DESPITE heavy rain showers early morning, by mid-day Stranraer welcomed some glorious sunshine, enabling exhibitors and spectators to enjoy the various inter-breed championships.
It was a particularly good day for the two Leicester breeds too with the lead Blue and Border – from the breed’s National Show – securing the champion and reserve inter-breed sheep honours respectively.
With just two points separating the two, the various breed judges found their supreme in the top Blue from Matt and Connell Drummond, Cassington, Maybole. 
Their shearling ram which stood first in its class at the Highland and champion of champions at Dalrymple, is by an Auchry sire.
Reserve was John Barrowman’s gimmer from the 20-ewe Knockglass Borders flock. Another red ticket winner from the Highland, she is by Eildon Epic. 
From the beef cattle lines, it was the Galloway leader from young William McCornick, Barquhill, Wigtown, which went on to stand supreme, having stood breed champion here last year too. That was Barquhill Dusty, a September 2014-born heifer by Blackcraig Sid. 
She was tapped out ahead of the commercial section winner, a Limousin cross yearling bullock bred at Mains of Burnbank, Blair Drummond, from Alistair Paterson, Low Three Musk, Stoneykirk. 
James Dunlop, Bishopton, Kirkcudbright, came out on top amongst the dairy cattle, when his champion black and white picked up the tri-colour rosette. 
His senior cow, Craigraploch Prince Cree, an Ex92-classified daughter of Meiklefirth SW Prince, is giving 65kg per day and was placed in front of the Ayrshire leader, Stevenson’s Morven, a junior cow from Willie Stevenson and Sons, Kirminnoch, Dunragit.

For full report and pictures see this week's Scottish Farmer