West Forth Solo, a massive Clydesdale gelding from the Tennant family continued on his winning ways to secure a second consecutive breed title and overall champion of champions at a relatively dry Border Union Show, last weekend.

Overall judge, Tom Arnott, Haymount, said his choice of winner was absolutely outstanding.

"He's a beautiful, stunning horse, full of style, character and conformation. He's got that look at me factor – I'm a winner," said Mr Arnott, after presenting the reserve honours to the smallest entry forward – the supreme champion chicken, a home-bred six-month-old rumpless game hen from local business manager, Thomas Moodie.

Star attraction however was undoubtedly the Tennant brothers – Tom, Jimmy and Pete's – big bay horse from Forth, which only the previous week took the supreme overall at Biggar and stood gelding champion at the Highland in June. Bred by the Clarks at Muirton, he is by Muirton Sabre and out of Muirton Muirton Mhairi.

There were more celebrations to come when Mr Arnott presented the second reserve to the supreme sheep, a North Country Cheviot from the Thomsons from Hownam Grange, Kelso, who were securing a phenomenal seventh inter-breed title here.

There show stopper this year, selected from no fewer than 17 section winners to include three Cheviots, was the park-type supreme, a two-shear ram from Willie Thomson and his father Jimmy, who farm at Hownam Grange and Kelsocleugh. This was Synton Vesper, a two-shear ram bought last year at Lockerbie from Scott Davies for £2600. A son of Gilston The Golfer, he was second at the Highland. Notably, the duo picked up the Lairg-type championship too with a home-bred two-crop ewe.

"The champion is an outstanding sheep. He's so well balanced and put together and he has a great carcase," said the inter-breed judge, John Geldard, Levens, who found his reserve overall in a Beltex gimmer from brothers Neil and Grant Sandilands, which first won the non mv any other breed section.

This was Alewater Cosmic, a previously unshown female from the boys' 22-pedigree ewe flock which also runs alongside pedigree Suffolks and Texels. She is by the home-bred ram, Alewater Ace of Spades.

A cracking show of Aberdeen Angus, saw the supreme go on to lift the inter-breed cattle honours for Andrew Hodge and his daughter Emma's Rulesmains herd form Duns, who also won the reserve overall pairs title.

Taking all the plaudits here was Rulesmains Karen, a seven-year-old cow by Rawburn Duke Winston, bred from Rulesmains Kinannie. Another well-known show winner, this stylish cow is a former female champion here and at Duns, and regular prize winner at the Highland. She was shown with February-born heifer calf at foot.

Karen also teamed up with the 18-month-old bull, Rulesmains Egbert, a Hallington Edition-sired youngster to win the blue and white sash in the pairs.

Michael Arnott, Duns, presented the reserve honours in both the individual and pairs competition to Limousins, with the former heading the way of Keith Redpath's four-year-old show bull, Dinmore Jollygood, which stood inter-breed here last year and breed leader the previous year. He was paraded by Natalie Cormack and is by Wilodge Tonka.

A duo comprising Meadowrig Jainsi, a four-year-old cow by Mas Du Clo and Gunnerfleet Mongo, a rising two-year-old bull scooped the runner up trophy for Messrs Renton and Redden Partners, Allanton, Chirnside.

LEADINGawards

Clydesdale (Judge: B Duncan, Cupar, Fife). Champion and overall champion of champions – Tennant Family, Braehead, Forth, Lanark, with West Forth Solo, the overall champion of champions at Biggar the previous week. Champion gelding at the Highland, this six-year-old was bred by the Clarks and is by Muirton Sabre, out of Muirton Myra. Reserve – M and A Bell, Auld Graitney, Gretna, with the two-year-old filly, Graitney Hannah Elizabeth, a bay daughter of Boat Scottish Power out of Howgillside Lady Catherine. She was first at Cumberland this year and third at Dumfries in 2017. Senior gelding – Tennant family. Yearling/two-year-old colt or gelding, yearling filly – Edith Gunn, Hawthorn House, East Calder. Yeld mare – Adam Young, Tollhouse, Watergate, Cleish. Two-year-old filly – M and A Bell. Ridden - R Doughty, Andrew Meikle Grove, East Linton.

