History was made in the sheep lines at Ingliston, when a crossing-type Bluefaced Leicester was tapped out as supreme sheep for the first time.
Albeit a crossing-type lamb from Barnshangan, scooped the inter-breed honours at a much reduced Highland Showcase in 2021.
And what an event, with in excess of 2000 entries competing in no fewer than 29 breed/sections, and Kerry Hills making their debut.
The quality was well up to the mark too, with the overall judge, Jimmy Warnock, Sandilands, a former chief sheep steward and chairman of the Royal Highland Show, most impressed by the line-up of champion winners.
Check more of our photos in our Photo Sales section here
“I have never seen so many sheep of such star quality forward for an inter-breed here,” said Mr Warnock.
“I was looking for an animal that is good on their legs, with shape, conformation and character and the champion has all those qualities and other star attributes. She’s a real sheep with class, a good head, luggs and a great eye. She was talking to me, saying look at me, look at me,” he said.
For the owner, Jamie Pirie (27), Blarnavaid, Drymen, it was a dream come true when he has only been exhibiting for six years at Ingliston and he was winning his first breed championship here.
His show stopper was a home-bred one-crop from his 20-strong ewe flock. Backed by the best of bloodlines, she is by a £12,000 Blarnavaid that sold to four breeders with Jamie retaining a share, and out of a Dawyck ewe bought at an online sale for £5800. Champion and reserve inter-breed sheep at Gargunnock Show, the ewe which was later christened Blarnavaid Patsy, also boasts Temain and Hewgill genetics in her pedigree.
Mr Warnock found his reserve and second reserve in the Charollais and Texel champions respectively, with the Blackface leader coming in fourth.
The runner-up was another home-bred one-crop ewe from regular Aberdeenshire winners, William and Carole Ingram, sons Gregor and Bruce and daughter Amy, Logie Durno, Inverurie, who were winning their 10th breed title. The Charollais from the boys’ Loanhead flock is got by semen from Boyo Vancouver and is out of a former show winning ewe.
Honourary reserve was the Campbell brothers’ – Keith, Allan and Roy – Cowal Texel, a two-crop ewe that was reserve at the Great Yorkshire and reserve inter-breed sheep at the Royal Welsh as a gimmer. She is sired by Hexel Django.
It was another good year for the Blackface breed too when the champion from the Ramsay family of Milnmark, Dalry, was fourth in the individual inter-breed competition with a pairing from the same home winning the supreme in the pairs competition on the Sunday.
Check more of our photos in our Photo Sales section here
Judge Clark Lamont, Dumfriesshire, said the standard of sheep in the pairs which is based on the champion male and female in each breed was ‘absolutely amazing,’ with the Blackies being extremely well balanced and ‘unbelievably well presented.’
The winning duo from the Ramsays who were celebrating an amazing eighth championship here in 21 years exhibiting, led with the supreme, a previously unshown gimmer by a £30,000 Elmscleugh and the male champion, a two-shear ram purchased last year from Midlock for £32,000 in partnership with Danny Hair, Drumbreddan.
Bluefaced Leicesters were again to the fore with a traditional pair taking the blue and white sash. This duo was made up of the champion, two-shear Espley-bred ram from Alan McClymont and sons Sam and Oli, Kirkstead, Yarrow, and the reserve, a home-bred one-crop ewe from Sophie Harding, Shrewbridge.
Young handlers
Kirsty Morton undoubtedly had her work cut out for her as master judge of two massive young handler classes, but she soon whittled through them, finding her champion and reserve in the lead senior and junior, respectively.
Selecting a supreme however, was by no means an easy task.
“The standard and quality of all the young handlers was amazing and far better than I expected. They all knew so much about their sheep and it was very close between the champion and reserve,” said Kirsty, who clerks at United Auctions, Stirling, and also helps out on the family farm at Lochend, Denny.
Going one better than his reserve win here last year, Bruce Guild (13) from New Cumnock, clinched the supreme, with the reserve honours presented to Matthew Gray (10), Kirkfieldbank.
“Bruce had a difficult lamb to work with but he was always watching the judge and trying to get it to stand to its best. Matthew was also extremely good,” Kirsty said.
Interestingly, Bruce who helps out on the family farm has won numerous young handler competitions in recent years. However, he never shows a sheep from the farm and instead prefers to take one he’s never worked with before, thereby showing off his handling skills.
Matthew also did well when he has just started exhibiting again and while he was placed at the Suffolk Club Show the previous weekend, this was the first time competing at national level since 2019. He was showing a Suffolk lamb from the farm at Langside.
Blackface
Team Ramsay, Milnmark, Dalry, not only scooped a record breaking eighth breed championship but also a fifth champion and reserve doubles in 21 years exhibiting.
The family who run 650 ewes took the supreme with a previously unshown gimmer by a £30,000 Elmscleugh bought in 2021, out of a ewe by an £11,000 Milnmark that goes back to the £55,000 Happrew.
Their reserve overall was the male champion, a two-shear ram bought last year from the Wights of Midlock for £32,000, in partnership with Danny Hair, Drumbreddan. A son of a £9000 Midlock, he goes back to a £60,000 Dalchirla, and stood second here last year.
Adding to the family success, the duo won the inter-breed pairs on the Sunday.
Check more of our photos in our Photo Sales section here
Judge John Murray, Crossflatt, found his reserve female in a gimmer from James Graham, Mains of Burnbank, Blair Drummond. Inter-breed sheep champion at Gargunnock, she is by a £32,000 Dyke sire and out of a home-bred ewe – one of only 40 in the flock. James had a great show as he was crowned stockman of the year in the Young Farmers’ stockjudging competition.
Taking the blue and white sash amongst the males was an Elmscleugh-bred ram bought last year for £14,000 at Stirling, from the Wights of Midlock. He is by a £32,000 Elmscleugh and is owned in partnership with Alastair and David MacArthur, Nunnerie and Robert Cockburn, Hill of Errol.
Suffolk
Welsh breeder Myfyr Evans’ Rhaeadr flock from Denbighshire went straight to the top to lift the tri-colour in an extremely strong Suffolk section.
Mr Evans who was returning to the event following a 14-year absence when he landed the breed honours and reserve inter-breed with Baileys BMW, this time led the section with a home-bred gimmer. Backed by the best of bloodlines and a full ET sister to the 28,000gns Rhaeadr lamb sold last year at Lanark to Stewart Craft, she is bred from a Lakeview ewe bought privately that stood champion at the Shropshire Show last year and has also bred sons to 20,000gns and ewe lambs to 8000gns. The sire is Dunfell Dynamite, a son of the 200,000gns Salopian Solid Gold, purchased privately from Robert Jenkinson.
Stewart Lathangie, Pyeston, Glenrothes was another with reason to celebrate, when his massive two-shear ram, Pyeston Phoenix bagged the male honours and runner-up silverware. A son of the 48,000gns Limestone Marksman, he is bred from the 2023 Scottish National champion, by Castleisle Capaldi. An ET brother to last year’s 32,000gns Pyeston ram, Phoenix is also the sire of Mr Lathangie’s show ewe lamb and four of the five lambs for this year’s breed sale at Lanark next month.
Check more of our photos in our Photo Sales section here
Judge Alastair Gault of the Forkins flock, Northern Ireland found his second best male in Richhill Rising Star, a shearling ram from Aberdeenshire breeders, William and Carole Ingram, sons Gregor and Bruce and daughter Amy, Logie Durno, Inverurie. He is sired by a Sitlow ram and was bought at Shrewsbury last year for 11,000gns.
Taking the equivalent amongst the females was a ewe from Bute breeder, David McMillan. His two-crop ewe bred by John Christie, Westcarse, was bought privately and already boasts a kist load of awards including the breed honours at Beith and Neilston Shows and the championship and reserve inter-breed sheep award at the National breed show at Ayr.
North Country Cheviot
Welsh breeder and former president of the North Country Cheviot Society, Melfyn Williams of the Pengroes flock, had his work cut out for him as official judge but soon found his supreme in a gimmer from Roderick and Lewis Runciman, Allanshaws, Galashiels.
The father and son duo who run 300 pure Cheviots with a further 400 crossed to a Bluefaced Leicester, topped a bumper line up with a home-bred entry by Glebefarm Class Act, a son of Allanshaws X-rated bought privately from Northern Ireland-based Alfie Shaw. She is out of a home-bred ewe and was on her show debut.
Another Borders-based father and son duo, Alan and James Cowen, Philiphaugh, Selkirk, bagged the male title and the reserve overall. Producing a personal best for this 150-pure ewe flock which has been exhibiting here for five years was the three-shear ram, Carruthers City Lights, a son of Allanshaws Almighty. He was bought at Lockerbie for £6500 and last year and won the breed honours at Yarrow and a red ticket at Peebles.
Taking the blue and white sash amongst the males was a ram lamb from the Campbells of Bardnaclavan, Thurso, brought out by Jonny Campbell. Another that boasts Allanshaws genetics in his pedigree, his entry is by Benrafton DMC, a son of a Allanshaws ram bought at Ballymena last year for 4200gns in partnership with Alan Smith, and out of a Synton-bred ewe.
A cracking show of gimmers saw the second prize winner to the champion, brought back in to take the reserve female honours. This was Willie and Laura Thomson’s Knockocker Bodyguard-sired entry from Hownam Grange, Kelso.
North Country Cheviot hill-type
George Irving and shepherd John Allan, Mountbenger, Yarrow, had a field day amongst the Lairg-type Cheviots, winning the supreme overall in their first year exhibiting the hill-type.
Their show stopper from the 300-strong ewe flock which runs alongside South Country Cheviot and Blackface enterprises was the home-bred gimmer, Benger Tammy, christened after the late Tom Kerr of the Colony flock who bred the dam. She is sired by Benger Dambuster.
Father and son duo Norman and David Douglas, Catslackburn, Yarrow, were also in the tickets in both the hill and the South Country Cheviots. They scooped the male and reserve overall with the two-shear ram, Tweedshaws Rocket, a £12,000 purchase at Lockerbie last year from Neil Manning. He is sired by a Castle Crawford sire.
Standing just behind him and taking the silverware for the runner-up male was the second prize aged ram, Castle Invasion, a two-shear ram from Billy Common, Crossdykes, Lockerbie. He was bought for £6000 at Lockerbie last year and is sired by the £20,000 Crossdykes Robroy.
Reserve female was Ali Warden’s three-crop ewe brought out by shepherd, Robbie Oliver from Skelfhill, Hawick. A former inter-breed sheep at Teviothead and Roberton, she is by Townfoot Showman and out of a home-bred ewe.
