Catching up at Ayr Show

As the first main summer show of the season, this now one-day event, staged at Ayr Racecourse, on Saturday, May 13, has attracted a huge entry in the beef, sheep, dairy and horse lines, plus a large number of trade stands and a full line up of main ring entertainment.
Unfortunately, the poultry show has been cancelled due to the threat from avian influenza, which has now been rescinded, but not in time for this year’s show. 
However, if conditions permit a show later in the year, the organisation will look at holding such an event. 
To date there are 325 sheep entries, to include a new section for Ryelands, which has attracted 36 head. 
There are 110 beef cattle entered and the goat show – staged in conjunction with the Ayrshire Goat Club – will be held over two days on Saturday May 13 and Sunday May 14, at Craig Wilson’s livestock mart, just outside Ayr, and number 55.
Entries for the dairy section close tomorrow (Sunday), but as The Scottish Farmer went to press, some 45 stalls had already been booked. 

Harry and Lynwen Emslie were two of the 2016 judges

There are also 24 Clydesdale and six stud carts entered, while late entries on the day can be taken in the light horse and pony sections which already have 288 entries. 
The highlight of the event however is the champion of champions competition and the presentation of £1000 of prize money, sponsored by Rotherwood Furniture, followed by the parade of livestock.
Young Farmers events include tug o’ war competitions in the main ring, with the handicraft exhibits set up in SAYFC marquee.
The senior theme this year is ‘Abracadabra’, with the juniors having to address a ‘School days’ topic. 
There will also be a craftsmanship competition, where members will be submitting handmade wine racks along with the West Area ‘Country Cook’ and ‘Bake Off’ competitions. 
YF stock judging commences at 1.30pm. 
Pollock leads the trade parade
THE usual array of trade stands will this year see one trade exhibitor –  Pollock Farm Equipment – not only celebrate 150 years of business but 140-plus years attending the Ayr County Show.
The company will be exhibiting a large selection of implements from the 1880s to present day. 
New to the show is the Lidl Football Zone’s ‘Can you score a peach or bend it like a banana?’ As a lead partner of grassroots football, Lidl is working with the Scottish FA to encourage 5-12-year-old girls and boys to play more football. 
Other areas of interest include the craft/retail marquee which is full of gift ideas and also where the WRI, plus the sticks and crooks competitions takes place.

Inter-breed beef group of three is always a big event

Also, the food marquee, will house a variety of food manufacturers and retailers, most of them local and members. 
This will include ‘Taste Ayrshire’, where visitors will have a chance to market and sell local produce and promote the importance of buying local. 
Cook School Scotland will be part of the support, supplying a pop up kitchen for demo’s to take place throughout the day. This will include local chefs from Cook School Scotland and the Ayrshire College. 
Ayr and District Bee keepers Association will also be present and, for the kids, the Royal Highland Educational Trust (RHET) children’s corner will allow them to meet RHEETA the fibre glass milking cow and get free face painting. 
Other attractions include: Owl Magic, Daffy Dill entertainment, Bunny Luv Mobile Petting Zoo, Ayrshire Vintage Tractor and Machinery Club, The Army, The Royal Scots Guards, chainsaw carving displays and demonstrations, Pipers, ‘TRUCK AYR’, catering facilities, bar, plus the children’s bouncy slide and funfair rides. 
For adults, the organisers are introducing a new big bale challenge this year in the main ring, with entries welcomed for both ladies and gents teams in a race to roll a big bale straw bale from one end of the main ring to the other and back. Heats will be held at around 12-noon with the final at 3.30pm. 

The judges:

Dairy cattle 
Inter-breed – J Cousar, Craigmine, Howcommon, Craigie, Ayrshire.
Ayrshire/Jersey cattle – A Kirkpatrick, Barr, Sanquhar, Dumfries and Galloway.
Holstein and red and whites – D Jones, Church Farm, Wilcrick, Magor, Monmouthshire.
Calf and showmanship – G Redpath, The Murrays, Pathhead, Midlothian.

