A damp, cold day failed to dampen spirits at Dalkeith as crowds flocked to the annual show staged in the beautiful grounds of Dalkeith Palace.
Fortunately, the rain held off for the champion of champions judging when the Ross family from Wester Middleton, Gorebridge, emerged victorious, claiming the supreme with their commercial cattle champion – a Limousin cross cow and her 10-month-old Charolais cross calf at foot.
The cow and her Rosco Popadom-sired calf joined six other section champions in a battle for the overall show title judged by Northumberland farmer, Frankie Walton, who said there was a tremendous lineup of animals in front of him.
Commenting on his choice of supreme, he said “She’s the greatest cow and calf I’ve seen – that’s precisely what you want to see in the commercial market.”
There was a repeat of 2023 event for the reserve as the light horse champion, Georgie’s Girl, was chosen as the runner-up. The Irish sports horse, a six-year-old mare, is owned and bred by Arlene Haydock from Winkston Farm, Peebles.
The overall lineup also featured the native cattle champion, a six-year-old Aberdeen Angus cow from Lucy Pittendrigh, Lamancha. Swordale Emerald by Blelack Topper, was purchased privately from Sandy Watt in Sutherland. She was any other breed champion at Peebles, last year.
Inter-breed sheep winner was a North Country Cheviot ewe from Alan and James Cowens, Philliphaugh, which won through from 14 section champions selected from 400 entries. The three-crop female, by a Hownam Grange ram out of a home-bred ewe, stood second in her class at the Highland and was reserve at Glendale last year.
Commercial sheep champion came from Melrose farmer Malcolm Stewart, at Brotherston, with a pen of three prime lambs sired by a Beltex and out of Beltex cross ewes.
Wesley and Jacqueline Waite, Lamberton Holding, Berwick-upon-Tweed, won the inter-breed sheep pairs with a Texel tup lamb and a ewe lamb. The reserve honours went to Angus Kennedy, Mitchellhill, Biggar, with a Blackface ram and gimmer.
Leading Awards
Clydesdale (Judge: A Clark, Kilmacolm). Champion – E Gunn, Hawthorn House, West Calder with Hawthorn Boxer, a two-year-old gelding by Eskechraggan Ernest that was reserve at the Lanark Foal Show and second at the Fife Foal Show. Reserve – A Noble, Aberlady with Doura Erica, an eight-year-old mare by Doura Jackpot.
Commercial cattle (Judge: D Parrish, Hawick). Champion and reserve – Ross Farms with a cow and calf and Limousin cross bulling heifer, respectively. All classes – Ross Farms.
Pedigree cattle (Judge: G Harvey, Balfron). Champion – L Pittendrigh, with the six-year-old Aberdeen Angus cow Swordale Emerald. Reserve – M Gribbon, St Clements Wells, Wallyford, with a polled Simmental heifer Alpha Penny. The 15-month-old by Auchendinny Idol and out of Auchendinny Isla was on her first outing. Junior native bred female – J Laird, St Clements Wells. Senior native female – L Pittendrigh. Junior continental heifer, senior continental heifer, junior continental male – G Brown, Springfield, Penicuik. Continental female – M Gribbon.
Blackface (Judge: S McClymont, Selkirk). Champion – JB Pate and Son, Moorfoot, Temple, with a home-bred three-crop ewe by a £12,000 Allanfauld out of an Elmscleugh-bred ewe. She was first here last year. Reserve – D Graham, Kirkton, Penicuik with a bought-in Little Larg ram on his first outing. Ram shearling, gimmer, group, pairs – AJ Kennedy. Ewe – JB Pate and Son. Ram lamb, ewe lamb – C McColm, Lauderhill, Lauder.
Bluefaced Leicester (Judge: B Wight, Biggar). Champion – S and T Fallows, Cockrig, Lanark with a home-bred gimmer by a P3 Midlock out of a K11 Carry House ewe on her first outing. Reserve – C Borthwick, Halkburn, with a ewe lamb by a S4 Temain. Shearling ram – A Smellie, Posso, Peebles. Ewe, ewe lamb, pairs – C Borthwick. Gimmer, ram lamb, group – S and T Fallows.
North Country Cheviot (Judge: G Dun, Midlothian). Inter-breed sheep, champion and reserve – A Cowans, Philiphaugh. Supreme was a three-crop ewe by Hownam Grange Xample. Second at the Highland and reserve at Glendale. Reserve was the three-shear tup Carruthers City Lights by the £6500 Allanshaws Almighty. He was male champion and reserve breed champion at the Highland. Ram, ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb, group – Philiphaugh Estate. Shearling ram – D Aitken, Crookedstane, Elvanfoot. Ram lamb, pairs – A Matthewson, Soutra, Pathhead.
Jacob (Judge: A Christie, Huntly). Champion and reserve – Messrs Connor and Dalrymple, Linlithgow. Supreme was a tup by Harbel Lincoln and out a Dun-mor ewe that was champion at the Highland in 2024 and 2023 and reserve here last year. Reserve was a home-bred ewe of the same breeding that was reserve female at the Highland and champion at Fife and Haddington. Ram, ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb, group – Messrs Connor and Dalrymple. Ram lamb, pairs – R Locker, Greenlaw Mill.