Lleyn
It was very much a bitter sweet moment for David and Becka Henderson of the Toucks flock from Stonehaven, when they won the supreme overall in what is to be their last year exhibiting at Ingliston.
The couple who were winning a second supreme here are looking to sell their 30-strong ewe flock later this year privately when Becka has taken on more work at SAC.
Their supreme was a home-bred shearling ram by a Fort tup bought two years ago at Carlisle. Bred from a line of show winners, his dam was reserve here last year and the grand-dam is a former female champion here.
Adding to the celebrations, a home-bred gimmer by a Knowles sire bought at Carlisle, landed the female honours. She was on her first outing.
Reserve overall was the male champion, a three-shear ram from Ian and Tom Walling, Selkirk. Their tup which was bought at Carlisle in 2022 from John Blakey, Netherton, for 1900gns, is by a Blackpotts sire and stood first here and the Great Yorkshire, last year.
A daughter of last year’s winner which this time stood first in her class, scooped the blue and white ribbons amongst the females for Aberdeenshire breeder Colin Crawford. His gimmer is sired is a 1700gns Cragg tup bought at Carlisle in 2022 that stood second in his class last year at Ingliston.
Ryeland
Yorkshire breeder, Annabel Burton, went home in style having won her first breed championship at Ingliston with a gimmer from the Ryeside flock.
Check more of our photos in our Photo Sales section here
Supreme was a daughter of Ryeside Zapper out of a Ryeside female. Already a star performer, she landed the award for the best lamb here and reserve female at the Great Yorkshire in 2023 along with the breed honours at The Three Counties earlier this month.
Herefordshire breeders, Jack Williams who runs a garden centre and Dominic Dickson who works in human resources for the local council, Herefordshire, were also well rewarded for their 16-hour round trip when they scooped the runner up sash with a shearling ram. Llangyfrwys Dark Lord was bought privately from Donna Maurice and is by Highland Arran and out of an Arbewth ewe.
It was also a long trip home for first time exhibitor, Katie MacDonald, Tenbury, Worcs, who won the runner up rosette amongst the males with an end of January-born ram lamb. Her previously unshown Haws Hill Elephant, is sired by Bryncaffo Zimbad, a tup used on loan, out of a home-bred Haws Hill ewe.
Flying the flag for Scotland David Mitchell, New Cumnock, Ayrshire, bagged the reserve female with a January-born ewe lamb by Bryncaffo Kelt, a ram purchased at Ludlow last year as a lamb, out of a home-bred ewe. He was first at Stirling, Ayr and Lesmahagow Shows.
Commercial sheep
Andrew Baillie, Carstairs Mains, Carstairs, had a field day amongst the commercial sheep winning the breeding section and the prime lambs.
Mr Baillie who was winning a sixth championship for his 500-ewe flock won the supreme with a home-bred three-crop ewe on her first outing. This Beltex cross Texel is sired by a Clary ram and was shown with mid-March-born Beltex cross twin lambs at foot by Callacrag Hotshot.
Hotshot was also the sire of the champion prime lambs. These mid-March born ewe lambs scaled 43kg each.
Robert Bryce, Chalmerston, Stirling, also came up with the goods, winning a second reserve overall, this time with the first prize native gimmer, a Suffolk cross out of a home-bred Suffolk cross Beltex ewe. She is sired by the 2021 Kelso purchase, Sitlow Something Special and stood champion at Drymen on her sole previous outing.
Border Leicester
Dreams came true amongst the Borders when whisky distillery engineer, Duncan Whyte, Newton Mearns, won his first supreme overall here – and the reserve.
Check more of our photos in our Photo Sales section here
Mr Whyte who runs just 16 ewes in his Mearns flock, has been exhibiting here for 20 years, took the tri-colour with a home-bred gimmer by Gortnagross Rocket, a tup bought for 3800gns at Lanark in partnership with Jimmy Douglas of the Clola flock. The dam is a home-bred show ewe by Clola Double Deal.
Mr Whyte’s reserve overall was the male champion, Ditton Islay Mist, a three-shear ram bought at Lanark as a lamb for £900 from Matt Steel. Male champion here last year, he is sired by Ditton Wham Bam and out of a Lammermuir Jake-sired female.
Standing next to him and winning the runner up amongst the males was the second prize aged ram, Mearns Mastercraftsman, bred by Mr Whyte, but shown by Andrew and Tom Tennant, of the Forth flock, Selkirk who bought him as a lamb at Lanark, in partnership with Pete Brown. He was on his first outing.
Lifting the blue and white ribbons in the opposite sex was a previously unshown gimmer from Alex and Sandy Watson’s Intock flock now based in the Borders. She is by Westforth TT and out of a ewe by Didcot Diamond.
Berrichon
It was also an extremely memorable day for Frances Barbour and daughter in law, Lynn, Newark, Sanquhar, when they did the double for the first time – winning both the champion in the male and the female sections.
They also secured a fifth breed title here, taking the tri-colour with the massive three-shear ram, Glynoch Wagner which was bought at Carlisle as a tup lamb from Adrian Mansel Davies. He is sired by Glynoch Usain, a former champion at the Royal Welsh and out Glynoch Rebecca.
A big winner last year, Wagner was champion at the Great Yorkshire and also made up part of the winning MV-accredited inter-breed pair and the reserve overall duo at Harrogate.
The other member of that winning pair was the female champion at Ingliston. This home-bred two-crop ewe is by Newark Vulture – a tup that sold privately to Ireland.
Reserve overall Berrichon was the runner-up male, a tup lamb from Ewan Burgess’ Criffel flock from Dumfries. Second at Cumberland, Criffel Avenger, a mid-January-born entry is one of the first sons by Barra Willy Wonka, a tup bought privately from Rosie Barraclough, out of a home-bred ewe.
Another from the Criffel flock bagged the reserve female title. This was Criffel Zodiac, a gimmer by Criffel Van Helsing, a home-bred ram retained for breeding out of Janos Tipsy. She was second at Cumberland.
Jacob
It was a roll-over year amongst the Jacobs when Messrs Connor and Dalrymple’s Dun-Mor flock from Linlithgow, won the breed championship for a second consecutive year with the two-shear ram Luranha Randan.
Check more of our photos in our Photo Sales section here
The tup which was bred by Ewen Macmillan and bought as a lamb at Skipton after standing reserve champion, is by Harbell Lincoln and out of a Dunmor ewe. He was shown by Mairi Connor and Scott Dalrymple and was on his first outing of the year.
Another by Lincoln won the reserve female rosette for the Dunmor flock. This was a one-crop ewe that was female champion and reserve overall here last year.
The runner-up male followed through to take the reserve honours for Barbara Webster’s Carrochy flock from Fife. Her February-born lamb, Carrochy Yolo, is by the privately purchased Blackbrook Mowhawk and out of Carrochy Tilly. He was on his first outing.
Robert Locker of the Edingale flock from Greenlaw, landed the female championship with a gimmer that also won the best exhibitor bred title. Second at Fife Show, she is by the Pentra King Harper son, Edingale Huge Heffner, a tup that sold to Mel Harper but was used on loan, out of a home-bred ewe.
Cheviot
Father and son duo, Norman and David Douglas, Catslackburn, Yarrow, scored a hat-trick amongst the Cheviots, winning their third championship here, this time with a two-shear ram.
The duo who run 1800 ewes of which 800 are South Country Cheviots, took took centre stage with Tweedshaws Rocket, a £12,000 purchase last year at Lockerbie from Neil Manning. He is sired by a Castle Crawford ram.
Reserve male was the second prize winner to the champion, Castle Invasion, a two-shear ram from Billy Common, Crossdykes, Lockerbie. He was bought last year for £6000 at Lockerbie from John Paton and is sired by Crossdykes Robroy.
First time exhibitors in the Southie lines, Gavin and Sarah Jane Donald of the Windhill flock Strathaven, bagged the reserve championship with a home-bred gimmer from their 40 strong ewe flock which runs alongside 130 Blackfaces. Previously unshown, she is by Mountbenger Atomic and out of a £4000 Sundhope ram bought at Lockerbie.
Ali Warden and shepherd Robbie Oliver, Skelfhill, Hawick, also came up with the goods taking the reserve female with a home-bred three-crop ewe that was inter-breed champion at Roberton and Teviothead last year. She is by Townfoot Showman.
Dutch Spotted
The Jackson trio – Ali, Hannah and young Robbie – of the Tiptop flock from, Maulscastle, Annan, continued on the winning ways amongst the Spotties winning the championship trophy for a third consecutive year.
Tiptop Encore, a home-bred two-crop ewe is sired by Tiptop Diablo, a ram that sold for £4500 as a tup lamb, and out of an imported ewe. A red rosette winner from the Royal Welsh and the Great Yorkshire, last year, she was also inter-breed sheep champion at Cumberland earlier this month.
Tommy Jackson, the sole Northern Ireland exhibitor in the sheep lines, took the male title and the reserve overall with the home-bred two-shear ram, Milltown Fireball King. Reserve male champion at Balmoral, this big tup is got by semen from Carlaustan Extrovert and out of Diamond Destiny which was bought for 2750gns as a ewe lamb.
Fireball King is a full brother to Milltown Goldenballs, a former male champion that sold for 20,000gns and went on to breed this year’s male champion at Balmoral which sold privately for £10,000 to Oliver Watson.
The first prize ram lamb from Nick Brown’s Irthing Valley flock from Carlisle, landed the reserve male. Irthing Valley He’s The Boss, a mid-January-born lamb, is by the imported Tank ram, out of Irthing Valley Fancy That, and stood second at Cumberland.
Welsh breeder, Robbie Wilson, Cnwch, took the blue and white sash amongst the females with a home-bred gimmer by Cnwch Emilio, a tup retained for breeding, out of a Beech Hay ewe bought privately from Rob and Vicky Grinnall.
Texel
It was undoubtedly a red-letter day in the busy Texel lines, when the Campbell brothers – Keith, Allan and Roy – of the Cowal flock landed their first breed championship here.
While the family has previously won a championship in the Highland pony section here in 1982, this was their best result in the sheep lines. Their show stopper from the 35-strong ewe flock was a two-crop ewe by Hexel Django, a 65,000gns joint purchase. Reserve at the Great Yorkshire and reserve inter-breed sheep at the Royal Welsh as a gimmer, she was also second at Lesmahagow, last month.
