IT was a day to celebrate for Robbie and Margo Scott when their impressive sixth-calver went on to secure the champion of champions title at Catrine Show.

The show, held at Holmfield, Kingencluegh, just outside of Mauchline, welcomed large numbers through the gate to bask in the sunshine as well as watch to Ayrshire Young Farmers competitions – the calf rally and tug-of-war competitions.

But rising to the top having first headed up a large dairy section, which included a 12-strong class of Holstein heifers in milk, was Clauchlands Outbound Blackbird, an Ex93-rated Holstein cow bought at the Clauchlands reduction at Carlisle around 18 months ago. Since then, she stood champion here last year as well as third in her class at Ayr, and is giving 62 litres since calving in February.

She first caught the eye of dairy judge Katie Davidson, Halmyre, before inter-breed judge, Peter Grey, a self-confessed beef and sheep man from Cowgrove, Galston, awarded her the supreme honours. 

Reserve to her in the cattle section was Mystique, a 15-month-old Limousin cross heifer from the Wyllie family at Skelton Drive, Dalrymple. She was bought as a calf at foot from John McAllister, Wester Thomaston, is sired by Easegillhead Exterminator and will compete at the Ayrshire rally.

From the sheep lines, it was Jim and Wallace Kennedy’s Beltex gimmer, Lyonpark Candy Crush, that ruled supreme to land the inter-breed ticket. On her first outing for the father and son team from Lyonpark, Maybole, she is by the home-bred Lyonpark Thunder tup that went on to sell for 1600gns, and out of a Beachy-bred ewe.

Reserve here was the Texel winner, a strapping February-born tup lamb from young breeders, John and Glen Paterson, Oxenshaw. Their cracker is by the 130,000gns Sportsmans A Star and out of a ewe by Cornmore Velvet Jacket from the boys’ 20-ewe flock.

Also in the running in the champion of champions was the poultry winner, David Taylor’s four-year-old Dutch gold bantam from Union Street, Hurlford. A true bantam and one of around 30 adults managed by David, she was first at Beith last week and showcased a near-perfect comb and colour.

Full results to follow.

For the full report, leading awards and photographs of the champions, see the May 12 issue of The SF.