A JUDGE who admitted to having a soft spot for a native female could’ve picked a number of entries forward for the champion of champions at Border Union Show at Kelso, but ultimately it was the North Country Cheviot that had that extra sparkle to take the top plaudits.
It was an impressive line up in the main ring for the supreme, with the winners from the sheep, cattle, Clydesdale, Shire, ridden hunter, goat, rabbit and dog sections all in the running.
Tasked with judging was former Border Union chairman, Peter Douglas, of Ruletownhead, Hawick, whose soft spot for a native female saw him award the title to Jim and Willie Thomson’s Northie gimmer, Hownam Grange Peony.
@thescottishfarmer Sheep judging is well under way at Border Union Show
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The reserve ticket went to the cattle supreme and winner of the Aberdeen Angus Summer National Show – Owen Tunney’s six-year-old cow, Morpheus Rosie, which first caught the eye of Wanda Tilson in the Angus show.
Heading up the Clydesdale entry was eight-year-old Glebeview Lady Izzy, a Glebeview Sir Charles daughter from G Gorman, while J and C Fairburn’s Marshall Meadows Platinum Girl was Shire champion.
Also forward was the ridden hunter, Hannah Graham’s Coldwells First Impression, and the goat champion, a pedigree British cross-bred named Capitol Juliet from Hannah Campbell.
Leading Awards
Aberdeen-Angus Summer National (Judge: W Tilson, Wedderlie, Gordon). Champion, inter-breed champion and reserve champion of champions – O Tunney, Manor Farm, Cheshire, with Morpheus Rosie, a home-bred six-year-old cow by Ardrossan Admiral bred from Morpheus Rosebud. Reserve at Cheshire and shown with her April-born bull calf at foot, Morpheus Kentucky. Reserve – D and PA Evans, Tree Bridge Farm, Nunthorpe, Middlesborough, with Tree Bridge Polly Perkins T699, a 2017-born Weeton Diamond daughter bred from a previous Polly Perkins. Bull born in 2022 – 1 and male champion, Oakmoor Boss, T Slater; 2, Mosshall Red Saltire Y490, G and N Taylor. Bull born Jan 1- Mar 31, 2023 – 1, Fiddlehall Epic, K Rennie; 2, Rulesmains Pedro Z819, A Hodge; 3, Ettrick Gordy, G Gray. Bull born Apr 1-Jul 31, 2023 – 1, Tonley Evergold, N and M Wattie; 2, Mosston Muir Eroco, A Rennie; 3, Gretnahouse KP, D Cooke. Bull calf Aug 1- Dec 31, 2023 – 1, Mosston Muir Tidy Bond, A Rennie; 2, Westdrums Lord Hugo Z045, JM Steel; 3Brailes Lord Richard Z328, Brailes Livestock. Bull calf born in 2024 – 1, Tonley Vettel, N and M Wattie; 2, Mosston Muir Iceman, A Rennie; 3, Retties Lionheart A337, R and C Rettie. Cow born before Dec 31, 2020, without calf – 1, Swordale Emerald U270, L Pittendrigh. Cow born before Dec 31, 2020, with calf – 1, Morpheus Rosie, O Tunney; 2, Tree Bridge Polly Perkins T699, D and PA Evans; 3, Kilmallie Kylie S037, E Campbell. Cow born in 2021 – 1, Mosshall Red Erinda X291, G and N Taylor. Heifer born in 2022 with calf – 1, Morpheus Rose, O Tunney; 2, Shadwell Lady Heather Y292, JM Steel; 3, Rulesmains Royal Lynn, A Hodge. Heifer born in 2022 – 1, Foxhill Princess Caroline, M and M Alford; 2, Mosshall Red Essence T436, G and N Taylor; 3, Brailes Black Bee Y245, Brailes Livestock. Heifer born Jan 1- Mar 31, 2023 – 1, Rulesmains Rosebud Z792, A Hodge 2, Blackrodian Evita, W Ashworth; 3, Kersquarter Fenecia Z483, I Watson. Heifer born Apr1-Jul 31, 2023 – 1, Gretnahouse Evas Honey, M and M Alford; 2, Idvies Elisa Z150, Brailes Livestock; 3, Falnash Ebony, L Fleming. Heifer calf born Aug 1-Dec 31, 2023 – 1, Foxhill Princess Carina Z178, M and M Alford; 2, Tree Bridge Estella Z087, D and PA Evans; Crook Hill Belle, W Taylor. Heifer calf born in 2024 – 1, Duncanziemere Edwina, A564.