Aberdeen Angus (Judge: R Rettie, Forestmill, Alloa). Champion and inter-breed cattle champion – Firm of T Hodge, Rulesmains, Duns, with Rulesmains Karen L239, a seven-year-old cow by the former stockbull, Rawburn Duke Winston out of Rulesmains Kinannie which is a daughter of a Canadian ET. A former female champion here and at Duns, she was also third at the Highland Show in June and was shown with her end of February born heifer calf at foot by the 15,000gns Duncanziemere Judge. The Hodges were also reserve in the inter-breed beef pairs with the champion and their male champion, Rulesmains Egbert, a January 2-17-born son of Hallington Edition, a bull that has bred a lot of show winners for the herd, out of Rulesmains Evita Samantha. He is destined for the bull sales at Stirling in October. Reserve – WD Allen, Stouphill, Alnwick, with Stouphill Patsy, a March 2016-born heifer by Duncanziemere Jigsaw, the sire that bred the 12,000gns bull for the Allens earlier in the year, out of a previous home-bred Patsy. First at the Highland, she was paraded due in September to Rawburn Estonia. SEnior bull – Gordon Brooke Estate, Upper Huntlywood, Earlston. Junior bull, cow – Firm of T Hodge. Senior heifer, junior heifer – WD Allen

Hereford (Judge: R Rettie). Champion and reserve – BG Hutchinson, Field House Farm, Greetham, Billingham. Supreme was Bethanfield Lisette, a 17-month-old heifer by Auckvale Monument, bred from Fourstones Lisette, which was bought privately from the Fourstones herd at Hexham three years ago. She was second at the Highland and first at the Great Yorkshire. Reserve was Coley 1 Petrus, a rising two-year-old bull by Spurstow Recruit, out of Coley 1 Clara that was bought at the Hereford breed sale at Hereford, last October from his breeder, H Whitaker. He was second at the Great Yorkshire and third at the Highland. Bull, junior heifer – BG Hutchinson. Senior heifer – H Elliott, Lowcornriggs, Cowshill, Weardale. Group – JRB Wilson and Sons, Cowbog, Kelso.

Native beef breeds (Judge: R Rettie). Champion – Gordon Brooke Estate, Upper Huntlywood, Earlston, with the sole entry, Elliot Top Gun, a two-year-old Beef Shorthorn bull by Chapelton Braveheart. Previously unshown, he was paraded by stockman Ian Campbell and is out of Holmeere Millicent.

Limousin (Judge: Mrs L Wyllie, Blairgowrie). Champion and reserve inter-breed beef – Redpath Farms, Kelso, with last year’s inter-breed winner here and at Duns, Dinmore Jollygood, a four-year-old bull by Wilodge Tonka out of Dinmore Gaiety. Champion here in 2016, Jollygood bred this year’s junior male champion at the Highland, Redpaths Nobleman and was paraded by Natalie Cormack. Reserve and champion inter-breed pair – Renton and Redden Partners’ Meadowrig Jainsi, a 41/2-year-old cow by Mas Du Clo, out of Brockhurst Fuzzy, from Stuartslaw Farm, Allanton, Chirnside. Champion maiden heifer at Northumberland in 2014, she was also first at the Scottish Grand Prix at Turriff in 2015. She and the rising two-year-old bull, Gunnerfleet Mongo, an Ampertaine Gigolo-sired bull bought at Carlisle in February for 30,000gns, made up the winning inter-breed pair. Mongo was champion at Haddington. Senior bull, junior bull, junior heifer – Redpath Farms. Cow – Renton and Redden Partners. Senior heifer – Gordon Brooke Estate, Upper Huntlywood, Earlston.

