IT was a triumphant return to the top for Roderick ‘Rocket’ Runciman when he lifted three of the four top tickets in the Northie section, leading with a ewe that went on to stand second reserve in the inter-breed.

Filling the top spot was a previously unshown three-crop ewe by Allanshaws Panther, a son of Felnhen Jaguar that Rocket had his eye on for a while and borrowed for a season. Dubbed Allanshaws Julie, she out of one of 700 ewes in the flock at Galashiels, of which 300 are bred pure and the remaining are crosses for Cheviot Mules.

Reserve supreme was the male leader, a three-shear tup called Stobshiel Star that was bought at Lockerbie back in 2015 ago for £1000. On just his third outing, following on from a first at Kelso Show last year, he is by Nuncote Moneymaker, out of a ewe by Allanshaws Tango, and will have shearling sons forward at Lockerbie later in the year.

Following the champion through from the ewe class to stand reserve female was another Allanshaws ewe on her first outing, this time a two-crop by Belmaduthy Private Eye, a Lockerbie purchase that stood male champion at the breed’s National show held at the Black Isle three years ago.

Another three-shear tup, this time from Johnny Campbell’s Bardnaclavan flock, near Thurso, was reserve male. Allanshaws Silver Star, an Allanshaws Rambo son bought at Lockerbie for £1400 in partnership with Alan Smith, Orkney, was on his first outing with Johnny and he was also the sire behind the third prize gimmer.

LEADING awards:

Judge: T Matthewson, Sunnyside, Soutra, Blackshiels, Pathhead, Midlothian.

Supreme - J Runciman and Son's ewe; reserve - J runciman and Son's aged ram.

Male - J Runciman and Son's aged ram; reserve - DM Campbell and Sons' aged ram.

Female - J Runciman and Son's ewe; reserve - J Runciman and Son's ewe.

Bred - J Runciman and Son's ewe.

Aged ram - 1, J Runciman and Son; 2, DN Campbell and Sons; 3, K Neil.

Two-shear ram - 1, J Runciam and Son; 2, G Milne; 3, Mr and Mrs J Muirhead.

Shearling ram - 1, G Milne; 2, Dn Campbell and Sons; 3, WD Allen (Humbleheugh).

Ram lamb - 1, G Milne; 2, S Dodsworth; 3, R and T Dun.

Ewe - 1, J Runciman and Son; 2, J Runciman and Son; 3, G Milne.

Gimmer - 1, J Runciman and Son; 2, J Runciman and Son; 3, DN Campbell and Sons.

Ewe lamb – 1, J Runciman and Son; 2, W and J Thomson; 3, Mr and Mrs I and M Davidson.