Her dam, a home-bred ewe by Teiglum Charmer is also a notable show winner, having stood first here as a ewe lamb, and placed at last week’s show.
For the second year in succession a tup lamb from Jim Innes’ Strathbogie flock from Huntly, brought out by flock manager Michael Leggat, landed the male championship and reserve overall. He is sired by the 28,000gns Auldhouseburn Fancy Pants and out of a ewe by Cressage Enforcer.
Adding to the celebrations, Strathbogie took the reserve female with a ewe lamb by Strathbogie Gladiator, a son of Auldhouseburn Fancy Pants sold privately for a six-figure sum, out of another ewe by Enforcer.
Taking the equivalent amongst the males was the second prize ram lamb from Jim and Sandy Hunter’s 12-ewe Wedderburn flock from Huntly who were exhibiting Texels for a second time here. He is bred from a Teiglum ewe by Knock Yardsman that bred Teiglum Younggun, and sired by Saddlerhead Fury, a tup used on loan from the Ettrick flock.
Hampshire Down
The long trip north from Cornwall, proved fruitful for Adrian and Richard Rundle of Treworthal flock, when they scooped the silverware for the male and female champions.
Check more of our photos in our Photo Sales section here
They took the supreme with their lead male, a December-born ram lamb by Treworthal Maximus, a son of the show tup, Treworthal Savea, retained for breeding, out of a home-bred ewe by Lecropt Challenger. Champion at the Royal Cornwall and reserve are Bath and West, this lamb also made up part of the winning inter-breed pairs champions at the same show.
The other member of that winning pair, a ewe lamb by the Treworthal Lord-sired Treworthal Frestorm, scooped the female honours. She is also bred from a home-bred ewe by the same Lecropt sire.
Breeders of that Lecropt sire, Roy and Jane McFarlane and daughter Lorna Rennie, Bridge of Allan, took the reserve male ticket with the second prize ram lamb, a December-born entry by Lecropt Invincible – a former male champion here in 2019. The dam, a 12-year-old Graylen ewe has produced 20 lambs. He was second at Stirling Show.
Eirlys and Stuart Jones of the Maes-Glas flock from Pembrokeshire, won the reserve male with a December-born ram lamb.
Swaledale
Livestock photographer Wayne Hutchinson, father Harry and son Sam, won their second supreme overall at Ingliston since 2021 with the same female.
The family who run 320 ewes in their Coachhouse flock from Hawes, led the line-up with a three-crop ewe by a £9000 Spittal bought at Kirkby Stephen. Bred from two generations of show winners, her grand-dam was supreme here in 2009 and 2010. The ewe was on her first outing of 2024.
Father and son duo, William and Adam Watson, Sanders Close, Brampton, won the male championship and reserve overall with a home-bred tup hogg by a £4000 Arthur and George Slack-bred ram bought at Kirkby Stephen in 2020. Previously unshown, he is out of a ewe by a £4500 Christine Clarkson, Kisdon ewe and together with a ewe hogg by the same sire, won the breed pairs.
Previously unshown entries from John Hutchinson, Hebblethwaite Hall, Sedbergh, took the runner-up male and female honours. The former, a shearling ram purchased for £14,000 from Peter Lightfoot, is owned in partnership with Craig Hutchinson, Old Spittal and is sired by a £55,000 Hundith ram.
The second best female was a home-bred ewe hogg by a £400 Setmabanning sire, out of a ewe by a Stanhopegate tup.
Bluefaced Leicester traditional-type
Alan McClymont and sons Sam and Oli, Kirkstead, Yarrow, enjoyed another bumper year amongst the Blues, winning three of the top four awards to include the supreme overall.
Taking all the plaudits and securing a fifth championship for the 30-ewe flock, was an R1 Espley ram bred by Michael and Nicky Gray and bought for £23,000 as a ram lamb after standing pre-sale champion at Carlisle. This two-shear is a son of a Logie Durno ram that goes back to a £5500 Burndale K1 bought at Builth.
Team McClymont also took the reserve male and female ribbons. Standing next to the male champion was a home-bred shearling ram bound for the Kelso Ram Sales in September. He is by the N11 Bonvilston that stood champion here in 2022 and out of a ewe by the £5800 L1 Kirkstead.
Runner up female was a home-bred one-crop ewe that was champion at the Penrith Progeny Show and reserve female here last year. She is sired by a £3000 L1 Ashes and out of a ewe by the veteran show winning G1 Burndale ram.
Female champion and reserve overall was a home-bred one-crop ewe from Sophie Harding, Shrewbridge, Shrewsbury. Placed at the Royal Welsh, last year she is sired by a £6200 Ashes sire bought at Welshpool and out of a home-bred ewe – one of only 20 in the flock.
Bluefaced Leicester – crossing-type
The celebrations ran well into the weekend when young Jamie Pirie, Blarnavaid, not only won his first breed championship at Ingliston but also the supreme inter-breed sheep honours the following day.
Mr Pirie, who runs 20 ewes in his Blarnavaid flock from Drymen also manages an 1800-ewe flock and finishing cattle enterprise at Ardgate, Gartocharn, went straight to the top with a home-bred one-crop ewe. She is sired by a £12,000 Blarnavaid that sold to Drumnessie, Wedderburn, Allanfauld and David Cowie, South Gariochsford, Keith, with a share retained by Mr Pirie. Her grand-sire was the £19,000 Temain bought at Ballymena. The dam was a £5800 Dawyck-bred female by a Hewgill sire bought at an online sale. Mr Pirie’s supreme, later christened Blarnavaid Patsy, was breed champion and reserve inter-breed at Gargunnock on her sole previous outing.
The breeders of that Dawyck female – Malcolm and sons Gary and Craig Thornborrow, Easter Dawyck, Stobo, also had a good day, winning the reserve overall with the second prize ewe to the champion shown by Marion Porter. Previously unshown, she is by the £23,000 N1 Giants Causeway bought at Ballymena, and out of a daughter of the F10 Penhill that was champion here in 2017.
Best opposite sex was shearling ram from the Wights of Midlock, Crawford. This was a £6000 Breck House ram bought at Hawes last year on his first outing since the sale. He is by a Carry House ram.
Reserve male was the second prize shearling ram, a home-bred entry shown by William Lockhart, Culdoach, Kirkcudbright. First here last year, he is by an R1 Barnshangan that was bought at Hawes after being male champion at Ingliston in 2022 and out of a home-bred ewe – one of only 20 in the flock.
Charollais
Team Ingram not only bagged their 10th Charollais championship with a home-bred ewe, but also swept the boards in the section winning the top four awards and the reserve inter-breed sheep honours the next day.
Check more of our photos in our Photo Sales section here
The family of William and Carole, sons Gregor and Bruce, and daughter Amy, Logie Durno, Pitcaple, Inverurie, won the supreme with a one-crop ewe that stood first here as a ewe lamb . She is got by semen from Boyo Vancouver, and is bred from a daughter of Loanhead Talisman that won red tickets here in 2019 and 2022.
The family who run 20 pedigree Charollais ewes between the Logie Durno and Loanhead flocks, alongside a larger 5200-strong ewe flock breeding commercial shearling rams, took the reserve with a December-born ewe lamb. It is sired by Cavick Blood Diamond, a ram bought privately as a lamb last year, from Elizabeth and Mitchel Britain. Her dam is by Logie Durno Umpire – the inter-breed ram lamb at the 2019 Royal Welsh – and bred last year’s champion at the 2023 premier sale and the first prize shearling at the Highland
The same sire was behind their male champion, a similarly aged tup lamb bred from a 10-year-old ewe that regularly produces show winners.
Standing behind him to lift the runner-up male was a home-bred shearling ram by Logie Durno Jackpot, a tup sold last year at Worcester sired by a Crogham ram.
Hebridean
Young Struan Cuthbert (13), Kinross, secured a third Highland championship for the Ardoch flock owned by parents Jack and Morna, with his own Newbridge Gretta.
His three-crop ewe which was bought at a sale at York from Kendal-based, Larry Cowper, is a former show winner by Newbridge Eric, out of Newbridge Daisy.
Taking the blue and white sash was teaching assistant, Carrie Tyson’s aged ram, Westburton Zebedee, from the Tymar flock near Ulverston. This two-shear bought at Melton Mowbray was bred by the Nottingham Wildlife Trust. He was reserve at Nantwich and the Three Counties earlier in the month.
Transport manager for Calor Gas, Darren Cassie, Leicestershire, scooped the runner-up female with a gimmer from his Knightley flock. Champion at National Show at the Three Counties, and reserve at another four this year, she is sired by Knightley Anakin Skywalker, and out of a McCormick ewe bought at Lanark.
Cheshire-based Vicky Mason, took the equivalent amongst the males with the home-bred shearling, Sycamore Pphoenix, a son of last year’s reserve male here, Sycamore Nairn. He was placed at Staffordshire County and Cheshire Shows.
North of England Mules
Last year’s reserve winner, James Robinson, Carnforth went one better to bag the championship in a strong section.
Supreme was a gimmer bred by Neil Marsden of the Highberries Bluefaced Leicester flock, Cockermouth, that made up the first prize pen of ewe lambs at Hawes. She is by Highberries Highlander and out of a Swaledale ewe.
A gimmer shown with twin-born Texel cross lambs born in March, was tapped out as reserve. Shown by John Ackerley, Milton Mains, Brampton, she was bred by Stephen Collingwood, Amblingate, and bought in a pen of 10 at Hexham last year. She was placed here last year.
Leading the strongly contested ewe lamb class was an entry from Andrew and Caroline Hunter, The Steel, Hexham. She is sired by the R27 Midlock bought at Hawes for £25,000 which also bred last year’s first and second prize ewe lambs from Carry House and The Steel, respectively.
Rouge
A well-known show ewe from Ian Teasdale’s Jet flock from Beadlam, took gold amongst the Rouge.
Female champion here and breed leader at the Great Yorkshire in 2023, she is sired by the privately purchased Fairyglen Utube and out of Knighton Who’s That Girl, bought at flock dispersal at Carlisle.
Mr Teasdale’s 30-strong ewe flock also scooped the male championship with a two-shear Bennachie ram bought at Carlisle from Aberdeenshire breeder, Pat Imlah. He was on his first outing.
Reserve overall was the runner-up female, a gimmer from Hampshire Down winners, Adrian and Richard Rundle, Newquay, Cornwall.
Their best is another bred from a Knighton ewe bought at the flock dispersal but sired by the Carlisle purchase, Glenkeen Warlock which stood first in his class at Ingliston. The gimmer was first at the Royal Welsh, last year.
