamh Mor of Balmoral and out of Magaidh 22 of Pollock. Reserve – R and E McMillan, Little Grenach, Rothesay, Bute with Eilidh 8 of Bute, a yearling heifer by Nero of Ern and out of Eilidh 4 of Bute. Bull – A Kennedy, West Kilbride. Cow, heifer (2021) – R and E McMillan. Heifer (2022), pair – A Clothworthy.

Suffolk (Judge: P Hammond, Auchenbart, Darvel). Champion – Rigfoot Suffolks, Uplawmoor with a hogg by Redbrae Jolly Rancher and out of a dam by Pyeston Phantom. Reserve – J Kerr, Kingsford Suffolks, Stewarton with a two-shear-tup that won his class at Royal Cheshire last year. He was bought from Steve Walker of Oxbruckhays Suffolks. Tup, tup lamb – J Kerr. Ewe, hogg, ewe lamb, group – Rigfoot Suffolks.

Border Leicester (Judge: P Hammond). Champion and reserve – D Whyte, Whitelee Gate, Newton Mearns. Champion was a gimmer by Gortnagross Rocket, which was bought out of Lanark for £3600, out of a Clola Double Deal sired-ewe. Champion at Beith and Newmilns. Runner up was a home-bred shearling tup the same way bred. Third as a lamb at the Royal Highland Show, he was also reserve at Beith. All classes – D Whyte.

Continental sheep (Judge: P Hammond). J Sheddon, Newfield Mains, Dundonald with a Beltex tup hogg by Woddies Explosive, out of a Woodies dam. It was bought from Stuart Wood at Carlisle as a tup lamb. Reserve – M and J Simpson, Tardoes with a Dutch Spotted gimmer. By the imported tup Admiral and out of Lochlad Eveanna, it was bought at Carlisle as a ewe lamb. First show outing. Tup, ewe, ewe lamb, group – J Sheddon. Ewe hogg – M and J Simpson.

Texel (Judge: P Hammond). Champion, reserve and overall sheep champion – D Whyte, Whitelee Gate, Newton Mearns. Champion was a gimmer that was purchased as a ewe hogg from Robbie Wilson at Longtown. Sired by Holylee Foreman, her dam is by Sportsmans Dirty Harry. Champion at Beith. Reserve was an ET gimmer that was champion at Neilston and reserve at Beith. Sired by Holylee Foreman and bred from a Watchknowe-sired ewe. All classes – D Whyte.

Blackface (Judge: S Kerr, Middleton, Newton Mearns). Champion and reserve – S and W Heads, Aitkenhead, Fenwick. Supreme was a ewe hogg by £900 Pole on her first outing. Reserve was a two-shear-tup Midlock-bred tup bought at Fort William for £5500. All classes – S and W Heads.

Clydesdales (Judge: B Duncan, Rose Cottage, Balmalcolm). Champion – B and D McMillan, Clydeview, Rothesay, with Fordelhill Sapphire, a two-year-old filly by Macfin Starlight, out of Fordelhill Jubilee Ruby. Bred by Scott Greenhill, she won at Beith and was reserve ay Kilmaurs and Neilston. Reserve – A Anderson and I Nisbet, Lainshaw Mains with the four-year-old mare, Star. Yeld mare, confined – A Anderson and I Nisbet. Two-year-old, pair – B and D McMillan. Bred by exhibitor – G and A Robertson, Kilwinning.