A KNOWLEDGEABLE and enthusiastic audience of well over 100 attended the Borders and Midlothian Blackface Sheep breeders’ stock judging at Harrison and Hetheringtons’ Newtown St Boswells Auction Mart last week.

Ably judged by Colin McLymont of Cuil Farm, Newton Stewart, the eight classes of sheep were presented in the peak of condition. The champion sheep was a tup from Kirkstead, purchased from Easter Happrew at Lanark in October for £11,000. The open Tup Hogg competition was won by Burncastle with a son of a £14,000 Auldhouseburn. Winners of the stockjudging competition were as follows:

Open - George Kerr;

Ladies - Amy Thomson;

Young Farmers - Ian Clark;

Juniors - Sam Robertson and Oliver McClymont.