A home-bred shearling from Anthony Carter’s Millcroft flock from Dawlish, Devon, was reserve male. He is sired by a retained Millcroft sire that goes back to Knighton genetics and stood champion at Devon and reserve male at Cornwall.
Beltex
There could be no doubting the popularity of the Beltex champion which was met with rapturous applause from a massive ringside of enthusiasts.
Going all the way to lift the supreme and produce a personal best for the Morton family – Andrew (Shaky) and Hilary son Andrew and daughter Kirsty – was Morton’s Just My Luck from Lochend, Denny. She is by the 10,000gns stock ram, Gyffin Dexter and bred from Morton’s Dawn. First at the Great Yorkshire last year, she is a full sister to the reserve champion at the Scottish National last year which sold for 6200gns at the Beltex Beauties sale.
Mortons genetics were also behind the reserve – Greenall Gotta Go, a four-shear ram from Stuart Wood’s Aberdeenshire-based Woodies flock from Skene. Originally bought at Skipton by Jock McMillan of the Clary flock, he is sired by Mortons Cheeky Boy, bred from Artnagullion Damsel and was bought privately.
Standing behind him to lift the runner-up male ticket was a January-born lamb from Ellie Miller and her father Alan, Lurg, Midmar. His pedigree features the 2022 Lanark purchase, Mid Shawtonhill Gypsy King, bought for 4000gns, and Lurg Hey Fancy Pants.
Another lamb took the reserve female for Liam Swinnerton’s Lipley flock from Shropshire. His February-born entry is bred from Lipley Elsa and is another sired by Gyffin Dexter.
Zwartbles
Ally Baird’s show gimmer, Greystones Laurel, continued on her winning ways to produce a fourth Ingliston championship for the 25-strong ewe flock from Dunblane.
Check more of our photos in our Photo Sales section here
Backed by home-bred genetics on both sides, this classy lass was champion at Drymen and Stirling and reserve inter-breed sheep at West Fife.
Sired by Greystones Hero, a son of Pistyll Firecracker retained for breeding which also produced the first prize ewe lamb, she is out of the former show ewe, Greystones Finesse
A massive home-bred two-shear ram from Brian Gibson’s Conic flock from Gartocharn, landed the reserve and his best result since a shed fire destroyed two-thirds of his flock in 2021. His Conic Keanu, is by the Sellside Herbert son, Conic Journalist and bred from the Carlisle purchase, Crabtree Damson.
Runner up amongst the males was a January-born ram lamb from Colin Rae’s Dumfriesshire-based Wallacetown flock. Sired by Castlehill Hurricane, a tup bought privately from Aly Baird which was originally purchased as a shearling for 2800gns at Carlisle, she is bred from a Whinnow ewe by a Wallacetown tup.
The second prize gimmer to the champion was brought back in to the ring, to be presented the runner up female award.
Aquila Lhoste from Nicola Henderson and family’s flock from Stirling, was champion at Gargunnock. Her pedigree features Grahams Kingkong onto the home-bred Aquila Himalaya.
Scotch Mule
The Scotch Mule classes is always full of eye candy and this year was no exception, with the winner from a class of 33 ewe lambs going on to take the supreme.
Judge Jimmy Sinclair, Crookston, tapped out an end of March-born lamb from Kevin Ridley, Shitlington Hall, Hexham, as his champion choice.
Producing a first Mule championship in just two years exhibiting here was a lamb by the P56 Dawyck bought at Kelso in 2022 for £8000 as a shearling in partnership with Nunnerie. The dam is a home-bred North of England-type Blackface ewe. The ewe lamb will be sold at Hexham later in the year.
Last year’s champion had to settle with the reserve. This was an Allanfauld-bred gimmer from Dumfriesshire-based Matt Ross, that had been bought at Stirling as a ewe lamb. She is a Firth sire bought at Kelso.
Heather Gray, Drumnessie and Lewis Smith, Towiemore, topped the ewes with a one-crop Farden-bred entry bought in a pen of 40 at Castle Douglas. She was champion at Gargunnock Show.
Bleu Du Maine
It was undoubtedly a day to remember for Dumfries-based Kerrie McDermid, when she scooped the tri-colour amongst the Bleus with a one-crop ewe on her show debut.
Ms McDermid who runs 20 ewes in her Cargen Glen flock established in 2021, led the way with a Dunelm-bred female bought privately as a gimmer from Jonny Stables, Co Durham. Her pedigree features Inveresk Robo and the ewe, Dunelm Note.
Another from the same flock took the blue and white sash amongst the males.
This was Cargen Glen Zippit, a January-born tup lamb by Cargen Glen Yabby Dabby Do, out of the privately purchased Ballycanal Wilding.
The second prize ewe to the champion followed all the way through to win the runner up female and reserve overall for Calum Cruden of the Standingstones flock from Dyce.
His one-crop is by Standingstone Ramos, a son of a Langley ram retained for breeding out of a Perdi ewe bought at the flock dispersal. Reserve here last year and at Turriff, she was also champion any other breed at Banchory and Keith.
Neil Millar of the Joyfield flock from Woodhouse Mains, Lockerbie, topped the males with a January-born ET-bred tup lamb.
He is bred from the 6000gns Perdi Rochelle, sired by Maximum Obama and is bound for the breed sale at Carlisle in August.
Shetland
Kate Sharp’s Ewingston flock from Humbie, produced a cracking eighth championship win at Ingliston.
Her winner this time was a bought in two-shear ram which first took the white championship and then the supreme for the 20-strong ewe flock.
Island Ollie, which was bought privately as a lamb from Shetland breeder, George Morrison, Haggista, is sired by an Island-bred ram and already boasts championship wins last year at Fife and the Great Yorkshire.
Ewingston also bagged the runner up amongst the males with Ewingston Brendan, a shearling ram by Island Geordie, out of Ewingston Lucy. He was first at Fife.
A home-bred white gimmer from Huntly-based Ian Carnegie, Raedykes, topped the females and bagged the reserve overall. Previously unshown, she is sired by a Ewingston ram bought privately from Kate Sharp, while her dam is a Raedykes ewe.
Raedykes genetics were behind the best lamb too when an April-born female from David Alcorn and Gavin Ingram, Biggar, was presented the top award. It is sired by Raedykes Dexter.
John and Rowena Steven of the Rosebank flock from Currie, Midlothian, won the award for the best group with a white two-shear ram, and two white gimmers all of which were sired by Woolpack Ultra, a ram purchased privately from Susan Russell.
Coloured champion was Alex Playfair’s one-crop ewe from the Kaimknowe flock from Kelso, which was securing a third championship win here for his parents, Patrick and Denise Playfair. Kaimknowe Nightshade, which was a multiple winner last year, is sired by Rivendale Mathias and out of Kaimknowe Delilah. She also won the award for the best wool on the hoof.
Blue Texel
Stephanie Dick is better known in pedigree cattle circles, but her 15-ewe Stephick Blue Texel flock from Stirling is also making its mark having picked up her first sheep championship at Ingliston.
Star attraction here was Stephick Her Majesty, a gimmer by Cairnock Ferrari, bred from the former reserve winner at the Great Yorkshire, Stephick Fairytale. The gimmer was champion at the National Show at Stirling and went on to lift the inter-breed sheep honours.
Reserve was an early February-born tup lamb from Charles Copeland and Jo Higgs’ Orkney flock from the Scottish island. He is bred from a Hackney-bred embryo female that was sired by Sunnybank Exchange Rate and bred from the 12,000gns Hackney Classy. The sire of the lamb is Matts Gaffer, a 4500gns purchase at Carlisle in 2022.
Another embryo bought at the Hackney dispersal was reserve female for Stuart Wood, Skene, Aberdeenshire. His one-crop ewe is sired by Exchange Rate while the dam is Hackney Classy. Her ewe lamb was second in her class at the show.
Beili Blues Hunter, a shearling ram from John and Laura Cousar, Howcommon and shared with Andrew Struthers, Boylston, was tapped out as second best male. Another ET, he is bred from Hackney Coffee and sired by Cairnrock Fully Loaded. Bought at Carlisle, as a lamb, he was second at the National Show at Stirling.
Valais Blacknose
Jamie Wood of the Prendwick flock from Whittingham, Alnwick, went straight to the top to land the tri-colour in his first year competing at the Highland.
His star performer was the previously unshown shearling ram, Prendwick Killian, an ET bred from Prendwick Tamara, and sired by Yew Tree Bertie. He is to be retained a stock ram for the 200-strong ewe flock.
Katrina and Robbie Taylor of the Whiterigg flock from Falkirk, were also in the tickets winning the female honours and reserve overall with Whiterigg Koko Channel.
This Moorahill Indy 500-sired gimmer, is out of Bridgehaugh Mill Faith, the foundation female bought from David Taylor privately. Champion at Ayr and reserve at Drymen, she was producing a second reserve overall here for the couple.
Raymond Irvine and Jenni McAllister’s champion winner from Drymen Show, Highland Kili, a tup lamb from Inverlochy, Tomintoul, was reserve male.
Backed by home-bred genetics on both sides, he is sired by Highland Hero and out of Highland Eden.
Highland Kitkat, which was placed at Drymen Show, took the equivalent amongst the females. This ewe lamb is also by Highland Hero.
Kerry Hill
Kerry Hill sheep made their debut at Ingliston with competitive classes for the society which is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year.
The society which boasts 580 members saw honorary secretary Chris Adamson, Littleborough, Lancs, lift the supreme with a home-bred gimmer from his 20-ewe Whitfield flock.
She is by Whitfield Bombastic, a son of a £1000 Woodhouse ram bought privately, out of a home-bred ewe. She was first at the National breed show at Stafford.
Dumfriesshire breeders, Stuart and Angie Burgess, of the Topspot flock from New Abbey, were also in the money, taking the reserve overall with an end of February-born ram lamb.
He is sired by Pentrenent Choir Boy, which was bought as a lamb for £800 and also stood second at the show.
The dam is a Crochmaid-bred ewe, gifted to the couple by Cath Kewley.
Topspot also bagged the runner up award amongst the females with the second prize gimmer to the champion. This was a Woodhouse-bred female by Dalwyne Avichi that had been bought at Carlisle as a ewe lamb.
Birsca Black Magic, a two-shear ram bred by Jack Graham, Waterbeck, Lockerbie, but owned by Robert Stott of the Hilltop flock from Biggar, bagged the silverware for the reserve male. Sired by a Pentrenant ram, he was male champion at the Great Yorkshire in 2022 and champion at Dumfries in 2022.
