Richard McCulloch's Overhill House Simmental herd from Armadale, had a field day at the first of the pedigree bull shows at Stirling, when securing a fourth consecutive society championship.

Stirling Agricultural Centre was staging shows of Simmental, Salers and Charolais bulls prior to the actual bull sales, with the first event seeing Overhill House Nikey, land the top award to follow on from Mr McCulloch's championship wins at Stirling here in October and May, last year and at Carlisle in May.

Taking all the plaudits was another son of the 26,000gns Pistyll Kingsman – the sire of Mr McCulloch’s champion winner in October here that went on to sell for a record price of 46,000gns. Nikey which first won the intermediate championship and then the supreme was brought out by stockman Scott Gilmore with assistance from Brian Wills. His dam, Overhill House Ice Cone, is by Mohona Fletcher and one of 130 cows in the herd.

Judge Stuart Barclay of the Harestone herd found his reserve in the senior champion, Backmuir Nate, from Reece and Andrew Simmers’ 100-cow herd from Keith. Nate is a son of the 18,000gns Wolfstar Jackaroo that sired last year’s 15,000gns bull here. A heifer’s calf, he is out of Backmuir Kreole’s Koala, a Corrick Hayden daughter.

The Simmers brothers also produced the reserve senior champion in Backmuir Nero, a son of last year’s male champion at the Royal Highland, Backmuir King which was sired by Islavale Hamilton. The dam is the foundation female, Starline Eva 30. Nero is the fourth son of Backmuir King to be sold with his first three having averaged £10,500.

The long trip north from Lancashire paid dividends for father and son team, Michael and John Barlow too, when they landed the blue and white sash amongst the intermediate bulls with Denizes Nugget, a son of their own Denizes Hamish that has done so well for the herd. The dam, Ashland Topaz Janet, by Team Celtic, was purchased at Dungannon after standing pre-sale champion.

Irish genetics were behind the junior champion, Islavale Novak, from Stewart Stronach and family, Berryleys, Keith. Their 16-month-old is sired by Ex90-classified Coose Lincoln, a bull bought privately in Ireland, and out of the Curaheen Giant daughter, Islavale Jazz VG89. Novak was senior male champion at the Stars of the Future.

Just pipped at the post amongst the juniors was the first prize winner from the youngest class, Wolfstar Nasa, from Alex and Ross King, Wolfstar, Ormiston, Tranent. His pedigree includes the privately purchased Islavale Guy that has bred sons up to 17,000gns and Wolfstar Ivy, a daughter of Team Celtic – a bull still going strong at 13 years of age having produced sons to 18,000gns.