Any other native (Judge: W Tilson). Champion – D Mackinnon, Walterstead, Berwick upon Tweed, with the four-year-old Highland cow Bryar Rose of Rannoch, by Seamus Dubh of Craigowmill, out of Hayley of Rannoch. Reserve – E Hodge, Rulesmains, Duns, with the Hereford heifer, RM 1 Lily, an 18-month-old Coley 1 Teddy daughter bred from Coley 1 Lily. Bull – L Anthony, Effledge House, Kirkton, Hawick. Senior cow/heifer – D Mackinnon. Junior cow/heifer – E Hodge.
Limousin (Judge: A Proctor, Swarland Old Hall, Morpeth). Champion and reserve inter-breed – Redpath Farms, Kelso, with the three-year-old bull, Maraiscote Sherlock, a 10,000gns purchase which has done well on the show circuit. His sire is Bassingfield Machoman while his dam is Maraiscote Intrigue. Reserve – C Knox, Humebyres Farm Cottages, Kelso, with the 14-month-old bull, Beechmount Ultimo, by Haltcliffe Roar out of Haltcliffe Penny. Senior bull – Redpath Farms. Junior bull – C Knox.
Beltex MV (Judge: J Aiken, Brickhouse, Hesket Newmarket). Champion – Ettrick grandchildren, Sunnycroft, Lindean, Selkirk, with a home-bred ET gimmer by the 18,000gns Curwen Hill George and bred from Artnagullion Fiery. Reserve – G Harvey, Blackadder Mains, Duns, with a home-bred shearling also by the Curwen Hill George ram. Shearling ram – N Harvey. Gimmer – Ettrick grandchildren.
Border Leicester MV (Judge: J Aiken). Champion – S and A Watson, Mitchelston, Stow, with a two-crop ewe by Didcot Diamond, bred from an Eildon Rob Roy daughter. Third at the Highland. Reserve – A Tennant, Gilmanscleugh, Ettrick, Selkirk, with a gimmer on her first outing. Her pedigree features Kininmonth Galileo on to an Alticane Uncle Mo daughter. Shearling ram, ram lamb, ewe lamb, pair, group of four – N Howie, North Lyham, Chatton, Alnwick. Aged ewe – S and A Watson. Gimmer – A Tennant.
Suffolk MV (Judge: D Miskelly, Corrybrae, Kildrummy, Alford). Champion – C Nelson, Trows Cottage, Kelso, with a home-bred gimmer by Howgillfoot Sniper that bred Finn Christie’s Highland Show champions in 2022 and 2023, while the dam, Katie stood champion here last year and is sired by Cairnton The Cracker. Reserve – J Elliot, Roxburgh Mains, Kelso, with a shearling ram on his first outing. His sire is Bessiebell Evel Knievel while his dam is by a Rugley tup. Shearling ram – J Elliot. Ram lamb, aged ewe, ewe lamb – N and L Millar, Mersington Mill, Greenlaw, Berwickshire. Gimmer – C Nelson.
Texel MV (Judge: J Gibb, Toftcombs, Biggar). Champion and reserve inter-breed sheep – F Renwick, Legars, Kelso, with a home-bred gimmer on her first outing. Her sire is Haymount Foremost while her dam is a Sportsmans Cannon Ball daughter. Reserve – J Elliot with a son of the £65,000 Campsie Drambuie. Bred from a Wester Walston daughter. First outing to be retained as a stock ram. Aged ram – I Murray, Hetton Law, Lowick, Berwick upon Tweed. Shearling ram – J Elliot. Ram lamb, ewe lamb – M Weir, Bogend, Duns. Gimmer – F Renwick.
