There was a strong show forward for the Royal Smithfield Club’s beef ribs and saddle of lamb judging at LiveScot.

Judge John Carlisle, of Border Meats, Lockerbie, awarded the beef rib championship – and with it the Royal Smithfield Club Perpetual Trophy – to Matthew and Heather Currie, Skewbridge, Mouswald, Dumfries. This was ribs from a 298kg pure-bred Aberdeen-Angus steer grading R4H.

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The judge said: “My winner had a nice covering of fat, good size eye muscle with a nice amount of marbling right through the meat – a perfect set of ribs.”

The Curries also took the reserve title with a May, 2020-born Angus heifer with a carcase weight of 361kg and grading R4L. In third place, was Alan Turnbull with ribs from a 340kg R4L Limousin-cross.

George Whyte, Lintibert, Muthill, Crieff, won the lightweight class and followed up with the championship with a saddle from a 24.7kg three-quarter Beltex cross. “Tremendous eye muscle, a perfect level of fat that will both keep right and cook right,” was the description given by the judge.

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Standing reserve was Andrew Baillie, Carstairs Mains, Lanark, with a three-quarter Beltex at 22.5kg.

LEADING awards:

Beef rib – 1 and 2, M and HD Currie; 3, A Turnbull.

Light lamb saddle (up to 25kg) – 1, G Whyte; 2, A Baillie; 3, R and M Struthers. Heavy lamb saddle (over 25kg) – 1, Messrs Purdon; 2, A Baillie; 3, Messrs Cullen.