A big crowd was forward for the show of pedigree bulls at United Auctions' Stirling Agricultural Centre, where the first championship of the day, the Aberdeen Angus, was won by June Barclay, Insch, with Harestone Eurostart.

The bull, a May 2022-born entry brought out by Robert Marshall, first won the intermediate championship and then the supreme overall when tapped out by Argentinian breeder, Norman Catto.

Eurostart is the resultant bull calf from the 19,000gns in-calf cow purchase, Blelack Evora an Oakchurch Dominator-sired cow bought here at the herd dispersal. The sire is Blelack Popeye.

Mr Catto was most impressed by the parade of Aberdeen Angus cattle. “It’s a very good show of cattle. They’re better than they were the last time I was here four years ago having more meat on them with better breed character and heads,” he said.

For his reserve overall he tapped out the junior champion, Neil and Mark Wattie’s Tonley Vernandes, from Mains of Tonley, Alford, Aberdeenshire. The first son shown by the privately purchased Gretnahouse Krack Light which is sired by Gretnahouse Blacksmith, he is bred from Tonley Viney, a daughter of the former stock bull, Blelack Evermore bought for 19,000gns.

Senior champion was Andrew Hodge and his daughter Emma’s Rulesmains Pascual, an April 2022-born bull from Rulesmains, Duns. Breed champion at the Border Union in 2023, Pascual is the second son of Blelack Prince Camelot, which the first standing senior male champion and selling for 9000gns here in October. The dam Rulesmains Paloma, a Hallington Edition-sired cow has bred sons to five-figures privately.

Robbie Galloway's Cardona herd took the awards for the best pair and groups of three, with the Campbell family's Thrunton herd from Northumberland winning the group of four and five bulls.

Devon-based breeders, Mike and Melanie Alford, were also well rewarded for their long trip north, winning the champion and reserve amongst the females with Foxhill Diamond Mist and Foxhill Princess Carina, respectively.