Leading a strong dairy section at Dumfries Show last weekend, was the Holstein, Meiklefirth Empire Babs, winning at Dumfries for the third year in a row.

The fourth calver, from David Yates, Meikle Firthhead, Haugh of Urr, also stood champion at Ayr in May and was honourable mention at the Highland.

Standing reserve was the Davidson family’s Ayrshire topper Halmyre Urr Princess Royal 103, another fourth calver which secured an honourable mention at this year’s Highland Show, and was also in the inter-breed team at Ingliston.

In the overall beef contest, it was a cow well accustomed to the limelight which scooped the top award – Jim and Selina Ross’ 10-year-old Galloway, Doon of Urr Nerys, a Diamond B Deadline daughter which won the breed’s National show held at Cumberland recently.

Next best there was the commercial leader, Ashley Bothwell’s Charolais cross heifer Islay Dream, which was bred by the RSPB on Islay, and has had a string of successes this year, including show supreme at Dalrymple and champion at Lesmahagow.

Top in the large sheep section was the Texel winner, brought out by Brian and David McTaggart, Douganhill Farms. Fresh from a show supreme win at Stewartry earlier in the week, the ewe, by Hullhouse Ma Man, won the same overall sheep award last year at Dumfries.

She stood ahead of the Charollais, a home-bred gimmer from Herbie and Alan Kennedy’s Parkgate flock, sired by Parkgate Hottie.

See this week’s issue for full results, out August 14.