Continental beef breeds (Judge: Mrs L Wyllie). Champion – R and A Crocket, Conker Cottage, Deanfoot, Denholm, with Bacardi Jessie Jay, a four-year-old Salers cow by the French sire, Gulliver, bred from Cleuchhead Delilah 3. Champion at the Highland and the Great Yorkshire, she was paraded with heifer calf at foot. Reserve – G and A Hamilton, Ramrig, Duns, with the 17-month-old British Blonde bull, Ramrig Nimbus, a son of the Hallfield Destiny-sired Ramrig Jumping Jack, out of Ramrig Halo. He was fourth at the Highland. Bull – G and A Hamilton. Cow, heifer – R and A Crocket.

Border Leicester (Judge: C Arnott, Halkirk, Caithness). Champion – RN Howie and Partners, North Lyham, Chatton, Alnwick, with a previously unshown tup lamb by Lammermuir Moonshine, a Lanark purchase in 2016, out of a ewe by Alticane Dakota. He along with the remainder of the Howie’s flock are on show at an open day on August 12, after having won the 2017 flock competition, where all are welcome from 1pm onwards. Reserve – Eleanor Stokeld, Croft Avenue, Acklam, Middlesbrough, with a previously unshown shearling ram. Home-bred, he is by Dolton Gentleman which goes back to Kilphin Gentleman Jim, and out of a ewe by Westforth Zus. Aged ram, ewe – JS and JB Mauchlen, Spotsmains, Kelso. Shearling ram, gimmer, pair, group – E Stokeld. Ram lamb, ewe lamb – RN Howie and Partners.

Lleyn (Judge: J Barrow, Appleby in West Morland, Cumbria). Champion and reserve – T and I Walling, Over Whitlaw, Selkirk. Supreme was the breed leader from the Highland, a two-shear ram bought at Ruthen last year from Christine Lewis for 1700gns. He is by a Bennett sire. Reserve was the female champion and reserve overall from the Great Yorkshire and the Highland, a home-bred gimmer backed by home-bred genetics on both sides. Aged ram, ram lamb, ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb, group – T and I Walling. Shearling ram – C Crawford, Crooklands, Haywood, Forth.

Suffolk (Judge: S Sutherland, Oxton, Berwickshire). Champion – Elaine Wilkie, Shaw Cottage South, Berryscaur, Boreland, Lockerbie, with the breed leader and reserve overall sheep champion from Biggar Show, a gimmer by Solwaybank Statement. She is out of a ewe by the home-bred sire, Islay Legacy, and last year stood champion at Lesmahagow as a ewe lamb. Reserve – S and G Brown, Woodhead, Dewarton, Gorebridge, with a home-bred three-crop ewe from their Capielaw flock that was reserve inter-breed sheep here in 2016 and second at Dalkeith, last month. She is by Penman Finale and out of a Howeburn Last Laugh-sired ewe. Untrimmed shearling, untrimmed ram lamb – Rosden and Lilburn flock, Lilburn Farming Partnership, Middleton House, Wooler. Shearling ram – Mr and Mrs B Nicolson, The Knock, Duns. Ewe, ram lamb – S and G Brown. Gimmer – Elaine Wilkie. Ewe lamb – RG Laing and Sons, Oxmuir, Greenlaw.

Texel (Judge: B Farrell, Co Meath, Eire). Champion – JB Renwick and Son, Legars, Kelso, with a gimmer by Strathbogie You’re A Tup, the 42,000gns ram shared with the Cowal flock, out of a ewe by Castlecairn Presentation, which is a full brother to Castlecairn Keltic Star. Champion here last year, she was on her first outing of 2018. Reserve – Firm of G Gray, Sunnycroft, Lindean, Selkirk, with a one-crop ewe by Shannagh Won O Won out of a Rainbow Warrior daughter. Full sister to 10,000gns and 7000gns females sold at the Select Seven sale last year, she was inter-breed sheep at Biggar the previous week and breed leader at Dalkeith, last year. Aged ram – R Rennie, Attonburn, Yetholm. Shearling ram – C Connell, Wanton Walls, Lauder. Ram lamb, gimmer, ewe lamb – JB Renwick and Son. Ewe – Firm of G Gray.

