BILLY Common, from Lockerbie, came up trumps among the Southies when he picked up the supreme title for the second time, as well as the reserve championship with a home-bred gimmer.

Going all the way to the top for Billy and son Murray was Mainside Vicount, a four-shear tup from the 880-strong Crossdykes flock. Purchased for £5200 at Lockerbie, in 2015, he is by Potholm Chance and stood second in his class here last year.

Standing in reserve was the Commons’ female champion, a home-bred gimmer by Crossdykes Major, out of a home-bred ewe, shown on her first outing. This leading duo went on to stand reserve in the inter-breed pairs.

Making the five days away from home more than worthwhile, Mark Little, from Langholm, who keeps just four Cheviot ewes, stood runner up in the males with a shearling. Out in the show ring for the first time, he is by Blackburn Buck and out of a home-bred ewe by Becks Herdsman.

First time exhibitors, George and Jimmy Irving, from Mountbenger, Yarrow, who regularly do well in the sale ring with tups from their 500-strong flock, saw their four-crop ewe stand reserve in the females. Backed by home-bred genetics, he is a grand-son of a £12,000 Becks tup.

LEADING awards:

Judge: W Douglas, Carlenrig, Teviothead, Hawick, Roxburghshire.

Supreme – J Common and Son’s tup; reserve – J Common and Son’s gimmer.

Male – J Common and Son’s tup; reserve – M Little’s shearling.

Female – J Common and Son’s gimmer; reserve – JF Irving and Son’s ewe.

Bred – J Common and Son’s gimmer.

Aged tup – 1, J Common and Son; 2, WN Douglas; 3, WN Douglas.

Shearling tup – 1, M Little; 2, WN Douglas; 3, Mrs E Randall.

Ewe – 1, JF Irving and Son; 2, WN Douglas; 3, WN Douglas.

Ewe (unshorn) – 1, WN Douglas; 2, J Common and Son; 3, JF Irving and Son.

Gimmer – 1, J Common and Son; 2, WN Douglas; 3, J Common and Son.