TOM THUMB, the commercial beef champion bred by Jennifer Hyslop of Balluskie, was the judge's pick for the overall championship award at Straiton Show.

A 14-month-old Limousin cross bullock, by Lodge Hamlet, Tom was champion of champions at Newmilns on its first full-grown outing, having been first at Smithfield as a baby. He is now destined for the Yorkshire and the International Limousin Congress.

Standing in overall reserve was the sheep section champion from the Kays of Gass. This ewe hogg, by a homebred son of a £60,000 Dalchirla, out of a ewe off a £12,000 Glen, had topped Straiton's ever-competitive Blackface section on its first show outing.

Away from the interbreed honours, a good showing of Belted Galloways ended in a win for Jennifer Taylor's rising three-year-old Tobergill Rowan, by Coulmoney Coll out of Tobergill Odette, that was breed champion at Ayr.

Leading the Bluefaced Leicesters were the McQuistins of Barnshangan, New Luce, with a ewe hogg, by a C18 Highberries ram on loan, out of a £1700 Midlock gimmer by Controversy, that was champion as a lamb at Straiton, Stranraer, Wigton and Dumfries last year.

Best young handler on the day was Nicola Sheeran of The Muir, leading out the dairy section champion, Muir Classic Mollie, a second calver Ayrshire cow from WA and A Watson, that was champion at Catrine.

(For full results, see The Scottish Farmer this weekend)