FOR the first time in more than 50 years, John Campbell and Sons, Glenrath, ruled supreme in the Blackface sheep section at Peebles Show, taking gold with a cracking ewe, which not only went on to lift the overall sheep title but also the coveted champion of champions accolade.

Adding to the celebrations, the family also scooped their first championship in the non-accredited Suffolk lines, which combined with numerous other top tickets in various sections, ensured the Campbells bagged the overall points trophy.

It was nevertheless, their home-bred three-crop Blackie ewe that was the star of the show, when judge Hugh Guthrie, Moss Park, Kilmarnock tapped her out as overall champion of champions.

"She's an absolutely outstanding ewe, so smart and she's a great mover," said Mr Guthrie, who gave the reserve slap to his inter-breed beef champion, the lead British Blue from Kelly Blackwood and Duncan Davidson, Abington.

Supreme overall was Glenrath's ewe by a £90,000 Dalchirla, which was on her first outing of the year, having previously stood third here as a gimmer and a ewe. The reserve supreme was Kelly and Duncan's first home-bred British Blue, Blackstane J'Adore, a Gitan daughter that was reserve inter-breed beef champion at Dumfries and secured several championships last year to include Biggar, Dumfries and Peebles.

The event which included classes for traditional and crossing Bluefaced Leicesters and their respective progeny shows, also had a record number of sheep forward at 900 head. Appropriately, the reserve sheep trophy was taken by the traditional Blue champion, a two-crop ewe from Alan McClymont, Kirkstead, Yarrow, which was repeating her breed championship here last year. She is by a 6800gns Shrewbridge sire and was on her first outing since.

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