Parts of Eastern Scotland have been crying out for rain in recent weeks and they certainly got at Alyth Show, last weekend, where most of the afternoon’s entertainment, to include the parade of livestock, had to be cancelled.

Fortunately, most of the livestock judging was completed in fairly dry conditions in the morning, however, the inter-breed competitions, were hit by some torrential rain with the champion winners, overall judges, show officials and us stupid press in the main ring having face the brunt of the downpours while spectators scarpered for cover.

There was however, no disputing the supreme overall – selected by the overall horse, cattle and sheep judges – Indian Way, a 10-year-old tobiano coloured light-legged gelding from Judy Bruce, Balmyle, Perth. This stylish horse paraded by Morag Snow, has already made his mark on the show circuit, landing the coloured champion and reserve overall in hand at Fife and Central and West Fife Shows.

"He's the one I wanted to take home as soon as I saw him," said the overall horse judge, Andrew Reid. "He hits you as soon as you see him, he's just full of style and charisma."

It was a point echoed by the supreme beef and sheep judges, Neil Caul and Rory Bell, who earlier placed their top winners.

Taking centre stage in the busy sheep lines was the appropriately named Tophill World Cup, the champion Texel from Ally and Tom Greenhill, Dundee. Providing a second inter-breed sheep win here for the 35 ewe flock from Dundee was a three-shear ram by Tophill Union Jack that stood reserve at Angus the previous week. He is also a former champion winner here.

Aberdeenshire Zwartbles breeder David Miskelly, also came up with the goods for his first year exhibiting at Alyth and for the first year there was an individual section for the breed, winning the red, white and blue sash and the reserve supreme sheep with his home-bred gimmer, Corrybrae Emerald. Maternal sister to the 750gns Corrybrae Discovery sold at Stirling in 2016, she is by Liverton Dominator and out of a home-bred ewe, one of only 12 in the flock.

Keeping it in the family, Faith Miskelly (11) and her younger brother, Isaac, picked up the champion and reserve honours in the sheep young handlers competition.

Mr Bell found his champion sheep pairs in two Suffolk lambs from Forfar breeders, Gordon and Donald Mackie. This included the reserve breed winner, a ewe lamb by Strathbogie 24 Karat and another by the same sire. Just pipped at the post was the South-type duo, a home-bred shearling and gimmer from Tay and Torridan Estate's North Amulree unit, managed by Billy Brady.

Leading the much improved cattle section was the commercial champion from Wilson Peters, Crieff, which was selected overall beef best over the Highland cattle supreme, a three-year-old black heifer from regular winners, John and Jen Singer's Kintore Castle fold.

The former, a home-bred 15-month-old Limousin cross stot by Carmorn Lionbar, stood second at Fife and West Fife Shows and is out of a Limousin cross British Blue cow. The latter, Ailsa Emma Dhubh of Kintore Castle, is by Uallach Dubh 6 of Pollok and stood breed leader at Angus and the East of Scotland Club Show.

Charolais from Jim Muirhead and Alison Gray's Firhills herd from Arbroath, lifted the beef pairs, with the winning duo comprising the breed champion, Firhills Maisie, a February 2016-born heifer and the 15-month-old bull, Firhills Nimrod.

Young Beef Shorthorn bulls from Major John Gibb and his daughter Catriona's Glenisla herd, scooped the reserve sash.

Native horse champion was the Shetland champion, Eynhallow Dew, a home-bred three-year-old filly shown by Brenda Laing and her grandson, Finlay Brough, with the reserve honours presented to the lead Clydesdale, Scott Greenhill's yearling filly, Fordelhill Hannah.

LEADING awards

Heavy horse (Judge: Ms E Gunn). Champion and reserve native – S Greenhill, with the yearling filly, Fordelhill Hannah, an Eskachraggan Ernest-sired horse bred from Fordelhill Heather Mari. She was reserve at Brechin Castle. Reserve – B Warburton, with the second prize winner to the champion, Bogton Islay, a two-year-old filly by Bogton Renown, out of Bogton Polly. She was on her first outing of the season but was a big prize winner last year. Gelding – C and L McCulloch. Yeld Mare – A and J Greenhill. Filly, colt or gelding – S Greenhill.

Shetland ponies (Judge: Mrs H Wilson). Champion and native supreme – Eynhallow Stud, with the filly, Eynhallow Dew, by Brockville Vintage, out of Eynhallow Bloom. She was shown by Brenda Laing with assistance from her grand-son, Finlay Brough. Well-known throughout the show circuit, Dew was junior champion at Angus, Kirriemuir, Kittochside and here last year and reserve junior champion at Fife, West Fife, Ardoch, Turriff and the Black Isle.

