AFTER almost two decades of poor weather, Stonehouse Show was finally blessed with glorious sunshine from start to finish on Saturday, which saw increased numbers through the gate and a good turnout of quality livestock. 
Going all the way to the top to lift the champion of champions title was the Holstein champion, Goldfish Delila EX92 from James Bailie and sons, James and Gavin who run their 250-strong Dalserf Holstein herd at Crumhaugh, Stonehouse. This third calver, which is currently giving 60kg, produced 15,305kg last year and is projected to do the same in her third. Shown last year, she stood reserve at both Stonehouse and East Kilbride. 
Securing the Suffolk championship for the second consecutive year, before taking the supreme sheep title this year, was Andrew Currie's four-crop home-bred ewe from Hawkhead, Hamilton. On just her first outing of the year, she is by Cairness McIlroy. Reserve to the Suffolk was a Texel ewe lamb from first time competitor, Gordon Howatson who runs just four Texels at Strutherhead, Sandford. By the 15,000gns Knock Yardsman, she is out of a ewe bred by Andrew Neilson. 
Craig Ferguson from Riverdale, Gilmerton, Strathaven, stood champion in the beef section with his Limousin cross bullock bred by Wilson Peters, Monzie Farms. Bought at Caledonian Marts' calf sale, last September, this 14-month-old bullock stood fourth in its class at both the Beef Expo and at Livescot. 
Also forward for the champion of champions accolade was Jim Rochead's Clydesdale filly, Malcolmwood Isla from Malcolmwood, Blantyre. On just her second ever outing, she is by Dillars Jura, out of Mill Moonlight. 


LEADINGawards:
Ayrshire (Judge: W Baillie, Hillhead, Thankerton, Biggar). Champion and reserve – DM Lindsay, Harperfield, Lanark. Champion was Harperfield Peach 50, a sixth calver currently giving 40 litres having calved down in January. By Harperfield Coral Reef, she stood reserve at Dumfries in 2016. Reserve was Willowfield Whinnie 2, a West Mossgeil Modern Reality daughter which is due with her third calf this week. She stood champion at East Kilbride, Dumfries and Strathaven. Cow in calf, cow in milk – DM Lindsay. Heifer in milk or in calf – WA Gardiner, Lonsdale. 
Holstein Friesian (Judge: W Baillie). Champion, dairy champion and champion of champions – JD Baillie, Over Dalserf, Larkhall, with the third calver, Goldfish Delila EX92. Giving 60kg, she gave 15,305 last year and is projected to do the same in her third. She was reserve at East Kilbride and Stonehouse, last year. Reserve – W Bryson, Dykehead, Lesmahagow, with Comet Girl Red, a second calver by Carrock. She is giving 55kg and was shown as a calf at Lesmahagow. Heifer in calf, heifer stirk, bull, cow in calf, group of three – J Watson and Son. Back calving cow – JD Baillie. Heifer in milk, cow in milk, senior cow in milk, pair, calf – W Bryson. 
Limousin (Judge: David Baillie, Calla, Carnwarth). Sole entry – A Lindsay, Kepscaith, Longridge, with Clydeside Oban, a bull calf by Lodge Hamlet, out of Clydeside Isla which is a previous winner at Stonehouse and Moffat. 
Beef cattle (Judge: D Baillie). Champion – C Ferguson, Riverdale, Gilmerton, Strathaven, with a March 2016-born Limousin cross bullock bought last September at the Caley, from breeder Wilson Peters, Monzie Farms. He stood fourth at the Beef Expo and Livestock. Reserve – A Lindsay, Kepscaith, with a 15-month-old Limousin cross bullock by a home-bred sire. On just its second outing, he stood fourth in his class at the Winter Fair. Beef calf, commercial cow – C Watson. Continental bullock – C Ferguson. Native heifer – G Dunbar, Springholm, Drumclog. Pair – R and J Hamilton, Mid Shawtonhill, Chapelton. 
