The atmosphere was nothing short of electric at the Scottish National Fat Stock Club’s winter primestock show, LiveScot, when organisers and competitors produced a cracking display of calves for the event’s new pedigree calf section, held for the first time this year on the evening proceeding the main show.

With a strong show of pedigree calves forward, it was Richard Hassell and Rachel Wyllie, of Brailes Livestock, who triumphed in the inter-breed competition with their Charolais bull and the day’s breed champion, Brailes Samson.

Brought out by Richard and Carol Rettie, Methven, this boy is no stranger to the show ring having already claimed the junior male and overall junior champion titles at last month’s Stars of the Future calf show. Sired by Westcarse Houdini, this January-born bull is bred out of Bassett Orange – purchased privately in-calf from Jean Atkinson, Malton, North Yorkshire – and is destined for the breed sale to be held at Carlisle, in May, 2022.

Read more: Texel tops a cracking line-up of pedigree lambs

The reserve Charolais champion also came from the Brailes pen in the form of Samson’s stablemate, Burradon Raquel. Another Stars of the Future victor, having clinched the breed honours at the event, this July, 2020-born is a daughter of Clenagh Lyle and out of Burradon Grace.

The same team also enjoyed success when scooping the Aberdeen-Angus championship with bull, Brailes Finnegan. Having already proved himself as a show star, with titles including male champion at this year’s Angus Winter National Show, held at the Borderway Agri Expo, this boy is a son of Duncanziemere Editor and out of the privately purchased, Gretnahouse Fleur – which had bred sons to 12,000gns, in the form of the October, 2019. Stirling Bull Sales’ junior champion.

Richard and Carol Rettie’s Retties herd was responsible for producing the reserve Angus champion, in the form of Retties Panasonic. This April-born home-bred bull is by Retties Lark Royal and out of Retties Pam.

It was a memorable day for Kevin Watret, Annan, who not only scooped the British Blue championship but also the reserve inter-breed honours with Solway View Pluto.

Only on his second outing, this September, 2020-born AI son of Bedgebury Kent was out of Solway View Nemo – which stood champion at the 2018 January calf show, in Carlisle – and was male champion and reserve overall at Stars of the Future, last month.

Henry Jewitt’s Sunnybank Ruby, from Barnard Castle, Co Durham, landed the reserve British Blue championship. This March-born heifer is an AI daughter of the Belgian-bred Toscan Vd Ijzer and out of Springhill Naughty Girl – purchased from the Springhill herd, in Northern Ireland.

The Limousin section was led by Lockerbie-based Stephen Illingworth, with his September, 2020-born heifer, Glenrock Redruby. Sired by Sympa, this girl is out of one of the herd’s best breeding cows, Glenrock Jewel – which previously stood junior female and reserve overall female champion at the 2015 Royal Highland Show and overall junior champion at the 2015 Great Yorkshire Show, with progeny selling to 10,000gns in the form of Eagleside Mustang.

Stephanie Dick took the reserve honours with Ronick Ricardo, from Westerton, Cowie, Stirling. This August, 2020-born bull is a son of Carnew Lionheart and bred out of the home-bred cow, Ronick Jilly.

Michael Durno’s 60-cow herd, from Glenlivet, produced both the champion and reserve Simmentals, with the September, 2020-born heifer, Auchorachan Liqueur, leading the charge. Backed by home-bred genetics on both sides, she is by the Auchorachan ACDC son, Auchorachan Hercules – an ET which has sired bulls to 9000gns at Stirling Bull Sales, in February – and bred out of Auchorachan Favourite.

Another Hercules daughter, Auchorachan Mellie Hilly, was tapped out as reserve. On her first outing, this March-born girl is out of the home-bred Auchorachan Ellie.

A small but quality line-up of Hereford cattle saw George and Sophie Harvey’s bull, Harveybros 1 Versace, from Balfron, being tapped out as the day’s breed champion. On his first outing, he’s an AI son of Normanton 1 Laertes and out of the home-bred Harveybros 1 Crocus.

Claiming the reserve title was Gavin Dunbar’s Drumboy 1 Vindicator. This February-born boy is a son of Fabb Northern Star, out of Moeskaer Kashmir and he stood second in his class at Stars of the Future.

Bulls from Duncan Welsh’s 40-cow Fenwick-based Westbroad herd were champion and reserve Beef Shorthorns with Westbroad Powell and Westbroad Rishi, respectively.

Brought out with the help of Natalie and Marion Hynd, and Ian Johnstone, both bulls were sired by the 5000gns Shawhill JAT – purchased at Stirling Bull Sales, in 2016 – with Powell being bred out of the home-bred Westbroad Abbie, which has produced sons to 5000gns.

Having clinched the reserve junior male title at Stars of the Future and on his second outing, Rishi is out of Westbroad Delila.

