IT was very much a red letter day for retired Ayrshire joiner, David Craig, when his two-year-old heifer, Kennox Tara’s Gem, scooped the breed championship and a second breed title here.

Notably, his topper which went on to stand reserve inter-breed champion, is a half sister to Mr Craig’s champion here in 2011 ­– Annick Tara’s Alice – being bred from the same cow, Annick Helen’s Tara, a cow purchased as a calf at foot. A daughter of the show winning bull, Sowenna Aristocrat, Tara’s Gem has already made her presence at several shows, taking the overall champion of champions title at both Neilston and Stewarton.

Reserve overall was the male champion Blackford Galaxy, a two-year-old bull from Billy MacPherson, daughter Anne and her husband, Raymond Baynes’ 25-cow herd from Blackford, Croy. This bull boasts some of the best of genetics, being sired by Curlieu Knight – a bull bought privately in 2001 that has bred sons to 15,000gns – while the dam, Blackford Aero, is a great, great, grand-daughter of the dam of Blackford Trident, which sold for a breed record of 14,000gns in 1988.

“The best bull ever bred at Blackford,” according to Billy MacPherson, he was later sold privately to the Barlow family, who own the Denizes herd at Ulnes Walton, near Leyland, Lancs.

Following him to lift the blue and white male title was Richard McCulloch’s Curaheen Drifter, a five-year-old bull by Curaheen Warrior, purchased at Roscommon for €18,500. Stock bull for this large herd, which is managed by John Hughes from Armadale, Drifter has bred by David Wall and has bred numerous high priced bulls.

Jimmy and Vicki Woods’ Popes Princess Cleo, a six-year-old by Banwy Wonderboy, from Dutton, Preston, continued on her winning ways too, lifting the runner-up female title. Reserve inter-breed and a member of the winning inter-breed pair at last year’s Royal Welsh and the Great Yorkshire, this big cow out of Popes Nelly’s Princess was paraded with May-born heifer calf at foot by the 20,000gns Kilbride Farm Comber.

LEADING awards:

Judge – M Barlow, Four Oaks, Ulnes Walton Lane, near Leyland, Lancashire.

Supreme – D Craig’s female, Kennox Tara’s Gem; reserve – WG MacPherson’s bull, Blackford Galaxy.

Female – D Craig’s female, Kennox Tara’s Gem; reserve – JH and VG Wood’s female, Popes Princess Cleo.

Male – WG MacPherson’s bull, Blackford Galaxy; reserve – R McCulloch’s bull, Curaheen Drifter.

Junior – WJ and J Green’s bull, Corskie Gambler; reserve – Boddington Estates’ female, Sterling Bacardi Hope.

Bred – D Craig’s female, Kennox Tara’s Gem.

Group – WJ and J Green’s bull, Corskie Gambler.

Female born after April 1, 2016 – 1, WG MacPherson (Blackford Honey); 2, WJ and J Green (Corskie Highness); 3, AJ Wilson (Cairnview Rea 5).

Female born Jan 1 to Mar 31, 2016 – 1, Boddington Estates (Sterling Bacardi’s Hope); 2, Boddington Estates (Sterling Bacardi Hawaii); 3, JH and VG Wood (Popes Rhona).

Female born July 1 to Dec 31, 2015 – 1, D Craig (Kennock Tara’s Gem); 2, Miss H Duff (Pitmudie Gladys); 3, WJ and J Green (Corskie Graceful).

Female born Jan 1 and June 30, 2015 – 1, Boddington Estates Ltd (Sterling Bacardi’s Gi Gi); 2, J Gunn (Mavsey Golden Pride); 3, WJ and J Green (Corskie Ge-enna).

Female having calved before or due before three years, born in 2014 – 1, GW Smith (Drumsleed Farina); 2, Boddington Estates (Sterling Celia’s Fifi); 3, JP and J Goldie (Newbiemains Flo).

Female, born in 2012 or 2013 – 1, J Wightman (Coxhill Emerald).

Female born before Dec 31 2011, in milk – 1, JH and VG Wood (Popes Princess Cleo); 2, W Young (Skerrington Rhona); 3, WJ and J Green (Corksie China).

Bull born after April 1, 2016 – 1, WJ and J Green (Corskie Harbro); 2, GW Smith (Drumsleed Harvester); 3, JP and J Goldie (Newbiemains Holy Smokes).

Bull born Jan 1 to Mar 31, 2016 – 1, GW Smith (Drumsleed Horatio); 2, Miss H Duff (Pitmudie Hunter); 3, JH and VG Wood (Popes Hector).

Bull born Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2015 – 1, WG McPherson (Blackford Galaxy); 2, D Lowry (Keeldrum Gambler); WJ and J Green (Corskie Gambler).

Bull born before Dec 31, 2014 – 1, R McCulloch (Curaheen Drifter); 2, JH and VG Wood (Popes Fearless).