A cracking, record-breaking entry of Blackface sheep for the breed's National Show, at Stirling Agricultural Centre, last weekend, saw a home-bred ewe from Allanfauld, crowned supreme in the largest, south-type section.

The event, which takes place every five years and this year attracted a massive 441 entries of which more than half (268) were made up by south-type, was led by honourary president, Archie MacGregor and son, John's one-crop ewe, which was later christened Lady Mac – after their two respective wives, Libby and Bryony MacGregor.

This show stopper is by McIlroy, a tup bred by John and Charlie Harkin of which a half share was bought privately, and out of a ewe by the Rocket, a £32,000 Allanfauld – one of 1600 ewes to include pedigree Texels and Bluefaced Leicesters at Allanfauld, Kilsyth. Already a star performer, Mrs Mac picked up the tri-colour at Dunblane Show at the beginning of the month.

Judge Allan Wight (sen), Midlock, found his reserve overall in the second prize winner to the champion, a three-crop ewe from John Campbell and Sons, Glenrath, Peebles.

"It was a fantastic show of sheep right through but and the ewe class was the strongest of them all. It was extremely close between the first and second prize ewes, with the champion just having that wee bit more character than the reserve."

Very much pipped at the post was another top female with previous show form. Glenrath's home-bred three-crop ewe by the £90,000 Dalchirla ram lamb, out of a ewe by a £65,000 Auldhouseburn, not only secured the breed title at Peebles show last year, but also the supreme sheep and overall champion of champions. She was shown by Steven Renwick and shepherd, Donald Macdiarmid.

Male champion was a shearling ram by a £160,000 Dalchirla, from David Morrison, Dalwyne, Barr. This tup which was bought last year at Lanark for £52,000 from John Murray, Crossflatt, stood champion at Carsphairn, last month.

Taking the blue and white sash in the south-type males was a tup lamb from Hugh and Alan Blackwood, Auldhouseburn, Muirkirk. The breeding here includes the £85,000 Elmscleugh, onto the third prize gimmer which is by a £50,000 Crossflatt and was flushed as a ewe lamb.

North-type judge, Mark Smyth, was equally impressed by the quality of sheep in front of him, and particularly of his choice of supreme – a two-shear ram from Tom and Mairi Paterson and son Robert, who run 300 Perth or north-type ewes alongside 1400 south-type Blackies between Craigneigh and Dunruchan, at Comrie and Muthill, respectively.

"It was a tremendous show of sheep, with the first three or four in every class really strong," he said adding that the aged ram class was the most impressive and where Mr Smyth found his choice of champion.

"I really like the champion, he is a great example of the type, but then I tried to buy him as a shearling ram."

That was an Auchnacloich-bred ram that was bought at Stirling last year for £10,000 as a shearling ram. He is by a £1600 Achdregnie and out of a ewe by a £900 Glendamph. Last year, he was placed at Kirriemuir and Perth Shows, for his breeders, Cadogan Estates, managed by Archie MacKinnon.

Irish genetics featured strongly in this section, with the remainder of the top winners including a sires from the province. This included the reserve overall, a ewe lamb from David Baillie and Sons, Calla, Carnwath. She is by a 1000gns McAleer tup bought at Ballymena, while his dam is by a £6500 Woolfords.

Following her to take the runner-up ticket amongst the females was a two-crop ewe from Stephen Duncan, Achdregnie, Glenlivet. The mother of this ewe which stood first at Perth as a gimmer, is by a 800gns Conway sire, also bought in Ballymena, while the sire is a £3000 Calla.

Sandy and Steven Smith, Haughton, Glenkindie, picked up the same amongst the males with a home-bred shearling ram by a 8500gns Mark Smyth ram bought at Ballymena and shared with Doldy. The mother of this big tup destined for the breed sale at Stirling in October, is by a 6000gns Tom Adams.

Jamie Murray and his father Angus, who run 600 North of England ewes at Sewingshields, Haydon Bridge, enjoyed a cracking day in this section, winning two of the top four awards to include the supreme. This was with a ewe lamb that was champion at Roman Wall Show in June. A daughter of a £9000 Wanwoodhill ram bought at Hexham in 2015, she is bred from a ewe by a £1700 Tofthouse.

The Murrays also picked up the ticket for the second best male with a two-shear ram owned in partnership with Hotbank, that stood second at Northumberland Show in May. He was bought at Hexham last year for £12,500 from Stuart Robson, Tofthouse and is by a Tofthouse son of a £6000 Williamhope.