Highland ponies (Judge: Mrs J Jack). Champion – Heather Gow, with the reserve winner from Angus Show, Freya of Alltnacailleach, a yearling filly by Moss-side Uilleam Mor out of Staffa II of Altnacailleach. She was placed at the foal show in December. Reserve – K Lawson and W Sinclair with the yeld mare, Lochlands Gloriana, a Whitefield Prince Platinum daughter bred from Lochlands Magic Flute, that stood first in her class at Angus Show, and fourth at the breed show, last year. Brood mare, foal – Mrs V Headspeath. Three-year-old – F and M Lawson. Two-year-old – Jean Stewart. Yearling – Heather Gow. Yeld mare – K Lawson and W Sinclair. Senior gelding – Mrs E Brown.

Any other native cattle breed (Judge: F Thompson). Champion – A Rennie, with the four-year-old stock bull, Mosston Muir Excalibur, a Netherallan Peter Pershore son out of Mosston Muir Emily, that was champion at Fife and Angus. Reserve – JM Steel, with the reserve winner from Ayr, West Fife and Angus Shows, West Drums Proud Isla, a two-year-old heifer by Blelack Duke, out of Cardona Proud Isla. Senior bull, cow – A Rennie. Junior bull, heifer – JM Steel.

Highland cattle (Judge: J Fraser). Champion and reserve inter-breed beef cattle – J and J Singer, with the black three-year-old home-bred heifer, Ailsa Emma Dhubh of Kintore Castle, that was champion at Angus and the East Club Show. She is by Uallach Dubh 6 of Pollok and out of Emma 2 of Lochinch. Reserve – S and A Reid, with the February-born heifer calf, Margaret Ruadh of Glenfarquhar, by Sean of Killochries and out of the first prize cow at the show, Sorcha Dhubh of Cladich which was bought at Oban as a calf. Margaret was first at Angus.Cow, calf – S and A Reid. Three-year-old heifer – J and J Singer. Two-year-old heifer, yearling heifer – S Nairn.

Charolais (Judge: Gayle Houliston). Champion and inter-breed beef pairs champion – DH Muirhead with the February 2016-born heifer, Firhills Maisie, a Wesley Equinox-sired female out of Firhills Inga. She was paraded in calf to Westcarse Houdini and was on her first outing of the year having stood third in her class at the Highland last year. The heifer and the March 2017-born bull, Firhills Nimrod by Maerdy Grenadier, made up the inter-breed pair. Reserve – Balmyle Charolais with the reserve winner from Angus, Balmyle Nigella, a 16-month-old heifer by Balmyle Jasper, a 15,000gns sold at Carlisle in 2013, out of Balmyle Flora. Bull, senior heifer – DH Muirhead. Junior heifer – Balmyle Charolais.

Cross cattle (Judge: K Robertson). Champion and reserve and inter-breed beef – W Peters. Supreme was a 15-month-old home-bred Limousin cross stot that was second at Fife and West Fife Shows. He is by the 8000gns Carmorn Lionbar and out of a Limousin cross British Blue cow. Reserve was a similarly bred September 2017-born stot that was first at Fife and Angus Shows. Senior bull, junior bullock – W Peters. Senior heifer – I and G Grant. Junior heifer – CS Fleming and Son.

Simmental (Judge: Gayle Houliston). Champion and reserve – Strathisla Farms. Supreme was the previously unshown Strathisla Hermes’ Lucy, a March 2016-born heifer daughter of the 11,000gns stockbull, Dellfield Brigadier, out stockman, Colin Fordyce’s cow, Blair Lucy. Reserve was the 14-month-old heifer, Strathisla India’s Twiggy, a daughter of Islavale Donald, a bull that bred the Strathisla heifers sold in February that averaged £4500 and bulls at £7000 in October. The dam is Strathisla Abbeys Twiggy. Bull – N McGowan. Senior heifer, junior heifer – Strathisla Farms.

Any other breed (Judge: Gayle Houliston). Champion – W Lawson, with Windsole Nico, a 13-month-old Limousin bull by the 140,000gns Trueman Jagger, bred from the former show heifer, Windsole Flora, by a Dylans sire. Reserve – Ranch Livestock with the 14-month-old Limousin heifer, Ashmore Nala, an Ampertaine Gigolo-sired daughter of the Sarkley Sebastian-sired Aghadolgan Blanche. She was bought privately from Victor and Stephen Keys. Senior bull – I and G Grant. Junior bull – W Lawson. Heifer – Ranch Livestock.

Young handlers (Judge: N Caul). 1, Edward Scott; 2, Ruby Simpson; 3, Charlie Simpson.

North-type Blackface (Judge: N Kydd). Champion – D Nicol, with the breed winner from Angus Show, a ewe lamb by an Eastmill sire used on loan, out of a ewe by a £9500 Haughton. Reserve – Cadogan Estates, with a home-bred shearling ram by Silent Witness, a £5000 Newmill sire bought at Stirling. He is out of a ewe by a £3000 Craigneich and was on his first show outing. Tup, gimmer, ewe lamb – D Nicol. Shearling ram, one-crop ewe, ewe – Cadogan Estates. Tup lamb – K Webster.