Blackface (Judge: T Hutchinson, Chapel Farm, Moffat). Champion and reserve – S Thomson, Tulloch, Darvel. Champion for the Thomsons was a home-bred shearling on its first outing by a £1000 Tinnis, out of a home-bred ewe by a Drannandow sire. Reserve was a four-shear tup bred by Hugh Crawford, Glenhead, Northern Ireland, which the Thomsons bought privately in 2015. He is by a £550 Tinnis. Aged ram, shearling, ewe hogg, pair – S Thomson. Ewe – I Fleming, Firmshawhead.
Suffolk (Judge: T Hutchinson). Champion and inter-breed sheep – A Currie, Hawkhead, Hamilton, with a home-bred four-crop ewe which stood champion here last year. By Cairness McIlroy, she was on her first outing of the year and is destined for Lesmahagow. The same home stood reserve with a three-shear tup by the 90,000gns Ardlea Arbennig, out of a Rhaeadr ewe. All classes – A Currie. 
Commercial sheep (Judge: T Hutchinson). Champion – D Padkin, Muirhouse, Lanark, with a Millennium Bleu gimmer and her Beltex cross twin lambs. Reserve – J Watson, Westtown, Stonehouse, with a Texel cross ewe and Suffolk cross Texel twin lambs by a home-bred Suffolk tup. Ewe – I Fleming. Ewe – D Padkin. Ram – S Thomson. Pair – J Watson. 
Texel (Judge: R Laird, Cambwell, Skirling). Champion and reserve inter-breed sheep – G Howatson, Strutherhead, Sandford, with a ewe lamb by the 15,000gns Knock Yardsman, out of a ewe bred by Andrew Neilson. She was on her first outing. Reserve – M and G Ballantyne, East Cauld Coats, Strathaven, with a ewe lamb which stood second at Dundonald and fifth at Ayr. Another daughter of Knock Yardsman, she is also out of a ewe bred by Andrew Neilson, which is a daughter of the 32,000gns Hexel Wildcard. Aged ram – R Templeton, Sandford. Shearling, ewe lamb, pair – G Howatson. Tup lamb – M and G Ballantyne. Ewe, gimmer – H Griffes, Drumalbin Farm Cottage.
Beltex and AOB continental (Judge: R Laird). Champion – S Thomson, Tulloch, with a shearling tup bred at Mid Shawtonhill and bought last year at Lanark. By Shawtonhill Brook, out of a home-bred Shawtonhill ewe, he was on his first outing. Reserve – J Hamilton, Mid Shawtonhill, Chapelton, with Shawtonhill Chelsea, a home-bred gimmer by the £9000 Hadkin Sugardaddy, out of Woodies April. Aged ram – I Fleming. Shearling – S Thomson. Ram lamb – A Meikle. Ewe, gimmer – R Templton. Ewe lamb – Pollock/Glacken, Kirknewton. Pair – G Howatson. 
Rare breed (Judge: R Laird). Champion – R Templeton, Sandford, with a home-bred Black Welsh Mountain hogg nursing a lamb. Reserve – Stanley Pollock, Kirknewton, with a home-bred Valais Blacknose tup lamb. Tup lamb – Pollock/Glacken. Ewe lamb – H and S Templeton, Sandford. Ewe, ram – R Templeton.
Pet lambs (Judge: R Laird). Champion – Finlay Frame. 
Clydesdale (Judge: R Morton, Stobilee, Cleghorn, Lanark). Champion – J Rochead, Malcolmwood, Blantyre, with the yearling filly Malcolmwood Isla, by Dillars Jura, out of Mill Moonlight. Reserve – Brian Lindsay, North Hillend, Crossford, with the three-year-old gelding, Dillars Rascal. Supreme male at Kittochside, he was bred in Southern Ireland and is by Carnaff Perfection, out of Slievenamon Ellie. Gelding, colt – B Lindsay. Yeld mare – A Maclean, Lochcote. Filly – J Rochead.