As the judging got under way, so too did the rain at Mid Argyll Show, where show umpire Heather Kerr, Sauchrie Mains, Maybole, had the difficult task of selecting a supreme overall and an overall confined champion from a strong line-up of worthy contenders.
After much deliberation, Heather awarded the accolade to young Jack McDonald, Bayview, Islay, with his open sheep inter-breed winner, a two-crop Suffolk ewe. Bred by Finn Christie, of the Maidenstone flock in Aberdeenshire, she was bought at Lanark for 4000gns in 2025. This young ewe has already proved her credentials, having stood champion of champions at Kintyre the previous day, and champion at Mid Argyll last year.
Heather found her reserve in the Highland pony winner, Lurgan MacMartin, a four-year-old gelding from Jenny Livingstone, North Connell. Sired by Glenwestcastle Loch Rannoch and out of Harebell of Turin Hill, he was bought as a two-year-old and was making his show debut.
The confined supreme sheep was the Blackface champion, a previously unshown tup lamb from Robert and Ian Shaw, Acharonich, Barbreck. Their lamb, by a £1600 Crossflatt, was bred from a one-crop ewe by a £2000 Crakaig that was inter-breed champion at Lorn Show the previous weekend.
Inter-breed cattle champion was Mercury, a home-bred Limousin cross yearling from Colin and Hugh MacKinnon, Kilkenneth, Isle of Tiree. A son of Ballinloan Jaegerbomb, out of a Huntershall Monsoon-sired cow, he also took the overall at Tiree Show.
LEADING awards
Clydesdales (Judge: Alana Johnston). Champion – Lee Bastow, Corran, Tarbert, with the April-born filly foal, Corran Farm Miss Straith, sired by MacFin Starlight and out of Eskechraggan Lady Iona, purchased from Rothesay breeder Tom McMillan. Second at Kintyre. Reserve – S Tuite, Ballivicar, Islay, with the three-year-old gelding, Doura Royalty, purchased from Charlotte Young. Sired by Collessie Connoisseur and bred from Ballinrees Queen of Diamonds. First at Kintyre and Islay. Brood mare, foal – Lee Bastow. Mare or gelding over three years old – S Tuite. Young handler – Orlagh Yule.
Highland (Judge: Carolyn Logan, Stirling). Champion and reserve and reserve inter-breed – Queenie Strickland, Dalmally, with the Royal Highland show champion, Princess Mairi of Cladich, brought out by Stuart Campbell and shown by Emily Armstrong. The three-year-old heifer, sired by Angus 2 of Sorne, and out of Princess Mairi 2 of Cladich, was inter-breed champion at Kilmalcolm, champion at Neilston and reserve at Lorn. Reserve was Kirsty 7 of Cladich, sired by Angus 2 of Sorne, and out of Kirsty 6 of Cladich. The two-year-old heifer was champion at Lorn. All classes – Cladich fold.
Suckled calves (Judge: Stephanie Dick). Champion and reserve – D Semple, Dippen, Campbeltown, with Golden Nugget, an October 2025-born Charolais cross steer by Carradale Skyfall and out of a British Blue Limousin cross cow. Champion at Kintyre. Reserve was a March-born Limousin cross steer by Netherhall Desmond out of a British Blue cross cow. First in his class at Kintyre. Limousin bullock – R Lines. Bullock by any other pure breed; bullock calf born after Feb 1, 2026 – D Semple. Heifer calf born after Feb 1, 2026 – A Hamilton.
Commercial prime stock (Judge: Stephanie Dick). Champion, commercial supreme and inter-breed – C and H MacKinnon, Kilkenneth, Isle of Tiree, with the Tiree champion, Mercury, a home-bred, Limousin cross yearling, sired by Ballinloan Jaegerbomb and out of a Huntershall Monsoon-sired cow. Reserve – J Morris, Dunlossit Estate, Isle of Islay, with a 14-month-old Limousin cross bullock, bought privately from Craig and John Robertson, Newton of Logierait. He was on his show debut. Bullock, one-year-old and over – J Morris. Heifer for beef, one-year-old and over – C and H MacKinnon. Confined champion, cow in calf or in milk, cow with calf at foot, heifer in calf, bullock calf – D Anderson. Yeld heifer, heifer calf suitable for breeding – I and N Malcolm.