Zwartbles (Judge: B Gibson, Gartocharn, Alexandria). Champion – S Craig, Eildon Mains, Melrose, with a previously unshown gimmer by Glenfield Duke, bred from the privately purchased Pen-Y-Ghent View Caitlan, one of 100 pure females in the flock. Reserve – Caroline Anderson, Wallridge Cottages, Ingoe, with a Penllyn-bred two-crop ewe bought three years ago as a lamb privately. She is by Penllyn Wennol, out of a Pennllyn ewe and was on her first outing. Ram, gimmer, ewe lamb – S Craig. Ram lamb, ewe, group of three – Caroline Anderson.

Any other breed MV (Judge: W Pate, Galashiels). Champion – R Rennie, Attonburn, Yetholm, with Ardstewart Aragento, a two-crop Beltex ewe bought at Carlisle in 2016 bought from Wade and Alison McCrabbe. First at the Highland, she is by Rathbone Tony. Reserve – Messrs Maxwell, Faughhill, Melrose, with a previously unshown Beltex shearling by Callacrag Barbarian, bred froma home-bred ewe. He is destined for the bred sale at Carlisle. Ram, ram lamb – Messrs Maxwell. Ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb – R Rennie.

Prime lamb (Judge: W Pate). Champion – H Currie, Edendales, Longlands Close, Carlisle, with a pen of two lightweight Blue Texel lambs. Reserve – J Green, The Craggs Farm, Lilliesleaf, with the second prize winners to the champion, Texel cross lambs. Lightweight lambs – H Currie. Heavyweight lambs – J Green

Blackface (Judge: B Graham, Sanquhar, Dumfries). Champion – S McClymont, Tinnis, Yarrow, for the second year in succession, this time with a two-crop ewe by a £5000 Balliemeanoch, out of a ewe by a £5000 Glen, Gatehouse. She was champion and reserve inter-breed sheep at Dalkeith and third at the Highland. Reserve – Tollishill Farming, Burncastle Estate, Lauder, with a ewe lamb by a £25,000 Elmscleugh out of a ewe by a £5500 Blackhouse. Previously unshown, she was brought out by shepherd Andrew Bell. Aged ram, ewe lamb – Tollishill Farming. Ram lamb, ewe, gimmer – S McClymont.

Bluefaced Leicester (Judge: D Hall, Penicuik, Midlothian). Champion – S McClymont, Tinnis, Yarrow, with a previously unshown two-shear ram bought last year at Kelso Ram Sales for £5000 from Gary McDonald. He is by an Orraview ram. Reserve – J Herdman, Newton of Edlingham, Alnwick, with a ewe lamb by a Hotbank shearling ram bought at Carlisle, last year in partnership with Obie Sharp, Colin Campbell and Bill Hedley, bred from a ewe by a Carryhouse ram. Aged ram, shearling ram, ewe – S McClymont. Ram lamb, ewe lamb – J Herdman. Gimmer – A Ainslie, Linkshead, Cockburnspath.

Cheviot (Judge: J Paton, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire). Champion and reserve – WN Douglas, Catslackburn, Yarrow. Supreme was a two-crop ewe by Hislop Ultra, with the reserve going to a gimmer by the £9000 Springwells sire. Both are bred from home-bred ewes and were on their first outing from the 800 pure South Country Cheviot ewe flock. Aged ram, shearling ram, ewe, gimmer – WN Douglas. Ram lamb – J Smith, The Burrows, Bonchester Bridge. Ewe lamb – CM Ker, Chatto, Hownam.

Hebridean (Judge: J Moore, Isle of Mull). Champion – J Mosley, Kirkdean, Blyth Bridge, with Brightside Wiay, a two-shear ram that was first at the Great Yorkshire and third at the Highland. He is by Cinderhill Jotun and out of a Brightside ewe. Reserve – J James, Slipperfield Croft, Old Manor House, West Linton, with a ewe lamb. Aged ram – J Mosley. Shearling ram, gimmer – J and M Cuthbert, Claysyke, Fossoway. Ram lamb – N and A Fecitt, Dovecote Ghyll, Dowbiggin. Ewe – Helena Mann, Edgehead Village, Pathhead. Ewe lamb – J James.

