Despite some decidedly dreich, damp weather, exhibitors and spectators turned out in force for Abington Show, which has to be one of the most welcoming on the circuit and an event that is also renowned for attracting one of the biggest and best line-ups of Blackface sheep in the country.

However, it was quality not quantity that appealed to the overall judge, Brian Dickie, Spango, who found his choice of supreme from the smallest section. This was a Limousin cross cow with February-born British Blue heifer calf at foot, from local breeder, Ian McGarva, Nether Abington, who was winning his first supreme overall here, fresh from bagging the inter-breed beef honours at Peebles the previous week with a pedigree British Blue heifer.

Previously unshown, this black cow was shown with it's fourth calf, having been bought as a heifer at Caledonian Marts, Stirling, from David McKerrow, Nochnary.

"It's a great outfit. The cow is a good working female and she's got an absolutely tremendous beefy, well grown calf at foot," said Mr Dickie, who found his reserve winner in the supreme sheep, which had earlier been selected by inter-breed sheep judge, David Baillie, Calla.

Taking all the plaudits in this extremely competitive section and winning his first inter-breed sheep title here was a South Country Cheviot shearling ram from Tommy Aitchison, who manages Hopetoun Estates' Glenochar and Glengeith flocks at Elvanfoot. Previously unshown, the tup is by a Glengeith Impression, a son of Crossdykes Juggernaut, retained for breeding, out of a home-bred ewe. He is destined for the breed sale at Lockerbie in October.

First time female president, and probably the event's youngest ever president, Kelly Blackwood, also came up with the goods, winning the reserve honours in the shepherd's Cheviot section, with a ewe lamb, by a Glengeith son of Crossdykes Juggernaut.

LEADINGawards

Blackface (Judge: I Finlay, Corse Farm, Balmaclellan). Champion – JP Campbell and Sons, Glenrath, Peebles, with a two-crop ewe by an £11,000 Greenside, bred from a ewe by an £8000 Crossflatt. Previously unshown, she was brought out by Steven Renwick. Reserve – AJ MacArthur, Nunnerie, Elvanfoot, with the second prize ewe to the champion, a two-crop by a £34,000 Harkin, that was first in her class as a rough ewe at the Highland. Aged ram, shearling ram – A MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth. Ram lamb – PG Coulson, High Staward. Ewe – JP Campbell and Sons. Gimmer – J MacGregor, Dyke, Milton of Campsie. Ewe lamb, group – AJ MacArthur. Three ewe lambs – Renwick Bros, Corsebank, Sanquhar.

Shepherd's Blackface (Judge: W Welsh, Burnfoot, Sanquhar). Champion – B Gilchrist, Crimp Cramp, Crawford, with a previously unshown three-crop ewe by a £25,000 Crossflatt, out of a ewe by a £44,000 Crossflatt. Reserve – W Craig, Gosland, Broughton, with a tup lamb. Ewe, group – B Gilchrist. Gimmer – I Clark, Midlock, Crawford. Ewe lamb – G MacDougal, Hartside, Lamington. Tup lamb – W Craig.

Cheviot (Judge: G Jackson, Blackburn, Newcastleton). Champion, supreme sheep and reserve overall champion of champions – T Aitchison, North Shortcleugh, flock manager of Hopetoun Estates' Glengeith and Glenochar flocks, with a home-bred shearling ram on his first outing. He is by Glengeith Impression, a home-bred son of Crossdykes Juggernaut retained for breeding, out of a home-bred ewe and is destined for the breed sale at Lockerbie, in October. Reserve – B and Morag Cockburn, Stirkfield, Biggar, with Stirkfield Ella, a three-crop ewe that was first at Peebles. She is by Mainside Ust and bred from a home-bred ewe. Aged ram, ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb, group, pair – B and M Cockburn. Shearling ram, tup lamb pair, three hill gimmers – T Aitchison. Tup lamb – RH Paton, Castle Crawford.

Shepherd's Cheviot (Judge: G Jackson). Champion – J Cochrane, Castle Crawford, with a previously unshown three-crop ewe by Crossdykes Juggernaut. Reserve – Show president, Kelly Blackwood, Auldtoon, with a ewe lamb by a Glengeith son of Crossdykes Juggernaut, also on her first outing. Ewe – J Cochrane. Gimmer, tup lamb – T Aitchison, North Shortcleugh. Ewe lamb – Kelly Blackwood.

Texel (Judge: J Aiken, Moss House, Wennington). Champion and reserve supreme sheep – G Gray, Sunnycroft, Lindean, Selkirk, with a one-crop ewe by Shannagh Won O Won, that was inter-breed champion at Biggar and reserve at Kelso and Peebles. She is out of a ewe by Ettrick Rainbow Warrior and is a full sister to 10,000gns and 7000gns gimmers sold last year at the Select Seven sale. Reserve – K Johnstone, Boghouse, with a shearling ram bought at the second sale at Lanark last year. Cowal Almighty, bred by the Campbell brothers is by Claybury Yosemite and stood first in his class at Lesmahagow. He goes back to Cowal's Great Yorkshire show ewe. Ewe, gimmer, tup lamb, group – G Gray. Ewe lamb – J Warnock, Sandilands, Lanark. Shearling ram – K Johnstone. Aged ram – W Boyd, Overburns.

Bluefaced Leicester (Judge: N Marston, Milestone Moor, Cockermouth). Champion – J Wight and Sons, Midlock, Crawford, with a two-crop ewe by an E1 Hewgill, out of a ewe by a P4 Tanhouse. She is a regular prizewinner. Reserve – Lana Bell (13), Cottage, Auchengray, with the champion winner from Carnwath and first prize gimmer from Peebles Show. A daughter of Shitlington sire, she is bred from a Dreva ewe by a Cottage ram. Shearling ram – F Robertson, The Beeches. Tup lamb – JP Campbell and Sons, Glenrath. Ewe, ewe lamb, group – J Wight and Sons. Gimmer – L Bell.

Breeding sheep (Judge: N Marston). Champion and reserve – J Wight and Sons, Midlock. Supreme was a ewe lamb by a J6 Hewgill out of a home-bred ewe with the reserve being a home-bred ewe by a home-bred son of Midlock Mustang. Two cross ewe lambs – K Johnstone, Boghouse. Scotch Mule ewe lamb, Scotch Mule gimmer pair, Scotch Mule ewe – J Wight and Sons. Two Scotch Mule ewe lambs – JP Campbell and Sons, Glenrath. Scotch Mule gimmer – F Robertson, The Beeches.

Butchers sheep (Judge: R Struthers, Collielaw, Carluke). Champion – J Bell, Cottage, with a pair of end of March Beltex cross ewe lamb by a home-bred son of a Airyolland sire, out of Texel cross gimmers. They were on their first outing. Reserve – Annie Retson, Maidencots, with a three Texel cross lambs. Three Blackface wedder lambs, three Texel cross lambs – I McGarva, Nether Abington. Three Beltex lambs – J Bell. Three prime lambs – T Frame, High Dykes. Beginners class – Annie Retson.

Suckler cow and calf (Judge: Shona Stevenson, Carbello, Cumnock). Champion and overall champion of champions – I McGarva, Nether Abington, with a previously unshown Limousin cross cow with February-born British Blue cross heifer calf at foot by the home-bred sire Abington Knockout. A fourth calver, the cow was bought at Caledonian Marts' Stirling sale from David McKerrow, Nochnary. The calf is to be sold at Lanark in October. Reserve – A and J Forrest, Hillend, with a Limousin cross cow with May-born Limousin cross heifer calf by the home-bred sire, Ladygill Hennesay.