Brothers William and David Moir, Cairness Home Farm, Fraserburgh, had a field day amongst the breeding sheep, winning the champion and reserve honours in their first year competing.

The duo who run 2500 breeding ewes took the tri-colour with a pen of three home-bred Suffolk cross Texel ewe hoggs. They are sired by a Cairness ram bought from Jimmy Douglas at Carlisle, last year and out of Skilmafilly-bred Texel cross ewes.

"They were easy winners and a well matched pen being very correct throughout even though they were shown in their working clothes," said the judge, Victor Chestnutt, Co Antrim, who found his reserve in a pen of three Mule ewe hoggs.

Taking the blue and white sash was a trio of North of England lamb that had been bought at Hexham in a pen of 20 from Martyn Archer, Carry House.

Beltex reigned supreme amongst the prime hoggs, judged by fellow Co Antrim sheep breeder, Brian McAllister, who tapped out a pen of two, 40.5kg Beltex cross hoggs from Angus Greenlaw, Sheep Park Farms, Huntly, as his choice of supreme.

These were April-born entries by a Hilton of Culsh Beltex sire and bred from home-bred Texel cross ewes that make up part of a 150-strong ewe flock.

Regular winners, Roddy and Hugh Thomson, West Park, Aberfeldy, this year had to settle with the reserve honours with a pair of April-born wedder lambs by a Mortons sire. They scaled 47kg.

LEADING awards

Breeding sheep (Judge: V Chestnutt, Co Antrim).

Three Texel cross hoggs – 1, Cairness Ltd, Home Farm; 2 and 3, Newton Farms, Newton of Tulloch. Pen of three Greyface/Mule hoggs – 1 and 2, Cairness Ltd.

Pen of three Cheviot Mule hoggs – 1 and 3, Lewis Gallier, The Sheiling, Daviot; 2, Pamela Duncan, Newton of Haddo.

Pen of three native hoggs – 1, Cairness Ltd; 2, Pamela Duncan; 3, Messrs Sleigh, St Johns Wells, Fyvie.

Pen of three any other continental hoggs – 1, Cairness Ltd.

Prime hoggs (Judge: B McAllister, Co Antrim).

Lightweight (under 44kg) – 1, Sheep Park Farms; 2 and 3, D and J Thomson, West Park.

Mediumweight (44-48kg) – 1, D and J Thomson; 2, Rayne Farms, Kincairn House; 3, I and E Stott, West Latch.

Heavweight (48kg +) – 1, I and E Stott; 2 and 3, J and E Forrester, Aldie Farm