Leading the males was a home-bred shearling ram shown by Kevin Ridley of M and C Ridley based at Shitlington Hall, Hexham. Their topper, which is by a £700 Chapelhouse sire, is out of a Carrick-bred ewe bought as a ewe lamb. He was second in his class at Allendale last year.

Judge, Robert Raine, Townfoot, was particularly impressed by the ewe lamb class and found his reserve female here which followed the champion. Taking all the plaudits here was a daughter of a Kirkstead sire bought at Lanark in 2013, from Andrew and Caroline Hunter and George Birnie, Carrick Farm, Elsdon. Her dam is by a £7000 Wanwoodhill.

LEADINGawards

South-type (Judge: A Wight, Midlock, Crawford). Aged rams – 1, J Jackson and Son, Pole, Lochgoilhead; 2, A MacGregor, Allanfuald, Kilsyth; 3, T and M Paterson, Dunruchan, Muthill; 4, AJ Kennedy and Son, Mitchellhill, Broughton; 5, Remony Estate Partnership, Aberfeldy.

Shearling ram – 1 and male champion, D Morrison, Dalwyne, Barr; 2, J Kay and Sons, Hartside Lammermuir, Oxton; 3, S and W Heads, Aitkenhead, Fenwick; 4 and 5, HA Blackwood, Auldhouseburn, Muirkirk.

Tup lamb – 1 and reserve male, Auldhouseburn; 2, CC Macarthur and Co, Nunnerie, Elvanfoot; 3 and 4, P Coulson, High Staward, Langley; 5, JR MacGregor, Dyke, Milton of Campsie.

Ewe – 1, female champion and supreme overall, Allanfauld; 2, reserve female and reserve overall, JP Campbell and Sons, Glenrath, Kirkton Manor; 3, Aitkenhead; 4, Dyke, 5, Nunnerie.

Gimmer – 1, Nunnerie, T Renwick and Sons, Blackhouse, Yarrow; 3 and 4, Auldhouseburn; 5, High Staward.

Ewe lambs – 1, Auldhouseburn; 2, Glenrath; 3, Dyke; 4, Dalwyne; 5, Pole.

North-type (Judge: M Smyth, Cam Blackface, Coleraine, Northern Ireland). Aged rams – 1, male champion and supreme overall, T and M Paterson, Craigneich, Comrie; 2, J Shearer, Hillhead of Morinsh, Glenlivet; 3, R and S Duncan, Achdregnie, Glenlivet; 4, M Hamilton, Woolfords, West Calder; 5, D Baillie, Calla, Carnwath.

Shearling rams – 1 and reserve male, A Smith and Son, Haughton, Glenkindie; 2, Achdregnie; 3, Calla; 4, cadogan Estates, Auchnacloich, Amulree; 5, Haughton.

Ram lambs – 1, Haughton; 2, Woolfords; 3, Achdregnie; 4, Auchnacloich; 5, Hillhead of Morinsh.

Ewes – 1 and reserve female, Achdregnie; 2, Craigneich; 3, Auchnacloich; 4, Calla; 5, Woolfords.

Gimmers – 1, Calla; 2, Craigneich; 3, Achdregnie; 4, Woolfords; 5, Auchnacloich.

Ewe lambs – 1, female champion and reserve overall, Calla; 2, Viewmount; 3, Calla; 4, Achdregnie; 5, Auchnacloich.

North of England (Judge: R Raine, Townfoot, Northumberland). Aged rams – 1 and reserve male and 2, J Murray, Sewingshields, Haydon Bridge, Hexham; 3, J Hunter and Sons, The Steel Farm, West Woodburn; 4, S Robson, Toft House, Otterburn.

Shearling rams – 1, male champion and reserve overall, M and C Ridley, Shitlington Hall, Hexham; 2 and 3, Sewingshields; 4, Wanwood Partners, Wanwood Hill, Alston; 5, N Robson, Town Shields, Haydon Bridge.

Ram lambs – 1, Shitlington Hall; 2, The Steel Farm; 3, Sewingshields; 4 and 5, Armstrong and Hunter, Carrick Farm, Elsdon.

Ewes – 1 and 2, Sewingshields; 3, Shitlington Hall; 4, The Steel Farm; 5, Town Shields.

Gimmers – 1, Wanwood Hill; 2, Sewingshields; 3 and 5, Carrick Farm; 4, The Steel Farm.

Ewe lambs – 1, female champion and supreme overall and 3, Sewingshields; 2 and reserve female, Carrick Farm; 4, C Halbert, Prospect House, Comb Hill; 5, Wanwood Hill.