History was made in the sheep lines at Ingliston, when a cross-type Bluefaced Leicester was tapped out as supreme sheep for the first time.
This year’s massive sheep lines saw in excess 2000 entries compete in no fewer than 29 breed/sections, with Kerry Hills also making their debut.
The quality was well up to the mark too, with inter-breed judge, Jimmy Warnock, a former chief sheep steward and chairman of the Royal Highland Show, most impressed by the line-up of 29 champion winners.
“I have never seen so many sheep of such star quality forward for an inter-breed competition here,” said Mr Warnock.
“I was looking for an animal that is good on her legs, with shape, conformation and character and the champion, the crossing-type Bluefaced Leicester is a real sheep with star attributes. She’s got class, quality, a good head and an eye. She was talking to me ¬– saying look at me – and she was exceptionally good on her legs, he said.
For the owner, Jamie Pirie, Blarnavaid, Drymen, it was a dream come true.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do since I was a wee boy,” said Jamie (27) who has only been exhibiting for six years and was also winning his first breed championship here.
His show stopper was a home-bred one-crop from his 20-strong ewe flock. Backed by the best of bloodlines, she is by a £12,000 Blarnavaid that sold four breeders with Jamie retaining a share, and out of a Dawyck ewe bought at an online sale for £5800. Champion and reserve inter-breed sheep at Gargunnock Show, the ewe which was later christened Blarnavaid Patsy, also boasts Temain and Hewgill genetics in her pedigree.
Mr Warnock found his reserve and second reserve in the Charollais and Texel champions respectively, with the Blackface leader coming in fourth.
The runner-up was another home-bred one-crop ewe from regular Aberdeenshire winners, ¬ William and Carole Ingram, sons Gregor and Bruce and daughter Amy, Logie Durno, Inverurie, who were winning their 10th breed title here. The Charollais from the boys’ Loanhead flock is got by semen from Boyo Vancouver and is out of a former show winning ewe.
Honourary reserve was the Campbell brothers’ – Keith, Allan and Roy ¬– Cowal Texel, a two-crop ewe that was reserve at the Great Yorkshire and reserve inter-breed sheep at the Royal Welsh as a gimmer. She is sired by Hexel Django.
It was another good year for the Blackface breed too when the champion, from the Ramsay family of Milnmark, Dalry, was fourth in the individual inter-breed competition and a pairing from the same home won the supreme in the pairs.
Judge Clark Lamont, Dumfriesshire, said the standard of sheep in the pairs competitition which is based on the champion male and female in each breed was “absolutely amazing,” with the Blackies being extremely well balanced and unbelievably well presented.
The winning duo from the Ramsays who were celebrating an amazing eighth championship here in 21 years exhibiting led the pairs with the supreme, a previously unshown gimmer by a £30,000 Elmscleugh and the male champion, a two-shear ram purchased last year from Midlock for £32,000 in partnership with Danny Hair, Drumbreddan.
Young handlers
Kirsty Morton undoubtedly had her work cut out for her as master judge of two massive young handler classes, but she soon whittled through them, finding her champion and reserve in the lead senior and junior, respectively.
Selecting a supreme however, was by no means an easy task. “The standard and quality of all the young handlers was amazing and far better than I expected. They all knew so much about their sheep and it was very close between the champion and reserve,” said Kirsty, who clerks at United Auctions, Stirling, and also helps out on the family farm at Lochend, Denny.
Going one better than his reserve win here last year, Bruce Guild (13) from New Cumnock, clinched the supreme, with the reserve honours presented to Matthew Gray (10), Kirkfieldbank, who was competiting for the first time since 2019.
“Bruce had a difficult lamb to work with but he was always watching the judge and trying to get the it to stand to its best. Matthew was also extremely good. It was a close decision,” Kirsty said.
Interestingly, Bruce who helps out on the family farm has won numerous young handler competitions in recent years. However, he never shows a sheep from the farm and instead prefers to take out a lamb that he’s never worked with before, thereby showing off his handling skills to the max.
Matthew also did so well when he has only just started exhibiting again and while he was placed at the Suffolk Club Show the previous weekend, this was the first time in recent years that he has competed at such at national level. He was showing a Suffolk lamb from the farm at Langside.
Reserve in the seniors and juniors were ??? and ???? respectively.
Blackface
Team Ramsay, Milnmark, Dalry, not only scooped a record breaking eighth breed championship but also a fifth champion and reserve in 21 years exhibiting in another big Blackie section.
The family who run 650 ewes took the supreme with a previously unshown gimmer by a £30,000 Elmscleugh bought in 2021, out of a ewe by an £11,000 Milnmark that goes back to £55,000 Happrew.
Their reserve overall was the male champion, a two-shear ram bought last year from the Wights of Midlock for £32,000, in partnership with Danny Hair, Drumbreddan. A son of a £9000 Midlock, he goes back to a £60,000 Dalchirla, and stood second here last year.
Adding to the family success, the duo won the inter-breed pairs on the Sunday, under master judge, Clark Lamont who was most impressed by all the pairings, with the Blackies being described: “as a well balanced and matching pair and unbelievably well presented.”
Judge John Murray, Crossflatt, found his reserve female in James Graham, Mains of Burnbank, Blairddrummond, enjoyed his best year at Highland too when he landed the reserve female honours with a gimmer that was inter-breed sheep champion at Gargunnock. She is by a £32,000 Dyke sire and out of a home-bred ewe – one of only 40 in the flock. James also won the overall Young Farmers’ stockjudging competition on the Saturday night.
Taking the blue and white sash amongst the males was an Elmscleugh-bred ram bought last year for £14,000 at Stirling, from the Wights of Midlock, Crawford. He is by a £32,000 Elmscleugh that goes back to a £££ and was shown by the Wights of Midlock. The tup is owned in partnership with Alastair and David Mcarthur, Nunnerie and Robert Cockburn, Hill of Errol.
Suffolk
Welsh breeder Myfyr Evans’ Rhaeadr flock from Denbighshire went straight to the top to lift the tri-colour in an extremely strong Suffolk section.
Mr Evans who was returning to the event following a 14-year absence when he landed the breed honours and reserve inter-breed with Baileys BMW, this time led the breed with a home-bred gimmer backed by the best of bloodlines. A full ET sister to the 28,000gns Rhaeadr lamb sold last year at Lanark to Stewart Craft, she is bred from a Lakeview ewe bought privately that stood champion at the Shropshire Show last year and has also bred sons to 20,000gns and ewe lambs to 8000gns. The sire is Dunfell Dynamite, a son of the 200,000gns Salopian Solid Gold, purchased privately from Robert Jenkinson.
Fife-based breeder Stewart Lathangie, Pyeston, Glenrothes was another with reason to celebrate, when his two-shear ram, Pyeston Phoenix bagged the male honours and silverware for the runner-up. A son of the 48,000gns Limestone Marksman, he is out of the 2023 Scottish National champion, by Castleisle Capaldi. An ET brother to last year’s 32,000gns Pyeston ram, Phoenix is also the sire of Mr Lathangie’s show ewe lamb and four of the five lambs for this year’s breed sale at Lanark next month.
Judge Alasdair Gault of the Forkins flock, Northern Ireland found his second best male in Richhill Rising Star, a shearling ram from Aberdeenshire breeders, William and Carole Ingram, sons Gregor and Bruce and daughter Amy, Logie Durno, Inverurie. He is sired by a Sitlow ram and was bought at Shrewsbury last year for 11,000gns, from ??? .
Taking the equivalent amongst the females was a ewe from Bute breeder, David McMillan. His two-crop ewe bred by John Christie, Westcarse, was bought privately and already boasts a kist load of awards including the breed honours at Beith and Neilston Shows and the championship and reserve inter-breed sheep award at the National breed show at Ayr.
North Country Cheviot
Welsh breeder and former president of the North Country Cheviot Society, Melfyn Williams of the Pengroes flock, had his work cut out for him as official judge but soon found his supreme in a gimmer from Roderick and Lewis Runciman, Allanshaws, Galashiels.
The father and son duo who run 300 pure Cheviots with a further 400 crossed to a Bluefaced Leicester, topped a bumper line up with a home-bred entry by Glebefarm Class Act, a son of Allanshaws X-rated bought privately from Northern Ireland-based Alfie Shaw. She is out of a home-bred ewe and was on her show debut.
Another Borders-based father and son duo, Alan and James Cowen, Philiphaugh, Selkirk, bagged the male title and the reserve overall. Producing a personal best for this 150-pure ewe flock which has been exhibiting here for five years was the three-shear ram, Carruthers City Lights, a son of Allanshaws Almighty. He was bought at Lockerbie for £6500 and last year won the breed honours at Yarrow and a red ticket at Peebles.
Taking the blue and white sash amongst the males was a ram lamb from the Campbells of Bardnaclavan, Thurso, brought out by Jonny Campbell. Another that boasts Allanshaws genetics in his pedigree, his entry is by Benrafton DMC, a son of a Allanshaws ram bought at Ballymena last year for 4200gns in partnership with Alan Smith, and out of a Synton-bred ewe.
A cracking show of gimmers saw the second prize winner to the champion, brought back in to take the reserve female honours. This was Willie and Laura Thomson’s Knockocker Bodyguard-sired entry from Hownam Grange, Kelso.
North Country Cheviot Hill
George Irving and shepherd John Allan, Mountbenger, Yarrow, had a field day amongst the Lairg-type Cheviots, winning the supreme overall in their first year exhibiting the hill type.
Their show stopper from the 300-strong ewe flock which runs alongside South Country Cheviot and Blackface enterprises was the home-bred gimmer, Benger Tammy, christened after the late Tom Kerr of the Colony flock who bred the dam. She is sired by Benger Dambuster.
Father and son duo Norman and David Douglas, Catslackburn, Yarrow, were also in the tickets in both the hill and the South Country Cheviots. They scooped the male and reserve overall honours with the two-shear ram, Tweedshaws Rocket, a £12,000 purchase at Lockerbie last year from Neil Manning. He is sired by a Castle Crawford sire.
Standing just behind him and taking the silverware for the runner-up male was the second prize aged ram, Castle Invasion, a two-shear ram from Billy Common, Crossdykes, Lockerbie. He was bought for £6000 at Lockerbie last year and is sired by the £20,000 Crossdykes Robroy.
