Just a few days to go, and the last of our judges' profiles includes those in the hotseat for the most prestigious of competitions.

Selecting a supreme overall out of so many worthy individual champions is always a difficult task, but at least this year will be slightly easier, when all the accredited sheep are judged on the Monday, with an accredited inter-breed individual and pairs winners selected at the end of the day.

Similarly, with all the non-accredited breeds put through their paces on the Tuesday, a non-accredited supreme overall and top pairs will be selected at the conclusion of this busy day. Sadly there is no supreme overall sheep competition.

Young handler competitions are also extremely competitive if not more so – between youngsters and the parents! And, the goat competition which is growing in popularity with new breeds and breeders, will this year see the farthest travelled adjudicator, all the way from Wales.

Jim Robertson, the man in the hot-seat in the non-accredited rings who will be judging the inter-breed individual and pairs

Jim Robertson, the man in the hot-seat in the non-accredited rings who will be judging the inter-breed individual and pairs

Non accredited sheep inter-breed and pairs competition – Jim Robertson

Well-known South Country Cheviot breeder, Jim Robertson has had an extremely challenging 18 months as chairman of British Wool, so it comes as no surprise that he is particularly looking forward to his big day out placing the top two winners in the prestigious non-accredited individual and pairs inter-breed sheep competitions, at the Royal Highland Showcase.

As the first Scottish chairman of British Wool in recent years, the co-operative representing no fewer than 35,000 UK sheep farmers, Jim was at the forefront of selling last year's wool stocks when the market collapsed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. A year on, with all of the 2020 clip sold, the market is looking a lot more promising.

As enthusiastic about the Royal Highland Show as he is British Wool, Jim who farms the 1700acre hill unit at Becks, Langholm, with his wife Sharon, has attended the four-day event every year for as long as he can remember. He has judged the South Country Cheviots twice in the past, and for all he has only exhibited at Ingliston once, in 2019, he certainly made an impression as he went on to land the breed honours with the stock ram, Castle Crusader.

"It's always a struggle for us to find the time to exhibit at the Highland, but I would never miss it. It's the best show to go to and a great shop window for all breeds," said Jim.

"The quality of stock on show is second to none and there is always a huge buzz about the place. It's a huge honour to be asked to judge any show, but to be asked to select the top winners at the Highland and the inter-breed is the icing on the cake."

Back home at Becks, the couple run 950 South Country Cheviot ewes which over the years have bred numerous four and five-figure priced shearling and two-shear rams at Lockerbie. Add to that, a flock of 50 Texels producing shearling rams for sale at Kelso and 100 Galloway cows either bred pure or to a Whitebred Shorthorn, to breed home-bred replacements and Blue-Greys respectively, and it's a busy place at all times of the year.

It is however the Southies that will always take pride of place at Becks for Jim who was brought up at Dryhope, Yarrow, and is also a former president of the South Country Cheviot Association.

"Cheviots always sell well, whether they're sold as store lambs or finished hoggs. They're a hill breed and are therefore better finished as hoggs," said Jim adding that such sheep should be averaging out nearer £200 per head when they have been selling for £100 for the past 20-30 years.

The real beauty of the hill breeds though, is the fact they are hardy and can withstand most types of weather. So in contrast to most people who have struggled with lambings as a result of the bitter cold weather in April and May, Jim has enjoyed one of his best.

"For all it's been cold, it's been dry and we have plenty of shelter here, so we've had a really good lambing. We're just looking forward to a good day out at the Royal Highland Showcase now," he added.

MV accredited inter-breed judge, Blair Cockburn is selecting the top two in the individual and pairs competitions

MV accredited inter-breed judge, Blair Cockburn is selecting the top two in the individual and pairs competitions

MV accredited sheep inter-breed and pairs competition – Blair Cockburn

The breed champions in the MV accredited section on the first day of the judging will come face to face with the inter-breed section judge, Blair Cockburn who runs 1200 North Country Cheviot and Blackface ewes at Kingside, and 850 South-type Cheviots at Stirkfield, with his wife, Morag.

While a percentage of the flocks are bred pure for replacements, the majority are crossed to the Bluefaced Leicester, to produce the bread and butter of the business, Scotch Mule and Cheviot Mule ewe lambs.

“Both types are great prolific commercial sheep that give a quality prime lamb at the end of the day. Cross-bred ewe lambs have such a strong place in the commercial market, so in turn we are getting two bites at the cherry when we're breeding Mule females,” said Blair, who is looking for a sheep with that little bit extra at this year’s Showcase event.

“I am hoping to find my inter-breed winner in something outstanding in its breed, being a strong example of its type with good confirmation and style, which at the Royal Highland Show should be in abundance,” added Blair, who is no stranger to judging, having previously taken to the show ring at the Royal Highland Show in 2004 when he had the honour of judging the Scotch Mules.

