Following the show's cancellation, last year, competitors and exhibitors enjoyed what was a cracking line-up of youngstock on parade at this year's Stars of the Future calf show, staged at United Auctions' Stirling mart, last weekend.

With no fewer than nine different breeds forward for judging throughout the day, well-respected stockman, John Morton, formerly of the renowned Gretnahouse herd based in Dumfries-shire, certainly had a difficult job on his hands when it came to judging the continental and native individual inter-breed championships.

Aberdeen-Angus and Beef Shorthorn cattle ruled supreme in the native senior section, when Jamie Rettie's heifer, Retties Lady Ruth, from Upper Craigs, Stirling, was awarded the championship, with Duncan Welsh's yearling bull, Westbroad Paddy, taking reserve honours, respectively.

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Among the native juniors, it was the Aberdeen-Angus bull, Oak Moor Kingston, from Michael and Melanie Alford's Devon-based Foxhill herd that secured the top title, while the junior Highland cattle leader, a heifer named Julie of Tippetcraig, from the Burns family's fold, at Bonnybridge, stood reserve.

In the senior continental classes, Kevin Watret's Solway View herd, near Cummertrees, Annan, claimed the senior title with his British Blue heifer, Solway View Perfect, while Brailes Livestock's Charolais heifer, Burradon Raquel, took the reserve title.

The Simmental bull, Annick Memphis, shown on behalf of the late Lachlan Quarm, Holehouse, Irvine, topped the juniors, ahead of Jennifer Hyslop's home-bred Limousin cross heifer, Brownie, from Cleatop Farm, Settle.

Judging the native and continental pairs championship, in conjunction with the Joe Watson Memorial Pairs Competition, was Robert McNee, Over Finlarg, Tealing. He chose Anne MacPherson's Simmental bull and heifer, Blackford Local Hero and Blackford Lapis for the continental pairs title and the Joe Watson Memorial Trophy.

Taking reserve honours was the native champions in the form of Neil Wattie's Tonley Ester and Tonley King Paco, from Alford, Aberdeenshire.

The much-anticipated young handlers section – which was held on the Friday evening – was won by 14-year-old Grant Rhind, from Newton of Struthers, Kinloss, who was showing his home-bred Aberdeen-Angus calf, Here To Party. Grant is no stranger to the show ring, having also won the young handlers section at both Turriff and Keith shows.

Taking home the reserve rosette was 15-year-old Alexander Crombie, Southfield, Falkirk, who paraded Richard and Carol Rettie's Aberdeen-Angus bull, Retties Lord Edwin.

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