Reserve female was Ali Warden’s three-crop ewe brought out by shepherd, Robbie Oliver from Skelfhill, Hawick. A former inter-breed sheep at Teviothead and Roberton, she is by Townfoot Showman and out of a home-bred ewe.
Lleyn
It was very much a bitter sweet moment for David and Becka Henderson of the Toucks flock from Stonehaven, when they won the supreme overall in what is to be their last year exhibiting at Ingliston.
The couple who were winning a second supreme here are looking to sell their 30-strong ewe flock later this year privately when Becka has taken on more work at SAC.
Their supreme was a home-bred shearling ram by a Fort tup bought two years ago at Carlisle. Bred from a line of show winners, his dam was reserve here last year and the grand-dam is a former female champion here.
Adding to the celebrations, a home-bred gimmer by a Knowles sire bought at Carlisle, landed the female honours. She was on her first outing.
Reserve overall was the male champion, a three-shear ram from Ian and Tom Walling, Selkirk. Their tup which was bought at Carlisle in 2022 from John Blakey, Netherton, for 1900gns, is by a Blackpotts sire and stood first here and the Great Yorkshire, las year.
A daughter of last year’s winner which this time stood first in her class, scooped the blue and white ribbons amongst the females for Aberdeenshire breeder Colin Crawford. His gimmer is sired is a 1700gns Cragg tup bought at Carlisle in 2022 that stood second in his class last year at Ingliston.
Ryeland
Yorkshire breeder, Annabel Burton, went home in style having won her first breed championship at Ingliston with a home-bred gimmer from the Ryeside flock.
Taking all the plaudits was a daughter of Ryeside Zapper out of a Ryeside female. Already a star performer, she landed the award for the best lamb here and reserve female at the Great Yorkshire in 2023 along with the breed honours at The Three Counties earlier this month.
Herefordshire breeders, Jack Williams who runs a garden centre and Dominic Dickson who works in human resources for the local council, Herefordshire, were also well rewarded for their 16-hour round trip when they scooped the runner up sash with a shearling ram. Llangyfrwys Dark Lord was bought privately from Donna Maurice and is by Highland Arran and out of an Arbewth ewe.
It was also a long trip home for first time exhibitor, Katie MacDonald, Tenbury, Worcs, who won the runner up rosette amongst the males with an end of January-born ram lamb. Her previously unshown Haws Hill Elephant, is sired by Bryncaffo Zimbad, a tup used on loan out of a home-bred Haws Hill ewe.
Flying the flag for Scotland David Mitchell, New Cumnock, Ayrshire, bagged the reserve female honours with a January-born ewe lamb by Bryncaffo Kelt, a ram purchased at Ludlow last year as a lamb, out of a home-bred ewe. He was first at Stirling, Ayr and Lesmahagow Shows.
Commercial sheep
Andrew Baillie, Carstairs Mains, Carstairs, had a field day amongst commercial sheep winning the breeding section and the prime lambs.
Mr Baillie who was winning a sixth championship for 500-strong ewe flock won the supreme with a home-bred three-crop ewe on her first outing. This Beltex cross Texel is sired by a Clary ram and was shown with mid-March-born Beltex cross twin lambs at foot by Callacrag Hotshot.
Hotshot was also the sire of the champion prime lambs, which scaled 43kg. These ewe lambs were born mid March.
Robert Bryce, Chalmerston, Stirling, also came up with the goods, winning a second reserve overall, this time with first prize native gimmer, a Suffolk cross out of a home-bred Suffolk cross Beltex ewe. She is sired by the 2021 Kelso purchase, Sitlow Something Special and stood champion at Drymen on her sole previous outing.
Border Leicester
Dreams came true amongst the Borders when whisky distillery engineer, Duncan Whyte, Newton Mearns, won his first supreme overall here ¬– and the reserve.
Mr Whyte who runs just 16 ewes in his Mearns flock, and has been exhibiting at the Ingliston event for 20 years, took the tri-colour with a home-bred gimmer by Gortnagross Rocket, a tup bought for 3800gns at Lanark in partnership with Jimmy Douglas, Clola. The dam is a home-bred show ewe by Clola Double Deal.
Mr Whyte’s reserve overall was the male champion, Ditton Islay Mist, a three-shear ram bought at Lanark as a lamb for £900 from Matt Steel. Male champion here last year, he is sired by Ditton Wham Bam and out of a Lammermuir Jake-sired female.
Standing next to him and winning the runner up amongst the males was the second prize aged ram, Mearns Mastercraftsman, bred by Mr Whyte, but shown by Andrew and Tom Tennant, of the Forth flock, Selkirk who bought him as a lamb at Lanark, in partnership with Pete Brown. He was on his first outing.
Lifting the blue and white ribbons in the opposite sex was a previously unshown gimmer from Alex and Sandy Watson’s Intock flock now based in the Borders. She is by Westforth TT and out of a ewe by Didcot Diamond.
Berrichon
It was also an extremely memorable day for Frances Barbour and daughter in law, Lynn, Newark, Sanquhar, when they did the double for the first time – winning both the champion in the male and the female sections.
They also secured a fifth breed championship here, taking the tri-colour with the massive three-shear ram, Glynoch Wagner which was bought at Carlisle as a tup lamb from Adrian Mansel Davies. He is sired by Glynoch Usain, a former champion at the Royal Welsh and out Glynoch Rebecca. A big winner last year, Wagner was champion at the Great Yorkshire and also made up part of the winning MV-accredited inter-breed pair and the reserve overall duo at Harrogate.
The other member of that winning pair was the female champion at Ingliston. This home-bred two-crop ewe is by Newark Vulture – a tup that sold privately to Ireland.
Reserve overall Berrichon was the runner-up male, a tup lamb from Ewan Burgess’ Criffel flock from Dumfries. Second at Cumberland, Criffel Avenger, a mid-January-born entry is one of the first sons by Barra Willy Wonka, a tup bought privately from Rosie Barraclough, out of a home-bred ewe.
Another from the Criffel flock bagged the reserve female title. This was Criffel Zodiac, a gimmer by Criffel Van Helsing, a home-bred ram retained for breeding out of Janos Tipsy. She was second at Cumberland.
Jacob
It was a roll-over year amongst the Jacobs when Messrs Connor and Dalrymple’s Dun-Mor flock from Linlithgow, won the breed championship for a second consecutive year with the two-shear ram Luranha Randan.
The tup which was bred by Ewen Macmillan and bought as a lamb at Skipton after standing reserve champion, is by Harbell Lincoln and out of a Dunmor ewe. He was shown by Mairi Connor and Scott Dalrymple and was on his first outing of the year.
Another by Lincoln won the reserve female rosette for the Dunmor flock. This was a one-crop ewe that was female champion and reserve overall here last year.
The runner-up male followed through to take the reserve honours for Barbara Webster’s Carrochy flock from Fife. Her February-born lamb, Carrochy Yolo, is by the privately purchased Blackbrook Mowhawk and out of Carrochy Tilly. He was on his first outing.
Robert Locker of the Edingale flock from Greenlaw, landed the female championship with a gimmer that also won the best exhibitor bred title. Second at Fife Show, she is by the Pentra King Harper son, Edingale Huge Heffner, a tup that sold to Mel Harper but was used on loan, out of a home-bred ewe.
Cheviot
Father and son duo, Norman and David Douglas, Catslackburn, Yarrow, scored a hat-trick amongst the Cheviots, winning their third championship here, this time with a two-shear ram.
The duo who run 1800 ewes of which 800 are South Country Cheviots, took took centre stage with Tweedshaws Rocket, a £12,000 purchase last year at Lockerbie from Neil Manning. He is sired by a Castle Crawford ram.
Reserve male was the second prize winner to the champion, Castle Invasion, a two-shear ram from Billy Common, Crossdykes, Lockerbie. He was bought last year for £6000 at Lockerbie from John Paton and is sired by Crossdykes Robroy.
First time exhibitors in the Southie lines, Gavin and Sarah Jane Donald of the Windhill flock Strathaven, bagged the reserve championship with a home-bred gimmer from their 40 strong ewe flock which runs alongside 130 Blackfaces. Previously unshown, she is by Mountbenger Atomic and out of a £4000 Sundhope ram bought at Lockerbie.
Ali Warden and shepherd Robbie Oliver, Skelfhill, Hawick, also came up with the goods taking the reserve female with a home-bred three- crop ewe that was inter-breed champion at Roberton and Teviothead last year. She is by Townfoot Showman.
Dutch Spotted
The Jackson trio ¬– Ali, Hannah and young Robbie ¬- of the Tiptop flock from, Maulscastle, Annan, continued on the winning ways amongst the Spotties winning the championship trophy for a third consecutive year.
Tiptop Encore, a home-bred two-crop ewe is sired by Tiptop Diablo, a ram that sold for £4500 as a tup lamb, and out of an imported ewe. A red rosette winner from the Royal Welsh and the Great Yorkshire, last year, she was also inter-breed sheep champion at Cumberland earlier this month.
Tommy Jackson, the sole Northern Ireland exhibitor in the sheep lines, took the male title and the reserve overall with the home-bred two-shear ram, Milltown Fireball King. Reserve male champion at Balmoral, this big tup is got by semen from Carlaustan Extrovert and out of Diamond Destiny which was bought for 2750gns as a ewe lamb. Fireball King is a full brother to Milltown Goldenballs, a former male champion that sold for 20,000gns and went on to breed this year’s male champion at Balmoral which sold privately for £10,000 to Oliver Watson.
The first prize ram lamb from Nick Brown’s Irthing Valley flock from Carlisle, landed the reserve male. Irthing Valley He’s The Boss, a mid-January-born lamb, is by the imported Tank ram, out of Irthing Valley Fancy That, and stood second at Cumberland.
Welsh breeder, Robbie Wilson, Cnwch, took the blue and white sash amongst the females with a home-bred gimmer by Cnwch Emilio, a tup retained for breeding, out of a Beech Hay ewe bought privately from Rob and Vicky Grinnall.
Texel
It was undoubtedly a red-letter day in the busy Texel lines, when the Campbell brothers – Keith, Allan and Roy – of the Cowal flock landed their first breed championship here.
While the family has previously won a championship in the Highland pony section here in 1982, this was their best result in the sheep lines. Their show stopper from the 35-strong ewe flock was a two-crop ewe by Hexel Django, a 65,000gns joint purchase. Reserve at the Great Yorkshire and reserve inter-breed sheep at the Royal Welsh as a gimmer, she was also second at Lesmahagow, last month. Her dam, a home-bred ewe by Teiglum Charmer is also a notable show winner, having stood first here as a ewe lamb, and placed at last week’s show.
