A Blue Texel shearling from Jim Hodge and sons James and Daniel, Dykes, proved the star attraction at a showery Coylton Show which was celebrating its 175th anniversary.
Their home-bred show tup, Hodges Highlander, is a son of Joes Alvin and out of Shawtonhill Elegance.
Judging of the Blackface sheep at Coylton Show
Inter-breed sheep judge Jimmy Sinclair, Crookston, found his reserve in the Blackface gimmer from the Paton family, Craig, Straiton.
Inter-breed dairy judge, Hugh Kennedy, Stairdale, found his supreme in Fraser Sloan's Holstein second calver from Dormieston, Coylton. Stairway Apps Silverwings Millie VG88, a daughter of Lindenright Apps is bred from the Ex93-classified Evening Seaver Silverwings 3. Standing next to her the reserve dairy was a second calved Ayrshire from Euan Stevenson, Drumsuie, bought at Brieryside dispersal last year. She is sired by Morwick Gentry and out Brieryside Appleman Pauline.
Bellissima, a 15-month-old Limousin cross heifer by Carnew Millreef, from Hugh, Stewart and Penny Dunlop, Holehouse, Ochiltree, topped the beef section, with the reserve being Jean McKay-Parker's home-bred 13-month-old British Blue bull, Harelaw Tennant’s.
Leading Awards
Ayrshire (Judge: Katie Davidson, Haimyre). Champion – E Stevenson, Drumsuie, Coylton, with the second calver, Brieryside Gentry Pauline which was purchased at the Brieryside dispersal and is giving 38 litres. Sired by Morwick Gentry, she is out of Brieryside Appleman Pauline. First show. All classes – E Stevenson.
Holstein (Judge: K Davidson). Champion, inter-breed dairy and inter-breed cattle – F Sloan, Dormieston, Coylton, with Stairway Apps Silverwings Millie VG88, bred from Evening Seaver Silverwings 3 Ex93 and sired by Lindenright Apps. First prize senior heifer at Ayr Show in 2023 Reserve – G and G Tempelton and N Sloan, Knowe Farm, with May-calved heifer, Annaghmore Lambda Platinum which is giving 37 litres. Sired by Farnear Delta-Lambda and out of Glasson Doorman G Platinum VG87, she was purchased at the Summer Sizzler sale in NI last July. Sixth at the National Calf Show and honourable mention at the Scottish Calf Show. Back-calving cow – R Scott, Shacklehill. Calf born after Aug 21, 2023 – I Howie, Tarshaw. Heifer in milk, pair – G and G Templeton, Knowe. Senior cow – A and E Parker, Merkland.
AOB dairy (Judge: K Davidson). Champion – C Parker, Auchenairney, with the home-bred Jersey calf, Georgia, a three-week-old heifer by River Valley Victorious, first show. Sole entry.
Native cattle (Judge: N Goldie, Newbie Mains). Champion – RH Allan, Arnsow, Kirkmichael, with the two-year-old in-calf Beef Shorthorn heifer Arnsow Gipsy Snowdrop. She is by Millerston Minesweeper and out of Brackenhill Gipsy Ray M318. Due in November to Lipwood Parker. Second at Ayr and champion at Stranraer and Straiton. Reserve and calf champion – S Prentice, Dallars Mains, with an Aberdeen-Angus March-born heifer calf, Kiki bred from McCornick Kim and sired by a home-bred bull. Bull, calf born after January 1, 2024 – J and C Prentice, Dallars Mains. Heifer – RH Allan.
Continental cattle (Judge: N Goldie). Champion – JM Mckay-Parker, Auchenairney, with the home-bred 13-month-old British Blue bull, Harelaw Tennant’s by Sandyvale Jagerbomb, bred from Woodend Leonna. Reserve – N and D Henderson, Kilpatrick Farm, Isle of Arran, with the 21-month-old Limousin heifer, Castlemill Tootsie bought privately from Andrew Weir, Castlemill. She is by Huntershall Nutcracker and out of Kype Innocent. Beef champion at Arran and open reserve at Mid Argyll. Bull – JM Mckay-Parker. Heifer – D Henderson.
Prime cattle (Judge: N Goldie). Champion and inter-breed beef – H, S and P Dunlop, Holehouse, Ochiltree, with the 15-month-old Limousin cross heifer Bellissima, a daughter of Carnew Millreef out of a home-bred Limousin cross. First show. Reserve – D Stephenson, Drumsuie, Coylton, with the 17-month-old Limousin cross, Bertie, purchased from Tormitchell. Champion at Dalrymple. Bullock born before No 1, 2023 – D Stephenson. Heifer born before Nov 1, 2023 – H, S and P Dunlop. Animal born Nov 1, 2023-Mar 31, 2024, heifer born after Jan 1, 2024 – Messrs Laird, Carbello.
