A four-year-old Blackface ewe from Iain MacLarty, Glentarken, shone through the clouds and the drizzle to be crowned supreme champion at Killin Show.
Crowds around the sheep ring waited in suspense while the cattle judge, George Harvey and the two sheep judges, Fulton Ronald jnr and George Whyte, deliberated over their final choice.
Their collective winner, a three-crop ewe is by a £300 Merkland tup and was champion here last year.
The McDiarmid family led the other sheep breeds, taking the champion rosette with a home-bred Beltex cross ewe.
In the cattle lines, judge George Harvey, awarded the championship to a spring-born heifer calf from Messrs Reilly, Tullochmore. This Limousin cross is by Spittalton Hector and out of a home-bred Blue-grey dam.
Leading Awards
Blackface (Judge: F Ronald, Isle of Mull). Champion – I MacLarty, Glentarken, with a four-year-old ewe by a £300 Merkland tup out of a home-bred ewe by an £850 Auldhouseburn. Champion here last year. Reserve – P McDiarmid with a ewe lamb out a £3000 Shawhead, bought as a lamb last year at Stirling. She was on her first outing. Female group of three, pair of ewe lambs, pair of tup lambs, pair of gimmers, tup lamb, best lamb, naturally shown ewe and lamb, suckled gimmer, gimmer – P McDiarmid, Shenlarich. Best wooled sheep – Meggernie Estate. Bred tup, two-year-old tup, shearling tup, male group of three, best opposite sex – Messrs MacLarty. Pair of wedder lambs – R Lewis, Corie Estate. Stockman showing best animal, shepherd’s – Lorna Hamilton, Glentarken.
Sheep other than Blackface (Judge: G Whyte, Wester Ochtermutill). Champion – P McDiarmid with a home-bred Beltex cross three-crop ewe. Reserve – M and F Kerr, Roromore with a Beltex cross ewe lamb that will be retained for breeding. May-born, she is sired by a Coulvoulin ram bought privately as a shearling. Prime lamb pair, three cross lambs out of a cross ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb, Mule ewe lamb – M and F Kerr. Three cross lambs out of a Blackface ewe – R Lewis. Ewe – P McDiarmid. Tup – C Little, Glenample.
Young handlers (Judges: F Ronald and G Whyte). Juniors – 1, Ailsa Kerr; 2, Logan Barker; 3, Cameron Webster; 4, Joan Little. Seniors – 1, Jacke Johnstone; 2, Declan Barker; 3, Isobel Campbell; 4, Grace Campbell.
Cattle (Judge: G Harvey, Balfron). Champion – Messrs Reilly, Tullochmore with a spring-born heifer calf by Spittalton Hector and out of a home-bred mother. Bound for United Auctions’ sale at Dalmally, in October. Reserve – K Taylor and Sons, Dall, Ardeonaig with a spring-born bullock by Ythanvale Novak. Also destined for Dalmally sale in October. Cow and calf, continental bullock calf born before Dec 31, continental heifer calf born before Dec 31, cow with calf – H McDiarmid, Ben Lawers. Continental bullock born after Jan 1 – K Taylor and Sons.
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