FORTUNATE weather conditions, a jam-packed showfield full of trade stands and entertainment with no room to spare, plus the return of the horse classes, meant that visitors enjoyed a great day out at the Road to the Isles Show, at Camusdarach, Arisaig.

With an entry of almost 100 Blackface sheep and some classes having up to14 entries, it was fitting that the champion from that section, a Blackface gimmer, from Sam Mackenzie, Lanith, Acharacle, went on to be sheep inter-breed champion and lead the livestock section.

She has Elmscleugh breeding on both sides – being by an Elmscleugh son of a £12,000 Gass and out of a dam by another Elmscleugh tup which was by Private Eye.

She was ahead of the Highland cattle and the commercial champions.

Winning the Highlanders was Michael and Karen MacGregor, Glenmore, Ardnamurchan, with a two-year-old heifer, Cadrann of Eilean Mor, on her first outing. She is by Domhnull Buidhe of Glenkinglass, out of An Uiseag 6 of Eilean Mor.

The MacGregors have the most westerly fold on the British mainland and have been keeping Highlanders for 18 years, partly as environmental grazers and for pleasure.

Kirsty Mann, from Lochailort, was reserve supreme to the Blackie with her Highland pony champion, Ruby of Sunnyneuk.

Commercial cattle champion was a cow and calf outfit from David Wright, Clovullin, Ardgour, and reserve was Donald Campbell, with a yearling heifer.

Reserve Highlander was Monica 2 of Cnoc na Sith, a yearling heifer from Iain MacKay, Torloisk, Isle of Mull. She is by the imported German bull, Carpenter Ruadh von Augustennof.

LEADING awards:

Commercial cattle (Judge: AJ MacLean, Heylipol, Tiree). Champion – D Wright, Clovullin, Ardgour, with a cow and calf. Reserve – D Campbell, Camaghael, Fort William, with a yearling heifer. Breeding cow, cow with calf, bullock calf, undressed cow/heifer – D Wright. In-calf heifer – E Campbell, Camaghael, Fort William. Senior heifer – D Campbell. Heifer calf – H MacDonald, Craigview, Arisaig.

Highland (Judge: JJ Redpath, Knowehead, Kilry, Alyth). Champion – K MacGregor, Glenmore, Ardnamurchan, with her two-year-old heifer, Cadrann of Eilean Mor. Reserve – I MacKay, Torloisk, Isle of Mull, with his yearling heifer, Monica 2 of Cnoc na Sith. Bull calf, heifer – I MacKay. Intermediate heifer – K MacGregor. Senior heifer – Forestry Commission, exhibited by K Knott, Fort William.

Blackface (Judge: J Maxwell, Jaw, Fintry). Champion – S MacKenzie, Acharacle, with his Blackface gimmer. Reserve – N MacPhail, Salen, Isle of Mull with a shearling tup. Aged tup – R Shaw, Drimnin. Shearling tup – N MacPhail. Tup lamb – A Curtis, Acharacle. Home-bred shearling, ewe hogg, gimmer – S MacKenzie. Ewe lamb – J Cameron, Kilchoan. Ewe in-milk, ewe and lamb – R Munro, Isle of Mull.

AOB sheep (Judge: JC Innes, Huntly). Champion and reserve – M and S Cameron, Speanbridge. Champion was a shearling tup and reserve was the Cameron’s ewe lamb. All classes – M and S Cameron.