IT had been a long time coming for Dumfries man, John Kingan, who finally landed his first supreme breed title having been reserve four times in the past 10 years.

Going all the way for his 500-ewe flock at Laneside, New Abbey Road, Dumfries, was a home-bred shearling tup, Laneside Fisher. He is by a Johnstons-bred sire, and stood first in his class and reserve champion at Dumfries Show, last year.

Following him through from the male championship was a two-shear tup from regular winners here, the Geldard family – brothers Charles and Richard, as well as parents John and Rachel. This lad was bought from Will Williams as a shearling when he stood second in his class at Ross-on-Wye, and hasn’t been shown since.

Also in the tickets from the Geldards’ 1000-ewe Wraycastle flock at Low Foulshaw, near Kendal, was a one-crop ewe that went on to standreserve female champion. This one-crop ewe is by the Orkney-bred Laga Farms tup that was the father of last year’s champion, as well as five of the seven sheep forward this year.

A gimmer from Tom and Ian Walling, at Over Whitlaw, Lindean, Selkirk, lifted the female title. Sired by a Lluest tup bred by Emrys and Dylan Jones that was bought at Builth Wells, she is out of a ewe by a home-bred sire that has bred a number of winners for the flock. She was shown twice as a lamb, picking up a red ticket at Border Union and Dumfries shows.

LEADING awards:

Judge: D Morris, Yr Ostrey, St Clears, Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire.

Supreme – JJ Kingan’s shearling; reserve – JA and R Geldard and Son’s tup.

Male – JJ Kingan’s shearling; reserve – JA and R Geldard and Son’s tup.

Female – T and I Walling’s gimmer; reserve – JA and R Geldard and Son’s gimmer.

Bred – JJ Kingan’s shearling.

Group – JA and R Geldard and Sons.

Ram – 1, JA and R Geldard and Sons; 2, JJ Kingan; 3, F McGowan.

Shearling ram – JJ Kingan; 2, JA and R Gelard; 3, T and I Walling.

Ewe – JA and R Gelard; 2, JA and R Gelard; 3, T and I Walling.

Gimmer – T and I Walling; 2, JA and R Gelard; 3, JA and R Gelard.