Zwartbles (Judge: D Miskelly). Champion and reserve – A Thorburn, Holmlea, Eastriggs. Champion was the aged ewe Holmlea Karenza which was national champion and inter-breed champion at Three Counties and the Royal Cheshire. Her sire, Holmlea Count, also bred the reserve, Holmlea Madonna, and was second at Three Counties and first at Cheshire. Aged ram – I Hebdon, Cakemuir, Nenthorn, Kelso. Shearling ram, ram lamb – C Rae, Wallacetown, Dumfries. Aged ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb, group of three – A Thorburn.
Dutch Spotted (Judge: J Aiken). Champion and reserve – A and J Guthrie, Myreside, Hartwoodmyres, Selkirk. Champion was a ewe and reserve was a ewe lamb. Ram – K Jamieson, The Bungalow, Legars, Kelso. Ram lamb, ewe, gimmer, aged ewe, ewe lamb – A and J Guthrie.
Any other breed MV (Judge: J Aiken). Champion and reserve – D and C Gray, Sunnycroft, Selkirk. Champion was the Blue Texel shearling ram, Ettrick Hotshot, a son of the 9000gns Solway View Ferocious, out of the reserve inter-breed from the 2022 show. Reserve was Knockmult Hannah, an online purchase that stood first at the Highland Show last year. She is by Drumard Ed and out of a Derg ewe. Ram, ram lamb, ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb – D and C Gray.
Prime lambs MV (Judge: A Warnock, Broughton, Biggar). Champion and reserve – S Craig, Wormerlaw, Kelso. Champions were from the under 75kg class while the reserve were from the 75kg-87kg class. All classes – S Craig.
Blackface (Judge: W Craig, Blendewing, Broughton, Biggar). Champion – S McClymont, Tinnis, Yarrow, with a home-bred gimmer on her show debut. Sired by a £10,000 Mitchelslack, her dam is by a £14,000 Auldhouseburn. Reserve – D and A Redpath, The Yett, Hownam, with a tup lamb by a £7000 Williamhope bred from the show ewe that is in turn by a £2400 Burncastle. He will be used at home. Aged ram, shearling ram, aged ewe, gimmer – S McClymont. Ram lamb, ewe lamb – D and A Redpath.
Crossing Bluefaced Leicester (Judge: C Napier, Burnhead, Eddleston, Peebles). Champion – B Hedley, Corsbie Farm Cottages, Earlston, with a home-bred gimmer that stood champion here as a lamb and reserve inter-breed at Haddington this year. She’s by the home-bred Baz tup and out of a home-bred ewe by an Alwinton ram. Reserve – S Ainslie, Linkshead, Cockburnspath, with a ewe lamb. Shearling ram, aged ewe, gimmer – B Hedley. Ram lamb, ewe lamb – S Ainslie.
Traditional Bluefaced Leicester (Judge: C Napier). Champion – A McClymont, Kirkstead, Yarrow, with the champion from the Highland and Penrith Shows, the Espley R1 shearling ram bought for £23,000 as a lamb. He is by a Logie Durno sire and out of an Ashes F2. Reserve – L Fleming, Falnash, Teviothead, Hawick, with a gimmer. Aged ram, aged ewe, ewe lamb – A McClymont. Shearling ram – H Brown, Leadburnlea,West Linton. Ram lamb – RJ Claydon, Clarilaw House, Melrose. Gimmer – L Fleming.