Galloway cattle were out in force at the event, with Lockerbie-based breeders, David and Rosemarie Cornthwaite, celebrating a successful day taking home the main title with their heifer, Solar Eclipse of Balgray. A daughter of the 9200gns Troloss Impeccable – which is shared with the McClymont family, from Kirkstead, Yarrow – this girl is out of Lunar Eclipse of Balgay and is a half sister to this year’s Great Yorkshire Show junior champion.

Balgay genetics were also behind the reserve champion Galloway. This time doing the business for Ben Edmonson, Langholm, was his heifer, Clerkhill Robin. Sired by Orion of Balgray, purchased for 4000gns at Castle Douglas in 2019, this girl is out of Clerkhill Kara.

Stephen and Rosemary Hunter, Barnhill, Allanton, Shotts, were tapped out as the day’s Highland cattle champion and reserve owners. On her first outing, their champion heifer, Alice 2 of Hunters, is a daughter of Jura 3 of Thaggnam and bred out of Alice Seonag 12 of Glengorm.

Another Jura daughter, this time in the form of Capleadh 3 of Hunters, took home the reserve. Brought out with the help of daughter, Laura, this January-born heifer is out of Capleadh of Hunters.

LEADING awards:

Charolais (Judge: Anne MacPherson, Blackford, Croy, Inverness) – Bull born between July 1 and Dec 31, 2020 – 1, F Goldie’s Yondercroft Rydeer, by Blelack Ladysman. Bull born after Jan 1, 2021 – 1, overall and inter-breed champion, Brailes Livestock’s Brailes Samson, by Westcarse Houdini. Heifer born between July 1 and Dec 31, 2020 – 1 and reserve, Brailes Livestock’s Burradon Raquel, by Clenagh Lyle; 2, D Dandie’s Lookaboutye Rose, by Gretnahouse Ming; 3, Hodges Livestock’s Hodges Razzle, by Balthayock Namesake. Heifer born after Jan 1, 2021 – 1, D Dandie’s Lookaboutye Saffron, by Mornity Nelson; 2, Brailes Livestock’s Brailes Spice, by Westcarse Houdini; 3, F Goldie’s Yondercroft Sierra.

British Blue (Judge: Jonathan Watson, Bowsden Moor, Berwick-Upon-Tweed) – Bull born between July 1 and Dec 31, 2020 – 1, overall and reserve inter-breed, K Watret’s Solway View Pluto, by Bedgebury Kent; 2, I McGarva’s Abington Powerhouse, by Rocco de la Hasse. Bull born after Jan 1, 2021 – 1, J Hyslop’s Netherton, by Attribute Du Fond De Boris. Heifer born between July 1 and Dec 31, 2020 – 1, K Watret’s Solway View Paris, by Bedgebury Kent; 2, J MacKay’s Harelaw Poppy, by Bluegrass Cyclone. Heifer born after Jan 1, 2021 light – 1, G Scott’s Thistle Rosetta, by Dodou De St Remacle; 2, I McGarva’s Abington Roxanne, by Abington Nitro; 3, HC Jewitt’s Sunnybank Real Special, by Corrandulla Finton. Heifer born after Jan 1, 2021 heavy – 1 and reserve, HC Jewitt’s Sunnybank Ruby, by Toscan Vd Ijzer; 2, HC Jewitt’s Sunnybank Royal Star, by Toscan Vd Ijzer; 3, D McKerrow’s Nochnary Roxy, by Solway View Monty.

Galloway (Judge: Anne MacPherson, Blackford, Croy, Inverness) – Bull born between July 1 and Dec 31, 2020 – 1, D and R Cornthwaite’s Rasputin of Balgray, by Ben Lomond Blackthorn. Bull born after Jan 1, 2021 – 1, Eskdalemuir Forestry’s Clerkhill, by Orion of Balgray; 2, Harvey Brothers’ Harveys Eminem, by Braveheart of Gall-Way; 3, Harvey Brothers’ Harveys Ezra, by Braveheart of Gall-Way. Heifer born between July 1 and Dec 31, 2020 – 1, J and S Ross, by Blackcraig Kodiak; 2, P Hunter Blair’s Countless Caroline of Nether Cleugh, by Blackcraig Ynot; 3, Klondyke Farms Limited’s Klondyke Princess, by Klondyke Ambassador. Heifer born after Jan 1, 2021 – 1 and champion, D and R Cornthwaite’s Solar Eclipse of Balgray, by Troloss Impeccable; 2 and reserve, Eskdalemuir Forestry Ltd’s Clerkhill Robin, by Orion of Balgray.