For the second year in succession a tup lamb from Jim Innes’ Strathbogie flock from Huntly, brought out by flock manager Michael Leggat, landed the male championship and reserve overall. He is sired by the 28,000gns Auldhouseburn Fancy Pants and out of a ewe by Cressage Enforcer.
Adding to the celebrations, Strathbogie landed the reserve female honours with a ewe lamb by Strathbogie Gladiator, a son of Auldhouseburn Fancy Pants sold privately for a six-figure sum, out of another ewe by Enforcer.
Taking the equivalent amongst the males was the second prize ram lamb from Jim and Sandy Hunter’s 12-ewe Wedderburn flock from Huntly who were exhibiting Texels for a second time here. He is bred from a Teiglum ewe by Knock Yardsman that bred Teiglum Younggun, and sired by Saddlerhead Fury, a tup used on loan from the Ettrick flock.
Hampshire Down
The long trip north from Cornwall, proved fruitful for Adrian and Richard Rundle of Treworthal flock, when they bagged the silverware for the male and female champions.
They took the supreme with their lead male, a December-born ram lamb by Treworthal Maximus, a son of the show tup, Treworthal Savea, retained for breeding, out of a home-bred ewe by Lecropt Challenger. Champion at the Royal Cornwall and reserve are Bath and West, this lamb also made up part of the winning inter-breed pairs champions at the same show.
The other member of the winning pair at Royal Cornwall, a ewe lamb by the Treworthal Lord-sired Treworthal Frestorm, scooped the female honours. She is also bred from a home-bred ewe by the same Lecropt sire.
Breeders of that Lecropt sire, Roy and Jane McFarlane and daughter Lorna Rennie, Bridge of Allan, were presented teh reserve male honours with the second prize ram lamb, a December-born entry by Lecropt Invincible – a former male champion here in 2019. The dam, a 12-year-old Graylen ewe has produced 20 lambs. He was second at Stirling Show.
Eirlys and Stuart Jones of the Maes-Glas flock from Pembrokeshire, took the blue and white sash amongst the males with a December-born ram lamb.
Swaledale
Livestock photographer Wayne Hutchinson, father Harry and son Sam, won their second supreme overall at Ingliston since 2021 with the same female.
The family who run 320 ewes in their Coachhouse flock from Hawes, led the line-up with a three-crop ewe by a £9000 Spittal bought at Kirkby Stephen. Bred from two generations of show winners, her grand-dam was supreme here in 2009 and 2010. The ewe was on her first outing of 2024.
Father and son duo, William and Adam Watson, Sanders Close, Brampton, won the male championship and reserve overall with a home-bred tup hogg by a £4000 Arthur and George Slack-bred ram bought at Kirkby Stephen in 2020. Previously unshown, he is out of a ewe by a £4500 Christine Clarkson, Kisdon ewe and together with a ewe hogg by the same sire, won the breed pairs.
Previously unshown entries from John Hutchinson, Hebblethwaite Hall, Sedbergh, won the runner-up male and female honours. The former, a shearling ram purchased for £14,000 from Peter Lightfoot, is owned in partnership with Craig Hutchinson, Old Spittal and is sired by a £55,000 Hundith ram.
The second best female was a home-bred ewe hogg by a £400 Setmabanning sire, out of a ewe by a Stanhopegate tup.
Bluefaced Leicester traditional-type
Alan McClymont and sons Sam and Oli, Kirkstead, Yarrow, enjoyed another bumper year amongst the Blues, winning three of the top four awards to include the supreme overall.
Taking all the plaudits and securing a fifth championship for the 30-ewe flock, was an R1 Espley ram bred by Michael and Nicky Gray and bought for £23,000 as a ram lamb after standing pre-sale champion at Carlisle. This two-shear is a son of a Logie Durno ram that goes back to a £5500 Burndale K1 bought at Builth.
Team McClymont also took the reserve male and female ribbons. Standing next to the male champion was a home-bred shearling ram bound for the Kelso Ram Sales in September. He is by the N11 Bonvilston that stood champion here in 2022 and out of a ewe by the £5800 L1 Kirkstead.
Runner up female was a home-bred one-crop ewe that was champion at the Penrith Progeny Show and reserve female here last year. She is sired by a £3000 L1 Ashes and out of a ewe by the veteran show winning ram, G1 Burndale.
Female champion and reserve overall was a home-bred one-crop ewe from Sophie Harding, Shrewbridge, Shrewsbury. Placed at the Royal Welsh, last year she is sired by a £6200 Ashes sire bought at Welshpool and out of a home-bred ewe – one of only 20 in the flock.
Bluefaced Leicester – crossing-type
The celebrations ran well into the weekend when young Jamie Pirie, Blarnavaid, not only won his first breed championship at Ingliston but also the supreme inter-breed sheep honours the following day.
Mr Pirie, who runs 20 ewes in his Blarnavaid flock from Drymen and also manages an 1800-ewe flock and finishing cattle enterprise at Ardgate, Gartocharn, went straight to the top with a home-bred one-crop ewe. She is sired by a £12,000 Blarnavaid that sold to Drumnessie, Wedderburn, Allanfauld and David Cowie, South Gariochsford, Keith, with a share bought back. Her grand-sire was the £19,000 Temain bought at Ballymena. The dam was a £5800 Dawyck-bred female by a Hewgill sire bought at an online sale. Mr Pirie’s supreme, later christened Blarnavaid Patsy, was breed champion and reserve inter-breed at Gargunnock on her sole previous outing.
The breeders of that Dawyck female ¬– Malcolm and sons Gary and Craig Thornborrow, Easter Dawyck, Stobo, also had a good day, winning the reserve overall with the second prize ewe to the champion shown by Marion Porter. Previously unshown, she is by the £23,000 N1 Giants Causeway bought at Ballymena, and out of a daughter of the F10 Penhill that was champion here in 2017.
Best opposite sex was shearling ram from the Wights of Midlock, Crawford. This was a £6000 Breck House ram bought at Hawes last year on his first outing since the sale. His is by a Carryhouse ram.
Reserve male was the second prize shearling ram, a home-bred entry shown by William Lockhart, Culdoach, Kirkcudbright. First here last year, he is by an R1 Barnshangan that was bought at Hawes after being male champion at Ingliston in 2022 and out of a home-bred ewe – one of only 20 in the flock.
Charollais
Team Ingram not only bagged their 10th Charollais championship with a home-bred ewe, but also swept the boards in the section winning the top four awards and the reserve inter-breed sheep honours the next day
The family of William and Carole, sons Gregor and Bruce, and daughter Amy, Logie Durno, Pitcaple, Inverurie, won the supreme with a one-crop ewe that stood first here as a ewe lamb . She is got by semen from Boyo Vancouver, and is bred from a daughter of Loanhead Talisman that won red tickets here in 2019 and 2022.
The family who run 20 pedigree Charollais ewes between the Logie Durno and Loanhead flocks, alongside a larger 5200-strong ewe flock breeding commercial shearling rams, took the reserve with a December-born ewe lamb. It is sired by Cavick Blood Diamond, a ram bought privately as a lamb last year, from Elizabeth and Mitchel Britain. Her dam is by Logie Durno Umpire ¬- the inter-breed ram lamb at the 2019 Royal Welsh – and bred last year’s champion at the 2023 premier sale and the first prize shearling at the Highland
The same sire was behind their male champion, a similarly aged tup lamb bred from a 10-year-old ewe that regularly produces show winners.
Standing behind him to lift the runner-up male honours was a home-bred shearling ram by Logie Durno Jackpot, a tup sold last year at Worcester sired by a Crogham ram.
Hebridean
Young Struan Cuthbert (13), Kinross, secured a third Highland championship for the Ardoch flock owned by parents Jack and Morna, with his own Newbridge Gretta.
His three-crop ewe which was bought at a sale at York from Kendal-based, Larry Cowper, is a former show winner by Newbridge Eric, out of Newbridge Daisy.
Taking the blue and white sash was teaching assistant, Carrie Tyson’s aged ram, Westburton Zebedee, from the Tymar flock near Ulverston. This two-shear bought at Melton Mowbray was bred by the Nottingham Wildlife Trust. He was reserve at Nantwich and the Three Counties earlier in the month.
Transport manager for Calor Gas, Darren Cassie, Leicestershire, scooped the runner-up female award with a gimmer from his Knightley flock. Champion at National Show at the Three Counties, and reserve at another four this year, she is sired by Knightley Anakin Skywalker, and out of a McCormick ewe bought at Lanark.
Cheshire-based Vicky Mason, took the equivalent amongst the males with the home-bred shearling, Sycamore Pphoenix, a son of last year’s reserve male here, Sycamore Nairn. He was placed at Staffordshire County and Cheshire Shows.
North of England Mules
Last year’s reserve winner, James Robinson, Carnforth went one better to bag the championship in a strong section.
Supreme was a gimmer bred by Neil Marsden of the Highberries Bluefaced Leicester flock, Cockermouth, that made up the first prize pen of ewe lambs at Hawes. She is by Highberries Highlander and out of a Swaledale ewe.
A gimmer shown with twin-born Texel cross lambs born in March, was tapped out as reserve. Shown by John Ackerley, Milton Mains, Brampton, she was bred by Stephen Collingwood, Amblingate, and bought in a pen of 10 at Hexham last year. She was placed here last year.
Leading the strongly contested ewe lamb class was an entry from Andrew and Caroline Hunter, The Steel, Hexham. She is sired by the R27 Midlock bought at Hawes for £25,000 which also bred last year’s first and second prize ewe lambs from Carry House and The Steel, respectively.
Rouge
A well-known show ewe from Ian Teasdale’s Jet flock from Beadlam, took gold amongst the Rouge.
Female champion here and breed leader at the Great Yorkshire in 2023, she is sired by the privately purchased Fairyglen Utube and out of Knighton Who’s That Girl, bought at flock dispersal at Carlisle.
Mr Teasdale’s 30-strong ewe flock also scooped the male championship with a two-shear Bennachie ram bought at Carlisle from Aberdeenshire breeder, Pat Imlah. He was on his first outing.
Reserve overall was the runner-up female, a gimmer from Hampshire Down winners, Adrian and Richard Rundle, Newquay, Cornwall. Their best is another bred from a Knighton ewe bought at the flock dispersal but sired by the Carlisle purchase, Glenkeen Warlock which stood first in his class at Ingliston. The gimmer was first at the Royal Welsh, last year.