Hebridean (Judge: E Medway, Knox Mill, Harrogate). Champion – J Wingfield, Sandholm, Newcastleton, with the three-shear ram Cowper Horatio, bought as a shearling. This two-horn Longmorn Benbecula son on his show debut sired the first prize tup lamb. Reserve – L Cowper, Newbridge, Threlkeld, with a shearling ram. Aged ram, ram lamb, group of three – J Wingfield. Shearling ram, gimmer – L Cowper. Aged ewe – J Mosley, Kirkdean Farm, Blyth Bridge, West Linton. Ewe lamb – CI Tyson, Holly Cottage, Marton, Ulverston. Veteran ewe, ewe with lambs at foot – N Fecitt, Dovecote Gill Farm, Dowbiggin, Sedburgh. Diverse group of three – J and M Cuthbert, Ladystone House, Bunchrew, Inverness.
Jacob (Judge: B Webster, Higham Farm Cottages, Newburgh). Ram, ewe lamb – S Crozier, Park Terrace, Hawick. Ram lamb, aged ewe – R Locker, Greenlaw Mill Farm, Greenlaw, Duns.
Kerry Hill (Judge: R Fishwick, Thornship Farm, Shap). Champion and reserve – AM Burgess, Lintmill Cottage, New Abbey, Dumfries. Champion was the gimmer and reserve was a ewe lamb. Ram, ram lamb, aged ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb, group of three – AM Burgess.
South Country Cheviot (Judge: G Irving, Mount Benger, Yarrow). Champion – J Hume and Son, Sundhope, Yarrow, with a two-crop ewe by the £4000 Kale Badger bought at Lockerbie. Third at the Highland Show. Reserve – WJ Douglas and Sons, Upper Hindhope, Jedburgh, with the two-shear tup Crossdykes Tornado bought at Lockerbie for £7000 last year. He is by Mountbenger Ace of Diamonds and was on his first outing. Aged ram, shearling ram, gimmer – A Warden, Skelfhill, Hawick. Two-shear ram – WJ Douglas and Sons. Ram lamb, group of four – WN Douglas, Catslackburn, Yarrow. Aged ewe, ewe lamb – J Hume and Son.
Hill North Country Cheviot (Judge: A Hutcheon, Victoria Road, Wooler). Champion – J Irving and Son, Mountbenger, Yarrow, with a gimmer by Benger Dambuster bred from a Colony ewe bought from the late Tom Kerr, making her a full sister to the Highland Show champion. Shown by shepherd, John Allan, on her show debut. Reserve – WN Douglas, Catslackburn, Yarrow, with Gilsby Class Act, a three-shear bought at Lockerbie last year. Sired by Gilsby Action, he was reserve at the Highland. Aged ram – WN Douglas. Two-shear ram, shearling ram – M Elliot, Woodside, Yetholm, Kelso. Ram lamb, gimmer, ewe lamb – J Irving and Son. Aged ewe – R Runciman, Allanshaws, Galashiels.
Park North Country Cheviot (Judge: J Scott, Philogar, Hownam, Morebattle). Champion, inter-breed sheep and champion of champions – W and J Thomson, Hownam Grange, Kelso, with Hownam Grange Peony, a home-bred gimmer on her show debut. Sired by Knockocker Bodyguard, she is out of a home-bred ewe. Reserve – R Runciman, Allanshaws, Galashiels, with the home-bred three-shear ram, Allanshaws Cannonball. Third at the Highland, he is by Carruthers Admiral. Aged ram, two-shear ram, ewe lamb – R Runciman. Shearling ram – S Davies, North Synton, Ashkirk, Selkirk. Aged ewe – S Turnbull. Gimmer – W and J Thomson.
Scotch Half-bred (Judge: J Aiken). Champion – S Shaw, Smailholm Mains, Kelso, with a four-crop ewe bought privately from John Sleigh and on her first outing. Ewe – S Shaw. Pen of three – G Pate, Stobshiel Mains, Humbie.
Scotch Mule. Champion and reserve – J and G Sinclair, Crookston, Heriot, with two gimmers bought in the same pen from Dawyck at St Boswells last year. Ewe, gimmer – J and G Sinclair.