Bluefaced Leicester (Judge: J Farquharson). Champion and reserve – A and J Adam. Supreme was a March-born ram lamb by a Kirkstead ram on his first outing. He is out of a home-bred ewe – one of only 15 in the flock. Reserve was the 2016 champion winner here, a home-bred four-crop ewe by a Middle Dukesfield sire bought at Kelso, also out of a home-bred ewe. All classes – A and J Adam.

Texel (Judge: R Orr). Champion and inter-breed sheep – A and T Greenhill, with the aged ram, Tophill World Cup, a three-shear ram by Tophill Union Jack, that was breed leader here in 2016 and reserve at Angus, last week. Reserve – Fraser Dandie (15), with a gimmer and the result of an in-lamb Milnbank gimmer purchase at Stirling in 2016. She is by Glenside Wild Boy and was placed here last year as a lamb. She was shown Fraser’s sister, Beth. Aged ram, shearling ram, tup lamb, ewe, ewe lamb – A and T Greenhill. Gimmer – F Dandie.

Suffolk (Judge: J Farquharson). Champion – J Scott, with a January-born ET ram lamb bred from a Drumpark-bred ewe by Cairness X Factor and sired by Redbrae Real Deal. He is a full ET brother to the third prize tup lamb at the Highland, last year. Reserve and champion inter-breed sheep pairs – G Mackie, with the reserve winner from Angus Show, an ET bred ewe lamb by the 24,000gns Strathbogie 24 Karat, out of a home-bred ewe by Forkins Bold Boy. The lamb and another by the same sire made up the winning inter-breed pairs for the Drimmie flock. Aged ram, gimmer – TA Sands. Tup lamb, ewe – J Scott. Ewe lamb, untrimmed – GA Mackie.

South-type Blackface (Judge: D McArthur). Champion and reserve inter-breed pairs – Tay and Torridan Estate, with a previously unshown gimmer by a £700 Dalchirla bought at Dalmally, out of a ewe by a £1000 Connachan. The gimmer and the first prize shearling ram, a home-bred tup made up the reserve inter-breed pairs for estate’s North Amulree farm managed by Billy Brady. Reserve – M and D Simpson, with Betty, a home-bred three-crop ewe, that was champion at Strathardle and Angus and reserve at Kirriemuir, last year. She is by a £1000 Dullatur and was reserve at Angus, last week. Aged ram – S Nairn. Shearling ram, gimmer – Tay and Torridan Estate. Tup lamb – A Walker. Ewe, ewe lamb – M and D Simpson. One-crop ewe – Kate Fairlie.

Cross sheep (Judge: G Burke). Champion – R Morris, with a pen of three home-bred seven-eighths Texel gimmers on their first outing. They are by an Incheoch sire. Reserve – JD Steele, with a pen of three previously unshown Beltex cross gimmers that stood second in their class to the champion winners. They are by a Padkin sire and out of home-bred Texel cross Beltex ewes. Champion lamb – Ben (10) and Amy (8) Macdonald, with a March-born Texel cross lamb. Cross ewe with twins, single lamb, single ewe – Ben and Amy Macdonald. Three cross gimmers, single gimmer – R Morris. Three Mule gimmers – D Black. Three undress lambs – JD Steele.

Any other breed (Judge: R Orr). Champion – D Soutar, with the three-shear Blue Texel ram, Viewforth Angus, an ET-bred ram bought privately from John Lyle that was champion here and reserve inter-breed; champion at Kinross and first at Perth, last year. He is bred from Viewforth Winnie, and is sired by Millend Yeeha. Reserve – TA Sands, with a January-born Charollais ewe lamb on her first outing. She is by a Lyonpark tup bought at Kelso, in 2016 and out of a home-bred ewe. Tup – D Soutar. Tup lamb, ewe lamb – TA Sands. Ewe – R Morris. Gimmer – CL Wylie and Son.

Jacob Champion and reserve – P Murray. Supreme was a home-bred three-shear ewe by Insidehype Dragonfly, a home-bred ram that was male champion at the Highland in 2015, out of a Hyndshaw-bred ewe bought at St Boswells. She boasts numerous prize wins to include to former championships at Penrith and breed leader at Perth and Kinross last year. Reserve was a gimmer by the same sire on her first outing of the season. She was a regular prize winner last year. Tup, tup lamb – B Webster. Ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb – P Murray.

Zwartbles (Judge: A Baird). Champion and reserve and reserve inter-breed sheep – TD Miskelly. Supreme was Corrybrae Emerald, a home-bred gimmer on her first outing of the season. A daughter of Liverton Dominator, out of a home-bred ewe, she was first at Banchory last year and placed at several other events. Her maternal brother, Corrybrae Discovery was sold at Stirling in 2016 for 750gns. Reserve from the 12-ewe flock was a December-born ram lamb by Greystone Disco, a tup used on loan, out of a home-bred ewe. All classes – TD Miskelly.

Young handlers (Judge: R Bell). 1, Faith Miskelly; 2, Isaac Miskelly; 3, Ben Macdonald.