Jacob (Judge: Mrs H Higginson, Congleton, Cheshire). Champion – R Locker, Greenlaw Mill, Greenlaw, with a three-crop ewe that was champion at Fife and third at the Highland. She is by Pentranent Acorn and bred from a home-bred ewe. Reserve – MW Harper, Woodside Cottage, Cavers, with the reserve inter-breed sheep champion from Haddington and breed leader at Dalkeith, a home-bred shearling ram. Harbell Lincoln, a four-horned home-bred ram is by Arkleside Dudley and out of a home-bred ewe. He was also champion at Dalkeith, last year and is bound for the breed sale at St Boswells next weekend. Ram, tup lamb – MW Harper. Ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb, pair – R Locker.

Lairg-type Cheviot (Judge: M Cook, Halkirk, Caithness). Champion – J Thomson, Kelsocleugh Farming, Yetholm, with a home-bred two-crop ewe by the retained ram, Kelsocleugh Nobleman, which in turn is a son of Hownam Grange Jaguar. A class winner at every show as a gimmer, she is bred from a home-bred show ewe that is still going strong at nine years of age. Reserve – J Runciman and Sons, Allanshaws, Galashiels, with a previously unshown ewe lamb by Inkstank VIP a tup used on loan that is bred from the Inkstack show ewe. She is out of a ewe by Keppoch Shergar that stood fourth in class and was shown by Dawn Lindsay. Aged ram, two-shear, ram lamb – W and J Thomson, Hownam Grange, Kelso. Shearling ram – Linhope Farming Partnership, Hartside, Powburn. Ewe – Kelsocleugh Farming. Gimmer – JM Elliot and Partners, Woodside, Yetholm. Ewe lamb – J Runciman and Sons.

North Country Cheviot (Judge: Mrs J Earle, Penybont, Carmarthen). Champion and supreme sheep – W and J Thomson, Hownam Grange, Kelso, with Synton Vesper, a two-shear ram bought last year at Lockerbie for £2600. He is by Gilston The Golfer and stood second at the Highland. Reserve – G Milne, Kinaldy, St Andrews with a ewe lamb that was first at the Highland. She is sired by Philiphaugh Tornado, a former champion winner at the Lockerbie sale where he was bought in partnership with Allanshaws, out of a ewe by Allanshaws Pamson.

Scotch Half-bred (Judge: A Coghill, Halkirk). Champion – GD Pate and Sons, Stobshiels Mains, Humbie, with a pen of three ewe lambs that are to be sold at St Boswells, later this month. Reserve – W Pate and Partners, Marvingston, Gifford, with a single ewe lamb by a Forth-bred Border Leicester and out of a North Synton-bred female. Ewe– H Anderson, Headshaw, Oxton. Gimmer, ewe lamb – W Pate and Partners. Pen of three ewe lambs – GD Pate and Sons.

Shetland (Judge: Miss H Syme, Glenrothes, Fife). Champion – Mrs Susan Tyson and Mrs Rachel Willan, Unders Kiddaw, Keswick, with a white Greenacre-bred ewe bought at Lanark last year from Andrew Bain. She is by Brae Bryson, out of a Greenacre ewe and was champion at Bellingham Show last year and placed at the Great Yorkshire, last month. Reserve – PML Playfair, Stichfield Eastfield, Kelso, with the moorit gimmer, Kaimknowe Lobelia. A daughter of Island Tommo, a tup used on loan from the Trotters’ Rivendell flock, she is bred from the show ewe, Kaimknowe Helleborus. The gimmer was placed at Biggar. Coloured ram – B and J Watson, Field Croft, Carleton. White ram, white shearling, coloured ewe, coloured gimmer – PML Playfair. Coloured shearling, coloured ram lamb, white ram lamb, white ewe lamb and reserve white – Joan Brunton, Fieldview, Haddington. White ewe – Mrs S Tyson and Mrs R Willan. White gimmer, coloured ewe lamb and reserve coloured – Mr and Mrs A Bain,

Suffolk Non MV (Judge: J Elliot, Earlston). Champion – S Shaw, Smailholm Mains, Kelso, with a home-bred shearling ram bound for the Kelso ram sales. He is by a New Channelkirk-bred ram bought two years ago at Kelso and is bred from a home-bred ewe with 25% New Zealand genetics. Reserve – AW and BT Taylor, Belmont, Kelso, with a New Channelkirk-bred ewe bought at the flock dispersal at Carlisle. She was inter-breed sheep champion at Duns, last year. Aged ram, ewe – AW and B Taylor. Shearling ram, gimmer, ewe lamb – S Shaw. Ram lamb – H Smith, Crumhaughhill, Hawick.

