LUCKILY for those showing livestock, the sun shone at Gargunnock Show and the rain held off until after the inter-breed competitions.

Heading up the busy sheep lines was the Bluefaced Leicester leader from Andrew Campbell, Drimsynie. His gimmer, which caught the eye of inter-breed judge David Leggat, was bought at Carlisle from Tom Willoughby's Penhill flock for 5500gns, and is sired by the E29 Midlock.

Taking the reserve sheep title was a home-bred Suffolk shearling ram from Robert Bryce, Chalmerston. He is by the Sunnyhills X Factor tup bought at Stirling a couple years back.

Mr Leggat also judged the beef and dairy inter-breeds, with his winner in the former coming from the Graham family, Mains of Burnbank. Their Burnbank Jojo is a three-year-old Wilodge Fastrac daughter that was shown with her November-born heifer calf at foot.

In the dairy section the top title went to Craig Forth Design Rosette 2, a fourth calver from T and J Gilliland, Craig Forth, giving 42kg.

A busy horse section saw two ponies win most of the plaudits. First up to take the overall in-hand championship was Vicki Fletcher's Highland pony gelding, Royal Caledonian of Fourmerk, which was shown by Chris Grant. Reserve to 'Cally' in the in-hand was Kevin Wilson's Clydesdale mare, Westbank Ruby Tuesday.

Overall ridden champion was Victoria Taylor's 12-year-old Dartmoor gelding, Pumphill Crusade, which was ridden by eight-year-old Ailie Mailer and led by Victoria herself. Cally stood reserve ridden pony.

See this week's issue of The Scottish Farmer, out June 10, for the full report and pictures from Gargunnock Show.