Another far travelled big show winner took the blue and white sash amongst the males. This was a home-bred shearling ram from Anthony Carter’s Millcroft flock from Dawlish, Devon. He is sired by a retained Millcroft sire that goes back to Knighton genetics and stood champion at Devon and reserve male at Cornwall.
Beltex
There could be no doubting the popularity of the Beltex champion which was met with rapturous applause from a massive ringside of enthusiasts.
Going all the way to lift the supreme and produce personal best for the Morton family ¬- Andrew (Shaky) and Hilary son Andrew and daughter Kirsty – was Morton’s Just My Luck from Lochend, Denny. She is by the 10,000gns stock ram, Gyffin Dexter and bred from Morton’s Dawn. First at the Great Yorkshire last year, she is a full sister to the reserve champion at the Scottish National last year which sold for 6200gns at the Beltex Beauties sale.
Mortons genetics were also behind the reserve ¬– Greenall Gotta Go, a four-shear ram from Stuart Wood’s Aberdeenshire-based Woodies flock from Skene. Originally bought at Skipton by Jock McMillan of the Clary flock, he is sired by Mortons Cheeky Boy, bred from Artnagullion Damsel and was bought privately.
Standing behind him to lift the runner-up amongst the males was a January-born lamb from Ellie Miller and her father Alan, Lurg, Midmar. His pedigree features the 2022 Lanark purchase, Mid Shawtonhill Gypsy King, bought for 4000gns, and Lurg Hey Fancy Pants.
Another lamb took the equivalent amongst the females for Liam Swinnerton’s Lipley flock from Shropshire. His February-born entry is bred from Lipley Elsa and is another sired by Gyffin Dexter.
Zwartbles
Aly Baird’s show gimmer, Greystones Laurel, continued on her winning ways to produce a fourth Ingliston championship for the 25-strong ewe flock from Dunblane.
Backed by home-bred genetics on both sides, this classy lass was champion at Drymen and Stirling and reserve inter-breed sheep at West Fife. Sired by Greystones Hero, a son of Pistyll Firecracker retained for breeding which also produced the first prize ewe lamb, she is out of the former show ewe, Greystones Finesse
A massive home-bred two-shear ram from Brian Gibson’s Conic flock from Gartocharn, landed the reserve and his best result since a shed fire destroyed two-thirds of his flock in 2021. His Conic Keanu, is by the Sellside Herbert son, Conic Journalist and bred from the Carlisle purchase, Crabtree Damson.
Runner up amongst the males was a January-born ram lamb from Colin Rae’s Dumfriesshire-based Wallacetown flock. Sired by Castlehill Hurricane a tup bought privately from Aly Baird which was originally purchased as a shearling for 2800gns at Carlisle, she is bred from a Whinnow ewe by a Wallacetown tup.
The second prize gimmer to the champion was brought back in to the ring, to be presented the runner up female award. Aquila Lhoste from Nicola Henderson and family’s flock from Stirling, was champion at Gargunnock. Her pedigree features Grahams Kingkong onto the home-bred Aquila Himalaya.
Scotch Mule
The Scotch Mule section is always strong and this year was no exception, with the winner from a class of 33 ewe lambs going on to take the supreme.
Judge Jimmy Sinclair, Crookston, tapped out an end of March-born lamb from Kevin Ridley, Shitlington Hall, Hexham, as his champion choice. Producing a first Mule championship in just two years exhibiting here was a lamb by the P56 Dawyck bought at Kelso in 2022 for £8000 as a shearling in partnership with Nunnerie, out of a home-bred North of England-type Blackface ewe. She will be sold at Hexham later in the year.
Last year’s champion had to settle with the reserve. This was an Allanfauld-bred gimmer from Dumfriesshire-based Matt Ross, that had been bought at Stirling as a ewe lamb. She is a Firth sire bought at Kelso.
Heather Gray, Drumnessie and Lewis Smith, Towiemore, topped the ewes with a one-crop Farden-bred ewe bought in a pen of 40 at Castle Douglas. She was champion at Gargunnock Show.
Bleu Du Maine
It was undoubtedly a day to remember for Dumfries-based Kerrie McDermid, when she scooped the tri-colour amongst the Bleus with a one-crop ewe on her show debut.
Ms McDermid who runs 20 ewes in her Cargen Glen flock established in 2021, led the way with a Dunelm-bred female bought privately as a gimmer from Jonny Stables, Co Durham. Her pedigree features Inveresk Robo and the ewe, Dunelm Note.
Another from the same flock took the blue and white sash amongst the males. This was Cargen Glen Zippit, a January-born tup lamb by Cargen Glen Yabby Dabby Do, out of the privately purchased Ballycanal Wilding.
The second prize ewe to the champion followed all the way through to win the runner up female and reserve overall for Calum Cruden of the Standingstones flock from Dyce. His one-crop is by Standingstone Ramos, a son of a Langley ram retained for breeding out of a Perdi ewe bought at the flock dispersal. Reserve here last year and at Turriff, she was also champion any other breed at Banchory and Keith.
Neil Millar of the Joyfield flock from Woodhouse Mains, Lockerbie, topped the males with a January-born ET-bred tup lamb. He is bred from the 6000gns Perdi Rochelle, sired by Maximum Obama and is bound for the breed sale at Carlisle in August.
Shetland
Kate Sharp’s Ewingston flock from Humbie, produced a cracking eighth championship win at Ingliston last week, with her 20-strong ewe flock taking the supreme this time with a two-shear white ram.
Her Island Ollie, which was bought privately as a lamb from Shetland breeder, George Morrison, Haggista, is sired by an Island-bred ram and already boasts championship wins last year at Fife and the Great Yorkshire Show.
Ewingston also bagged the runner up amongst the males with Ewingston Brendan, a shearling ram by Island Geordie, out of Ewingston Lucy. He was first at Fife.
A home-bred white gimmer from Huntly-based Ian Carnegie, Raedykes, topped the females and bagged the reserve overall. Previously unshown, she is sired by a Ewingston ram bought privately from Kate Sharp, while her dam is a Raedykes ewe.
Raedykes genetics were behind the best lamb too when an April-born ewe from David Alcorn and Gavin Ingram, Biggar, was presented the top award. It is sired by Raedykes Dexter.
John and Rowena Steven of the Rosebank flock from Currie, Midlothian, won the award for the best group with a white two-shear ram, and two white gimmers all of which were sired by Woolpack Ultra, a ram purchased privately from Susan Russell.
Coloured champion was Alex Playfair’s one-crop ewe from the Kaimknowe flock from Kelso, which was securing a third championship win here for his parents, Patrick and Denise Playfair. Kaimknowe Nightshade, which was a multiple winner last year, is sired by Rivendale Mathias and out of Kaimknowe Delilah. She also won the award for the best wool on the hoof.
Blue Texel
Stephanie Dick is better known in pedigree cattle circles, but her 15-ewe Stephick Blue Texel flock from Stirling is also making its mark having picked up her first breed title at Ingliston.
Star attraction here was Stephick Her Majesty, a gimmer by Cairnock Ferrari, bred from the former reserve winner at the Great Yorkshire, Stephick Fairytale – one of only 15 ewes in the flock. The gimmer was champion at the National Show at Stirling and went on to lift the inter-breed sheep honours.
Reserve was an early February-born tup lamb from Charles Copeland and Jo Higgs’ Orkney flock from the Scottish island. He is bred from a Hackney-bred embryo female that was sired by Sunnybank Exchange Rate and bred from the 12,000gns Hackney Classy. The sire of the lamb is Matts Gaffer, a 4500gns purchased at Carlisle in 2022.
Another embryo bought at the Hackney dispersal was reserve female for Stuart Wood, Skene, Aberdeenshire. His one-crop ewe is sired by Exchange Rate while the dam is Hackney Classy. Her ewe lamb was second in her class at the show.
Beili Blues Hunter, a shearling ram from John and Laura Cousar, Howcommon and shared with Andrew Struthers, Boylston, was tapped out as second best male. Another ET, he is bred from Hackney Coffee and sired by Cairnrock Fully Loaded. Bought at Carlisle, as a lamb, he was second at the National Show at Stirling.
Valais Blacknose
Jamie Wood of the Prendwick flock from Whittingham, Alnwick, went straight to the top to land the tri-colour in his first year competing at the Highland.
His star performer was the previously unshown shearling ram, Prendwick Killian, an ET bred from Prendwick Tamara, and sired by Yew Tree Bertie. He is to be retained a stock ram for the 200-strong ewe flock.
Katrina and Robbie Taylor of the Whiterigg flock from Falkirk, were also in the tickets winning the female honours and reserve overall with Whiterigg Koko Channel. This Moorahill Indy 500-sired gimmer, is out of Bridgehaugh Mill Faith, the foundation female bought from David Taylor privately. Champion at Ayr and reserve at Drymen, she was producing a second reserve overall for the couple here.
Raymond Irvine and Jenni McAllister’s champion winner from Drymen Show, Highland Kili, a tup lamb from Inverlochy, Tomintoul, was reserve male. Backed by home-bred genetics on both sides, he is siredby Highland Hero and out of Highland Eden.
Highland Kitkat, which was placed at Drymen Show, took the equivalent amongst the females. This ewe lamb is also by Highland Hero.
Kerry Hill
Kerry Hill sheep made their debut at Ingliston with competitive classes for the society which is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year.
The society which boasts 580 members saw honorary secretary Chris Adamson, Littleborough, Lancs, lift the supreme with a home-bred gimmer from his 20-ewe Whitfield flock. She is by Whitfield Bombastic, a son of a £1000 Woodhouse ram bought privately, out of a home-bred ewe. She was first at the National breed show at Stafford.
Dumfriesshire breeders, Stuart and Angie Burgess, of the Topspot flock from New Abbey, were also in the money, taking the reserve overall with an end of February-born ram lamb. He is sired by Pentrenent Choir Boy, which was bought as a lamb for £800 and also stood second at the show. The dam is a Crochmaid-bred ewe, gifted to the couple by Cath Kewley.
Topspot also bagged the runner up award amongst the females with the second prize gimmer to the champion, this was a Woodhouse-bred female by Dalwyne Avichi that had been bought at Carlisle as a ewe lamb.
Birsca Black Magic, a two-shear ram bred by Jack Graham, Waterbeck, Lockerbie, but owned by Robert Stott of the Hilltop flock from Biggar, bagged the silverware for the reserve male. Sired by a Pentrenant ram, he was male champion at the Great Yorkshire in 2022 and champion at Dumfries in 2022.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here