Shetland (Judge: F Hipwell, Wester Cockairney, Kinross). Champion and reserve – B and J Watson, Field Croft, Carleton, Holmrook. Champion was Island Mousstoft, a two-shear white ram bought privately from Brian Thompson that was champion at Westmorland last year. Reserve was Muncaster George, a home-bred three-shear black ram sired by Menelaus of Spalford. Former twice reserve champion. Coloured aged ram, white aged ram, coloured shearling ram, white shearling ram, white ram lamb, white aged ewe, white gimmer, white ewe lamb, coloured champion, white champion, reserve white – B and J Watson. Coloured ram lamb – B Runciman, Upper Hilly, East Mains Farm, Lauder. Coloured aged ewe, coloured gimmer, reserve coloured – D Playfair, Stichill Eastfield House, Kelso. Coloured ewe lamb – A Runciman.
Suffolk non MV (Judge: D Miskelly). Champion and reserve – S Shaw, Smailholm Mains, Kelso. Champion was a three-crop ewe by a Sitlow ram and bred from a ewe by a Soutra ram. Second at St Boswells. Reserve was a shearling that was first at St Boswells. His mother is bred the same way as the champion while his sire is a Midhope ram. Aged ram, gimmer – W Sandilands. Shearling ram, aged ewe, ewe lamb – S Shaw. Ram lamb – JB Pate and Sons, Toxside, Temple, Gorebridge.
Texel non MV (Judge: J Gibb). Champion and reserve – RH Bell and Co, Roxburgh Mill, Kelso. Champion was a two-crop ewe by Sportsmans Cannon Ball bred from a Cambwell Alistair daughter. Champion in the MV section here last year. Reserve was a shearling ram by Craigend Flint. Shearling ram, ram lamb, aged ewe, gimmer – RH Bell and Co. Ewe lamb – G Wilson, Hawthornside, Hawick.
Valais Blacknose (Judge: J Walters, Lower Halstock, Okehampton, Devon). Champion – J Hill, Harelaw Farm Cottages, Chirnside, Duns, with Horsemill Justin, a shearling ram bought as a lamb at Skipton. Sixth at the Highland and fourth at Bath and West, he is full of Westmorland breeding. Reserve – L McLean, Scarlaw, Longformacus, Duns, with Hardens View Jasmine which stood champion at the Highland last year. She is by Beatties Harrison while her dam is Hardens View Belle. Aged ram, ewe lamb – C Maden, Lamberton Shiels, Lamberton. Shearling ram, ram lamb, gimmer – J Hill. Aged ewe – L McLean.
Beltex non MV. Champion – WN Sandliands, Browns Cottage, Hundalee, Jedburgh, with a home-bred gimmer from the Alewater flock that was first here last year. She is by Faughhill Halifax and out of an Alewater ewe. Reserve – A Halliday, Heriotfield, Oxton, Lauder, with a home-bred shearling ram that stood first here and at Duns last year. He is by a Woodies ram. Ram, ram lamb – A Halliday. Aged ewe – J Mcaulay, Wauchope Farm, Bonchester Bridge, Hawick. Gimmer – WN Sandilands. Ewe lamb – W Goldie, Collielaw, Oxton, Lauder.
Any other breed non MV. Champion – R Powell, Kelso, with a Berrichon ram. Reserve – L Murray, Murray House, Hadden, Kelso, with a coloured Ryeland gimmer named Dolly that was bought privately and has previously done well on the show circuit. She is full of Tranwell breeding. Ram, aged ewe – R Powell. Ram lamb, ewe lamb – A Anderson. Gimmer – L Murray.
Prime lambs non MV (Judge: A Warnock). Up to 75kg – L McGowan, Glenholly House, Greenlaw, Duns. Weighing 75kg-87kg, 88kg and above – B Rennie.
Sheep young handlers (Judge: P Stott, Elilaw, Morpeth). Champion – Ella Boyes. Reserve – Scott Turnbull. MV section – 1, Ella Boyes; 2, Shane Roddy; 3, Lewis Edgar; 4, Rosie Chandler; 5, Molly Gray. Non MV section – 1, Scott Turnbull; 2, James Goldie; 3, Jany Archer; 4, Blake Ainslie; 5, Henry More Chapman.
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