Blackface (Judge: Rhoda Munro). Champion, confined and open champion and inter-breed confined – R and I Shaw, Acharonich, Barbreck, with a previously unshown tup lamb sired by a £1600 Crossflatt. His dam, a one-crop ewe is by a £2000 Crakaig and was inter-breed champion at Lorn. Reserve overall and open champion – A MacPherson, Balliemeanoch, with a home-bred gimmer, on her show debut. She is by a £3600 Auldhouseburn and out of a £2000 Midlock-sired ewe. Confined – all classes – R and I Shaw. Open – Ram, shearling, gimmer – A MacPherson. Ram lamb, three-year-old ewe, two-year-old ewe – R and I Shaw. Ewe lamb, ewe with lambs – Arnicle. Fleece – J and M Turner.
Suffolk (Judge: DA MacDonald). Champion, reserve, inter-breed sheep and show supreme – J McDonald, Bayview, Islay, with the Kintyre champion of champions, a two-crop ewe bred by Finn Christie of the Maidenstone flock and bought in Lanark for 4000gns in 2025. Reserve was a gimmer bought at the Carlisle Dark Diamonds sale last year. Sired by Treforian Rocket, she was bred by John Gibb. Aged ram, ewe lamb – S Herraty. Ram lamb – J Rountree. Ewe, gimmer – J McDonald.
Texel (confined) (Judge: Amy Laird). Champion and reserve inter-breed confined other than Blackface – D Anderson, Barnakill with last year’s confined champion, a Vorn-gimmer, bought privately from Helen Forsyth. Reserve was a one-crop ewe bred from a home-bred sire and dam, which was on its first show outing. Open champion and reserve – WA and D Robertson, Valleyview with a two-crop ewe by a Drumbreddan sire and out of a home-bred ewe. Champion at Dalry and reserve at Arran. Runner-up was a home-bred gimmer by Cowal Hennessey and out a home-bred ewe. First at Arran. Confined – Ram, ewe lamb – G McLean. Ram lamb, ewe, gimmer – D Anderson. Open – Aged ram, ewe lamb – D and J MacKenzie. Ram lamb, ewe, gimmer – W and D Robertson.
Bluefaced Leicester (Judge: Katreen Malone). Champion and reserve – N Milton, 4 Keil Crofts, Benderloch, with a home-bred gimmer by Carry House Ronaldo. Champion at Lorn. Reserve was a tup lamb by T7 Longhouse. First at Lorn. Ram, ewe – J and M Turner. Ram lamb, gimmer, ewe lamb – N Milton.
Any other pure-breed continental (Judge: Sophie McCarlie). Champion and reserve – J McDonald with a Beltex gimmer by a home-bred sire and out of a home-bred dam. Reserve was a same-way bred Beltex ewe lamb. First at Kintyre. Ram – S Herraty. Ram lamb, ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb – J McDonald.
Cross-bred (Judge: Katreen Malone). Champion – N Milton with a Mule ewe lamb sired by T7 Carry House. Reserve – J and M Turner with a Mule gimmer. Ewe – RM MacCallum. Gimmer – J and M Turner. Ewe lamb – N Milton. Three ewe lambs bred from Blackface ewes – M and C Ralston.
Any other pure-breed native (Judge: Sophie McCarlie). Champion and reserve open sheep inter-breed – G and J Gillespie, High Tirfergus, Campbeltown with Chloe, a three-crop North Country Cheviot ewe bought at the Kelsocleugh dispersal at Lockerbie. She is sired by Wester Wild Cat and was champion here last year. Reserve – G McLean, Ballachuan, with a Cheviot ewe lamb by an Inverbroom tup and out of a home-bred ewe. Champion at Lorn. Ram – S Herraty. Ram lamb, ewe lamb – G McLean. Ewe – G and J Gillespie. Gimmer – D Robb.
Prime lambs – Champion – S Herraty. Reserve – D Anderson. Single lamb, three lambs by any other sire – S Herraty. Three lambs by Texel sire – D Anderson. Group of three, any, other than Blackface – G McLean.
Sheep young handlers – Junior – 1 and champion, Craig Reid; 2, Fin Gillespie; 3, Hugo McAndrew. Senior – 1 and champion, Jamie McPhee; 2, Jack Reid; 3, John MacKenzie.
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