Texel Non MV (Judge: I Mark, Limavady, Co Londonderry). Champion – A Smith, Crumhaughhill, Hawick, with a previously unshown ewe lamb by a Halbeath sire bought last year at Carlisle, out of a home-bred ewe by a Midlock ram. Reserve – W Pringle, Ruberslaw Drive, Denholm, with a home-bred shearling ram by Glenrath son of Haddo Whisky Galore, bought at Kelso. He was on his first outing and is out of a home-bred ewe. Shearling ram, ram lamb – W Pringle. Ewe – J and P Anderson, Headshaw, Oxton. Gimmer – Mary Hall, New Blainslie, Galashiels. Ewe lamb – A Smith.

Any other breed (Non MV) (Judge: W Pate, Galashiels). Champion and reserve inter-breed sheep – N and G Sandilands, with the Beltex gimmer, Alewater Cosmic, a home-bred daughter of Alewater Ace of Spades out of a home-bred ewe, one of only 22 pedigree Beltex females that run alongside 50 pedigree Texel and 30 pedigree Suffolk ewes. Reserve – Katherine and S McIntosh, Outer Huntly, Selkirk, with a three-crop Kerry Hill ewe from their 12ewe Glenhaugh flock. Bred by Cath Qewley, Lochmaben and bought privately, she is by a Grassknop sire and stood first here in 2016. Ram, ewe – K and S McIntosh. Ram lamb, gimmer – N and G Sandilands. Ewe lamb – Grant and Wright, Innergellie, Kilrenny.

Prime lambs (Judge: W Pate). Champion – R Rennie, Attonburn, Yetholm, with a pen of mediumweight Beltex cross Texel lambs. Reserve – A and P Glennie, Threeburnford, Oxton, with a pen of mediumweight Beltex lambs. Lightweight lambs – A and P Glennie. Mediumweight lambs – R Rennie. Heavyweight lambs – Mr and Mrs A Chandler, Old Melrose Lodge, Melrose.

Young handlers (Judge: J Geldard, Levens, Cumbria). Champion – Fletcher Renwick. Reserve – Archie Hendry. MV – 1, Fletcher Renwick; 2, Ritchie Renwick. Non MV – 1, Archie Hendry; 2, Beth Thomson; 3, Archie Herdman.

Goats (Judge: C Newton, Sennymoor, Co Durham). Champion – Hannah Campbell, The Byres, Brunton Farm, Torphichen, with the British milker, Capitol Artemis, a 21/2-year-old in milk by Guilden Tiger out of Lovelsglen Donner. She was first at last year's British Goat Society Scottish Smallholders show in September and second at the Grampian Goat Club Show in June. Reserve – Campbell Family, The Byres, Torphichen, with the second prize winner to the champion, Lovelsglen Donner, a six-year-old British milker by Ladeside Carrick, out of Lovelsglen Comet. She is a regular prize winner. Toggenburg milker, Golden Guernsey milker, Toggenburg kid – Anke Sieker, Nine Acre Holdings, Melrose. Anglo Nubian milker, AOV goatling, Anglo Nubian kid – Beth Fairley, Avonvale Cottage, Avonbridge. AOV milker, AOV kid – Hannah Campbell. Toggenburg goatling – Becky Campbell, The Byres. Anglo Nubian goatling – Rebekah Fleming. Golden Guernsey – Christina Sieker, Nine Acre Holdings. Saanen kid – Mrs M Cain, West Burnhead, Galston. Golden Guernsey kid – R Torrance, Foxton Cottage, Lowtrewhitt, Thropton.