Aberdeen-Angus (Judge: Alistair Clark, Duncanziemere, Cumnock) – Bull born between July 1 and Dec 31, 2020 – 1 and champion, Brailes Livestock’s Brailes Finnegan, by Duncanziemere Editor; 2, S Dick’s Stephick Excalibur, by Gretnahouse Blacksmith; 3, R and C Rettie’s Retties Lord Edwin, by Duncanziemere Edwin. Bull born after Jan 1, 2021 – 1 and reserve, R and C Rettie’s Retties Panasonic, by Retties Lark Royal; 2, R and C Rettie’s Retties Lang Syne, by Gretnahouse Blackpot; 3, W and R Dunlop’s Auchengray Emeer, by Wedderlie Eballoteer. Heifer born between July 1 and Dec 31, 2020 – 1, G Gray’s Bella, by LG President. Heifer born after Jan 1, 2021 – 1, Brailes Livestock’s Brailes Black Becky, by Retties JFK; 2, H Duncan’s Longbank Juno Eric, by Laheens Rebel; 3, W and R Dunlop’s Auchengray Eulova, by Wedderlie Eballoteer.

Beef Shorthorn (Judge: Alistair Clark, Duncanziemere, Cumnock) – Bull born between July 1 and Dec 31, 2020 – 1 and champion, D Welsh’s Westbroad Powell, by Shawhill Jat. Bull born after Jan 1, 2021 – 1 and reserve, D Welsh’s Westbroad Rishi, by Shawhill JAT; 2, D Welsh’s Westbroad Ronan, by Shawhill Leroy; 3, D Welsh’s Westbroad Rufus, by Shawhill JAT. Heifer born after Jan 1, 2021 – 1, J Currie and Sons’ Miltonlockhart Rowan, by Coxhill Marksman; 2, J Wightman and E McAlister’s Islahill Roxy, by Meonhill Charlie Chaplin; 3, J Wightman and E McAlister’s Islahill Ruby, by Meonhill Charlie Chaplin.

Highland (Judge: Alistair Clark, Duncanziemere, Cumnock) – Bull born after Jan 1, 2021 – 1, G Hyslop’s 100800 of Black Glen, by Eoin Mhor of Black Glen. Heifer born after Jan 1, 2021 – 1 and champion, S and R Hunter’s Alice 2 of Hunters, by Jura 3 of Thaggnam; 2 and reserve, S and R Hunter’s Capleadh 3 of Hunters, by Jura 3 of Thaggnam; 3, D and C Logan’s Arin 2 of Blairlogan, by Aonghas Ruadh of Hyndford.

Hereford (Judge: Alistair Clark, Duncanziemere, Cumnock) – Bull born after Jan 1, 2021 – 1 and champion, Harveys Brothers’s Harveybros 1 Versace, by Normanton 1 Laertes; 2 and reserve, G Dunbar’s Drumboy 1 Vindicator, by Fabb 1 Northern Star. Heifer born after Jan 1, 2021 – 1, G Dunbar’s Drumboy 1 Vino Keepsake, by Moeskaer Kashmir.

Limousin (Judge: Jonathan Watson, Bowsden Moor, Berwick-upon-Tweed) – Bull born between Jul 1 and Dec 31, 2020 – 1 and reserve, S Dick’s Ronick Ricardo, by Carnew Lionheart; 2, T Illingworth’s Eaglesfield Rockinrobin. Bull born after Jan 1, 2021 – 1, J and JF Nimmo’s Maraiscote Schnapps, by Bassingfield Machoman; 2, A Campbell’s Strawfrank Sonnybill; 3, A Ritchie’s Ritchies Seyrl, by Ampertaine Elgin. Heifer born between July 1 and Dec 31, 2020 – 1 and champion, S Illingworth’s Glenrock Redruby, by Sympa; 2, Little and Donaldson’s Huntershall Rowena, by Millgate Fame; 3, D and L Graham’s Burnbank Rhapsody, by Carnew Millreef. Heifer born after Jan 1, 2021 – 1, A Campbell’s Strawfrank Shonty, by Westpit Oklahoma; 2, E MacGillvray’s Creran Star, by Sympa; 3, A Weir’s Castlemill Sandy, by Huntershall Overkill.

Simmental (Judge: Anne MacPherson, Blackford, Croy, Inverness) – Bull born between July 1 and Dec 31, 2020 – 1, J and P Goldie’s Newbiemains Leonidas, by Moorglen Hillbilly. Bull born after Jan 1, 2021 – 1, D and R Durno’s Auchorachan Major, by Auchorachan Hercules. Heifer born between July 1 and Dec 31, 2020 – 1 and champion, D and R Durno’s Auchorachan Liqueur, by Auchorachan Hercules; 2, J and P Goldie’s Newbiemains Lady Wag, by Skerrington Iceman. Heifer born after Jan 1, 2021 – 1 and reserve, D and R Durno’s Auchorachan Mellie Hilly, by Auchorachan Hercules; 2, J and P Goldie’s Newbiemains Marchioness, by Skerrington Iceman.