Having also judged at Balmoral, Royal Welsh and the Royal Show, Blair doesn’t lack experience or expertise.

“Judging is something I enjoy doing, it is a great privilege to be asked, and I am very much looking forward to the Showcase event in just a few weeks’ time.

“In a ‘normal’ year it is great to see the quality of animals on offer and meet up with old and new friends that you haven’t seen for a while, doing a bit of socialising, and of course seeing what else the show has to offer,” concluded Blair.

MV accredited young handlers – Carol-Anne Warnock

Working alongside her parents, Jimmy and Elizabeth Warnock, on the family farm at Sandilands Farm, Lanark, is Carol-Anne Warnock.

Having previously worked off farm initially as an agricultural officer with the Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate for almost 12 years and laterally with the Scottish Agricultural College as an agricultural consultant, Carol-Anne more recently found her way back home and has been farming there full time since 2018.

Immersed in the Texel breed from a very young age, the family's Watchknowe flock has operated at Sandilands for more than 40 years and totals 80 breeding females, which run alongside 400 commercial ewes and a herd of 80 suckler cows.

“Texels are hardy and easy fleshed sheep at grass (when there is any) producing high-quality lean meat carcases that are in demand,” said Carol-Anne.

However, it is not the animals Carol-Anne will be judging this year, but the handlers themselves: “I want the youngsters to have fun!! Whilst they should be looking to show the sheep and themselves off to their best advantage if they are not enjoying themselves it will show – so remember to smile!

“Even the best of stockmen or women will have been led a merry dance by an animal they were showing at one point in time. So, remember to shake off any difficulties and keep trying. Respect is earned from showing good endeavour! If at first you don’t succeed – try, try again!,” she said, having previously judged at several local shows around the Lanarkshire area, but also up at Caithness, and down at Dalkeith and Glendale shows.

Carol-Anne also selected the winners at the NI National Texel show and sale in 2014 and last year was part of a panel of judges judging the NI Texel Breeders virtual flock competition.

“Travelling the length and breadth of the country is a true honour, and I am excited about this year’s Highland Show. I love the Highland Show for socialising with like-minded individuals down the sheep lines and enjoying the camaraderie between fellow competitors!

"Although the Showcase event will undoubtedly be very different to my usual Highland Show experience, I am delighted that the show is going ahead and I will make every effort to enjoy it to the fullest,” she added.

Andrew Morrey takes to the fore among the goat classes

Andrew Morrey takes to the fore among the goat classes

Goats – Andrew Morrey

Having adjudicated various breeds of goats throughout the country over the years, there are few more experienced to judge this year's Showcase classes than Andrew Morrey.

Having spent most of his working career as a ruminant nutritionist, Andrew works from his own smallholding based in Montgomery, Powys, Wales, which has been built up over the past 40 years and is home to sheep, Connemara ponies and, of course, goats.

"I always liked goats and when I went to university, I got the opportunity to own a goat or two, so I started keeping them in 1971 – and 50 years later I'm still as keen as I ever was!" commented Andrew.

"I keep British Toggenburgs. I like this breed as they have, in my opinion, typified what I like to see in a dairy goat. Comparing them to cows, they form what an old fashioned Ayrshire was like and they are beautiful dairy animals. They have lovely udders, milk well and also have good longevity."

"I only own a small handful of goats myself now, however, I am breeding with the same family line, I had in 1980 – I'm now on my 12th generation," Andrew added.

Having previously judged every major show within the UK and Australia – including the Royal Highland, Royal Welsh and the Great Yorkshire – Andrew has a wealth of knowledge under his belt and is confident in what he is looking for.

"In dairy goats, I'll be looking for good dairy character, good conformation, correct legs topline and feet, as well as a well attached and shaped udder. In Boer goats, I want something that has the ability to move about well, a well fleshed animal that looks as though it'll please the butcher," Andrew explained.

"When it comes to the Pygmys, I'm looking for good character and healthy animals, as they are companion animals and have to have good longevity," he added.

Judging the dairy goats will however be a little different this year as Andrew will not be able to take their milk records into account. In a normal year, goats would be entered into a 24-hour milking competition, with the milk weighted and sampled by the steward with points awarded by the judge and taken into account.

Although Andrew has travelled to judge the Royal Highland before, he is still as excited to get into the ring for what will in fact be a unique year for the show.

"It's an honour to be asked to come back and judge the goats again this year, and I look forward to the day as it’s a particularly special show in the calendar," said Andrew who remains extremely confident for the future of goat shows.

"I think goats will continue to thrive as commercial enterprises as farmers are looking for alternative milks other than cow's. Showing goats is however very much in the balance as dairy goats have to be milked twice a day which is a tie and doesn’t appeal to a lot of people that want a freer lifestyle. That's where meat goats are more attractive to prospective breeders. However, if anyone is interested in goats contact the British Goat Society, who will welcome you with open arms!"