Mauchline YFC member James Nisbet, from Sorn Mains, Sorn, collected the overall championship at the Ayrshire Young Farmers’ County Rally.

Coming out top of the 90 calves entered, was James’ black Limousin cross heifer Little Boots, a 13-month-old, bred by Hugh and Lynne Dunlop, Holehouse, Ochiltree, and bought at an Ayr sale, where she had also stood champion. Sired by the Dunlops’ Limousin bull, Silex, she was champion at Ochiltree in April and stood second in her class at Ayr.

In reserve, was the heifer which stood second to Little Boots, another Limousin cross by Silex, from last year’s winner, Stewart Dunlop, Holehouse. On its first show outing, the 12-month-old, named Ice Ice Baby, is also destined for the Highland.

In the butchers’ section, it was another Limousin cross heifer to the fore – Black Ice, from Louise Allan, Arnsow, Maybole. Jointly owned with Ashley Bothwell, Smithston, Patna, this 620kg 17-month-old was bought at Lanark, having been bred by the Lairds, at Carbello. Sired by their home-bred stock bull and out of a Limousin cross Blue dam, she is set for Ingliston next month and then hopefully on to the Winter Fair, later in the year.

Standing reserve to that one was James Nisbet’s Limousin cross bullock, Rough Diamond, a 590kg Killerton Travis son, bred at Busbiehill, Crosshouse.

Best in the lamb show was a pair of 37kg pure Beltex ewe lambs from Wallace Kennedy, Lyonpark, Maybole. Born mid-February, they are by a Beachy sire and out of a home-bred ewe. Rally secretary Heather Barclay, Mid Brockloch, Maybole, finished reserve in the sheep section, with two 42kg Beltex cross lambs, out of a pure Suffolk ewe.

Joining her brother in the celebrations, Jennifer Nisbet, from Sorn Mains, won the ‘best shown’ award, showing James’ winning heifer, with Stewart Dunlop taking second place.

At the end of the day, Ayr YFC finished top club, on 445 points, with Mauchline second on 398 points, and Crossroads third, with 320 points. Best small club was Carrick, ahead of New Cumnock in second.