Beef cattle
Inter-breed – G Welsh, Garpel Farms, Greenock Mains, Cumnock.
Aberdeen-Angus/Hereford – A Cormack, 3 Pratis Cottages, Leven, Fife.
Hereford/Belted Galloway/AOB native – Mrs C Fletcher, Barwise Hall, Apply-in-Westmorland.
Beef Shorthorn – I Park, Tigh Ghardail, Kingairloch Estate, Ardgour, Fort William.
British Simmental/British Blue – J Goldie, Newbie Mains, Annan, Dumfries.
AOB continental – Ms C Williams, Lodge Hill, Park Lane, Shifnal.
Commercials – B Duffton, 2 Bogie Street, Huntly, Aberdeenshire.
Young beef stockperson and YFC classes – J Brown, Gaindykehead, Airdrie, Lanarkshire.

Sheep 
Inter-breed – J Warnock, Sandilands, Lanark.
Suffolk – J Cannon, Redbrae, Wigtown, Newton Stewart.
Texel – D Walker, High Alticane, Pinwherry, Girvan.
Charollais – R Templeton jnr, Carslae, Wigtown, Newton Stewart.
Beltex – P Tippetts, Lodge Hill, Park Lane, Shifnal.
Border Leicester – A Watson, Culticheldoch Cottage, Muthill, Crieff.
Bluefaced Leicester traditional and commercial sheep – L Currie, Pinclanty, Pinmore, Girvan.
Bluefaced Leicester crossing type and Blackface sheep – D Fleming, The Cottage, Nisbet, Biggar.
AOB sheep – D Clark, Lee Meadow, Braidwood, Carluke.
Zwartbles – J Strawhorn, Broomhillbank, Lockerbie.
Hampshire Down – K McCarthy, Mossbank, Ballycreely, Co Down, NI.
Ryeland – E Henderson, Landriggs House, East Netherton, Milnathort.
Young sheep stockpersons – RL Montgomerie, Beechknowe, Ochiltree.

Goats
Goats – Gordon Webster, Guildy Den, Monikie, Dundee.
Ayrshire Goat Club Spring Show – R Wiffen, 1 Bradwell Wick Cottage, Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex.

Horses
Clydesdale – A Whetton, 13 Marlpit Lane, Denstone, Uttoxeter, Staffs.

Others
Sticks and crooks – J Rennie, 5 St Johns Place, Torphichen, Bathgate.
Trade stands – C Mair, Montgomerieston, Dalymple, and I Forrest, (Scot JCB)

Timetable:

Dairy 
Calf and showmanship classes for all dairy breeds – 9.00am
Young stockpersons dairy competition – On completion of calf showmanship
Ring 1 – 11.00am – Ayrshire cattle (classes alternate with Jersey cattle)
Ring 1 – 11.00am – Jersey cattle (alternate with Ayrshire cattle)
Ring 2 – 11.00am – Holstein cattle 
Ring 2 – Red and white cattle (after Holsteins)
Dairy inter-breed – 12.30/1.00pm

Beef section 
Ring 2 – 9.30am – Belted Galloway followed by Hereford followed by AOB native 
Ring 3 – 9.30am – British Simmental, followed by British Blues 
Ring 4 – 9.30am – AOB continental, followed by commercial cattle 
Ring 5 – 9.30am – Aberdeen-Angus, followed by Beef Shorthorn 
First available ring – YFC Native beef and continental beef, YFC prime cattle and young stockpersons cattle
Beef inter-breed – approx 2.00pm 

Sheep section 
Ring 1 – 9.30am – Suffolks
Ring 2 – 10.00am – Zwartbles 
Ring 3 – 9.30am – Charollais, followed by Border Leicesters
Ring 4 – 9.30am – Hampshire Downs, followed by Texels
Ring 5 – 9.30am – AOB continental, followed by Beltex 
Ring 6 – 9.30am – Ryeland, followed by AOB native 
Ring 7 – 9.30am – Blackface, followed by Bluefaced Leicester crossing type
Ring 8 – 9.30am – Bluefaced Leicester traditional, followed by commercial sheep 
Young stockpersons sheep competition to be held on completion of all sections/rings
Sheep inter-breed following completion of all sheep section judging
YFC sheep breeds following sheep inter-breed 

Clydesdale horses – 10.00am
Clydesdale horse YFC – Judging to follow Clydesdale horse section)
Stud cart class – Approx 1.00pm