Border Leicester (Judge: T Nelson, High Kilphin). Champion – D and E Walker, Laigh Alticane, Pinwherry, with a gimmer purchased from Susie Orr at Lanark last year by Chloe, Kara and Amy Walker. Out of a home-bred dam, sired by a Sleighthill tup. Reserve – D Whyte, Grassmillees Way, Machline, with a ewe lamb on its first outing. By a 3600gns stock tup from E Mouth, Kelso, and out of Clola Double Deal daughter. Ram, ewe, ewe lamb, group of three – D Whyte. Gimmer – D and E Walker.
Bluefaced Leicester (Judge: S Park, Auchens). Champion and reserve – S Hamilton, Tower Farm, Sanquhar. Supreme was a gimmer sired by K2 Happrew, with dam by a Townhead tup. Reserve was the sire of the champion which was purchased at Hawes as a tup lamb and is sired by a £40,000 Shitlington. First outing. Tup, ewe lamb – S Hamilton. Tup lamb, ewe, group of three – A and A Kirkpatrick, Barr.
Suffolk (Judge: T Illingworth, Howgillside). Champion – Scrogton Suffolks, Sornbeg, Galston, with a shearling by Sportsmans Director and out of Scrogton Black Star which was champion at Craigie Show. He is bound for the Kelso Ram Sale. Reserve – C Mabon, Little Mill Livestock, Drongan, with a ewe lamb purchased from Aly Jackson at the breed sale at Lanark in July. Sired by Frongoy Rocket and out of a Jalex ewe. First show. Ram, ewe, group of three – Scrogton Suffolks. Tup lamb – Messrs Studden. Ewe lamb – C Mabon.
Blackface (Judge: E Blackwood, Castlehill). Champion and reserve inter-breed sheep – Messrs Paton, Craig, Straiton, with a gimmer shown by shepherd Drew McMillan. Reserve was also a gimmer. Ram, tup lamb, gimmer – Paton. Ewe, ewe lamb, group of three – Messrs Johnston.
Texel (Judge: T Illingworth). Champion – A Struthers, Boyleston, with a home-bred gimmer that was champion at New Cumnock and Catrine. Sired by Teiglum Electric. Reserve – B Gray, Scrogtonhead, Galston, with the shearling tup Scrogtonhead Glint, sired by Midlock Flock Star and out of a Knock Brutus-sired ewe. He is destined for Kelso Ram sales. Ram – B Gray. Tup lamb, ewe lamb – Robertson. Ewe, group of three – A Struthers.
Continental sheep (Judge: G Forsyth, Corra). Champion – R and J Andrew, Rowanston, with a Charollais tup purchased at Worcester last year, from Foxhill. He is sired by Logie Durno’s All Star. Fifth at the Highland this year. Reserve from the same home, was a ewe sired by Canew Warlord. Sixth as a gimmer at the Highland last year. Ram, tup lamb, ewe, group of three – R and J Andrew. Gimmer, ewe lamb – G Robb.
Scotch Mule (Judge: S Park). Champion – G Allan, Highfield Place, Ochiltree, with a gimmer purchased at Stirling last year from The Stobbs. Third at Dumfries. Reserve – S Guild, Ashmark, New Cumnock, with a ewe lamb by an Easter Dawyck sire out of a home-bred Blackface ewe. Ewe – J Guild. Gimmer – G Allan. Ewe lamb – S Guild, Ashmark. Pen of three ewe lambs – G MacMorwon, High Craighhead.
Prime sheep (Judge: E Blackwood). Champion – J Dunlop, Westernoch, Maybole with a pen of three Suffolk sired lambs. Reserve – K Guild, Backolaight, New Cumnock with a pen of three Beltex sired lambs. Three Mule lambs – I Craig. Three Suffolk cross lambs, three Texel cross lambs – J Dunlop. Three Beltex cross lambs – K Guild.
Beltex (Judge: G Forsyth). Champion – J and D Hodge, Dykes, with the home-bred gimmer, Hodge’s Jellybean by Broughton Enricher out of a home-bred ewe. Reserve from the same home, was the ewe lamb, Hodge’s Keep Sake, a daughter of Ainstable Jurassic. Ram – J Guild. Tup lamb, ewe – D Currie. Gimmer, ewe lamb – J and D Hodge.
Blue Texel (Judge: G Forsyth). Champion, inter-breed sheep and overall champion of champions – J and D Hodge, with the home-bred shearling, Hodges Highlander, sired by Joes Alvin and bred from Shawtonhill Elegance. Reserve at New Cumnock and first at Craigie Show. Bound for Blue Texel sale at Carlisle. Reserve – K Yuille, Burnbank, Dalrymple, with a ewe lamb on her first outing. Daughter of Cairnrock Gypsy King out of a Craigalbert ewe. Ram, tup lamb, ewe, gimmer, group – J and D Hodge. Ewe lamb – K Yuille.
AOB sheep (Judge: T Illingworth). Champion – M Dempsie, Brickrow Farm, Auchincruive, with the Valais Blacknose hogg, Brickrow Kiwi. First outing, she is by Deerpark J Ace and Goldies Jill. Reserve from the same home was the ewe lamb Brickrow Lavendar, bred the same way. All classes – M Dempsie.
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