Scotch Mule (Judge: B Wight). Champion and reserve – S and T Fallows with a previously unshown home-bred gimmer by a Midlock ram and a ewe lamb, on her first outing by a S4 Temain and out a bought-in ewe, respectively. Ewe – N Raeburn, Peebles. Gimmer, ewe lamb, pen of three, pairs – S and T Fallows.
Shetland (Judge: I Carnegie, Huntly). Champion and reserve, coloured and white champion – Suzanne Meikle, Kirkliston with the gimmer Brae Xsinstra by Sayers Kenya. Champion at Doune and Dunblane and champion as a lamb at Kinross last year. Reserve was second prize gimmer, Brae Marylins Miricle by Ewingston Milo. Unbeaten as a lamb in 2023. Reserve coloured – PD and A Playfair, Stichill, Kelso with a home-bred ewe by Todhill Eric, which was reserve at the Highland. Reserve white – C Galloway, Orchardfield, Kirknewton, with a home-bred ewe by a Rosebank tup. She was champion here last year. White ram, white ewe lamb, coloured ram, coloured ewe, coloured group, coloured pair – PD and A Playfair. White shearling ram. coloured ewe lamb, coloured ram lamb – D Alcorn and G Ingram, Anavale, Biggar. White ewe, white group – C Galloway. White gimmer, coloured gimmer – S Meikle. Coloured shearling ram – M Runciman. Gimmer – S Meikle.
Suffolk MV accredited (Judge: J Cannon, Wigtown). Champion – G Brown, Springfield, Penicuik, with an ET gimmer bred from a Capielaw ewe and sired by Oxmuir Outlaw F48. Half share bought privately from her breeder. Champion at Haddington and reserve as a ewe lamb at Peebles. Reserve – N and L Millar, Mersington Mill, Berwickshire, with the second prize gimmer by Castleisle Kingsman out of a Limestone ewe. Ram, shearling ram, pair – D Lang, Oxmuir, Greenlaw. Ewe, ram lamb – N and L Millar. Gimmer, ewe lamb, group – G Brown.
Texel MV accredited (Judge: D Clark, Carluke). Champion – D Preacher, Holylee with a previously unshown ewe lamb by a £10,000 Overburns out of a Sportsman Cannonball-sired ewe. Reserve – W and J Waite with a ewe lamb bred from an 8000gns gimmer bought in Ireland by Proctors Chumba Wumba. The sire is the £42,000 Auldhouseburn Ghost. Shearling ram, ram lamb, ewe lamb, group – D Preacher. Ewe, gimmer – Ross Farms. Pairs – W and J Waite.
Hebridean (Judge: J Mosley, West Linton). Champion and reserve – J James, Slipperfield Cottage. Supreme was the bought in senior ram, Knox Crinkle Craggs, by Eric Medway. Reserve was a shearling son of the champion. Both were on their first outing. Ram, shearling ram, gimmer, ewe lamb, pairs – J James. Ewe – S Warren, Rosevale Street, Hawick. Group – H Mann, Egehead Road.
Any other breed (accredited) (Judge: N Sandilands, Jedburgh). Champion and reserve – D Fleming, Spot Home Farm, Dunbar with a bought-in Blue Texel gimmer and home-bred Blue Texel ewe, respectively. The gimmer is by a 30,000gns Sunnybank tup, out of an Irish ewe and was on her first outing. The reserve is out of a Hunters ewe and won her class at Haddington. Ram, ewe, gimmer, pairs – D Fleming. Ram lamb, ewe lamb – A and BC Allan, Linlithgow.
Any other breed or cross (non accredited) (Judge: N Sandilands). Champion – A Smellie, Posso, Peebles with a home-bred ewe lamb by a Glenrath sire, out of on her first outing. Reserve – DM Mair, Kypie, Northumberland, with a home-bred ewe by a Castlebank tup, on her first outing. Ram, ram lamb – Ross Farms, Ewe – DD Mair. Ewe lamb, group – A Smellie.
Prime lambs (Judge: D Parish). Champion and reserve – M Stewart, Brotherstone, Melrose, with three light-weight cross-bred lambs and three heavyweight cross-bred lambs, respectively. Three lightweight down cross lambs, three heavyweight down cross lambs – Ross Farms. Three lightweight cross-bred lambs, three heavyweight cross-bred lambs – M Stewart.
Commercial ewe and lamb (Judge: D Parish). Champion – J Grant, Blackcastle, Pathhead with native cross-bred ewe and a pair of lambs. Reserve – Ross Farms with a continental cross-bred ewe with a pair of lambs.
Sheep young handlers – Aged 10-16yrs – 1 and champion, Isla Wason; 2 and reserve, Jamie Fallows; 3, Henry Mair-Chapman. 10yrs and under – 1, James Wason; 2, Flossie Chandler; 3, Jemma Davidson.
Dairy young handlers – Aged 7-14 yrs – 1 and champion, Ruth Allison; 2 and reserve, John Redpath; 3, Lewis Durrant. Six yrs and under – 1, Hunter Weatherup; 2, Katie Allison; 3, Lane Weatherup.
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