Bluefaced Leicester takes champions of champions at Kintyre Show

Despite the cold wind, exhibitors and spectators came out on force to watch the sheep winner being tapped out in front of the beef, Clydesdale, dairy, dog and pony champions on a point based system from the show judges.

The winner was however, a four-crop ewe by a home-bred Kildalloig sire and out of a home-bred ewe. Now destined for Mid Argyll Show this week to retain her title.

Runner up in the sheep lines – decided by a points based system from all sheep judges – was a one-crop Texel ewe from Sheena Woodrow, Newmains, Islay. Having stood champion at Drymen Show earlier this year, she was purchased from Usk Vale at Lanark. A Hope Valley C The Stars daughter she is out of a Knock-bred dam.

James Nisbet, Sorn Mains, Ayrshire, found his beef champion in a young April born Charolais cross heifer from Duncan Semple, Dippen, Carradale, Campbeltown. Christened, Golden Girl she is sired by Carradale Oliver and out of a black Limousin cross cow.

Calderglen Hankerchief took the dairy inter-breed title for Robin Barr, Clochkeil. This Ayrshire second calver, is bred by the home-bred bull, Calderglen Raffias Commander. She is VG87 having last produced a calf in April she is now giving 40kg.

On the Clydesdale front it was the two-year-old filly, Eskechraggan Lady Janet from Tom McMillan, Eskechraggan, Bute, that was crowned supreme. This one is a daughter of Glebeview Sir Charles and out of Eskechraggan Lady Anita. She is now destined for Bute and Mid Argyll shows this week having already stood fifth at the Highland this year and second in her class at the Clydesdale Winter Fair last year.

LEADING awards

The dairy inter-breed went to the Ayrshire winner

Ayrshire (Judge: P Beresford, Dale Head Farm,Derbyshire). Champion – R Barr, Clochkeil, with the second calver, Calderglen Hankerchief. She is VG87 having last produced a calf in April she is now giving 40kg, being bred by the home-bred bull, Calderglen Raffias Commander. Reserve – TM Ralston and Sons, East Drumlemble, with the fifth calver, East Drumlemble Jalna 98. A result of the Tiger-lily Ladd P-Red sire, onto East Drumlemble Jalna 69, she last calved in June and produced 9000kg last year, being VG86 classified as a heifer. Heifer calf exhibited by under 14 year-old and reserve youngstock – Noah McKean, Clochkiel. Heifer calf exhibited by 14-25 year-old – Caitlin Russell, Clochkiel. One-year-old quey exhibited by 14-25 year-old – Jack Ralston, East Drumlemble. One-year-old quey exhibited by over 25-year-old; best youngstock pair – TM Ralston and Sons,East Drumlemble. Two-year-old quey;champion youngstock – J and M Barr, Blochkiel. Heifer in milk or in calf; junior cow in milk; cow in calf; milk records; pair, group of three – J and M Barr, Clochkiel. Senior cow in milk – TM Ralston and Sons.

Holstein (Judge: J Black, Craighouse, Lockerbie) Champion – G Semple, Kilkeddan, Campbeltown, with the third calver, Kilkeddan Bettman Grace. Having calved 120 days she is a daughter of Bomaz Altabettman, and bred from the Ex94 show dam, Kilkeddan Phil Grace. She is now producing 45kg for the 90 cow herd. Reserve – S Pirie, Machrihanish, Campbeltown, with the red and white Holstein, Killearn Attico Snowflake Red. This second calver is now producing 37kg having last calved in March being VG87 classified. She is the result of the sire, Gen-i-beq Attico Red onto Killearn Razor Snowflake Red. Heifer calf exhibited by under 14-year-old – Erin Ralston, Machrihanish. Heifer calf exhibited by 14-25 year-old – Kathryn Semple, Kilkeddan. One-year-old quey exhibited by 14-25-year-old and youngstock champion– Neil Littleson, Killegruer. One-year-old quey exhibited by over 25-year-old –Stuart Walker, Drumalea. Youngstock pair – Gavin Semple, Kilkeddan. Heifer in milk or in calf; pair – P Littleson, Killegruer. Junior cow in milk; milk records class – A and J Pirie, Machrihanish. Senior cow in milk; group of three – Gavin Semple. Cow in calf – John Ralston, Kilkivan.

The Holstein champion came from G Semple, Kilkeddan,

Beef (Judge: J Nisbet, Ayrshire) Champion – D Semple, Dippen, Carradale, Campbeltown, with the Charolais cross April born heifer, Golden Girl. Now destined for Mid Argyll Show this week, she will be sold come the Autumn, being sired by Carradale Oliver and out of a black Limousin cross cow. Reserve – JJC McCallum, Clachan, Tarbert, Argyll, with an April born British Blue cross heifer calf. This home-bred star is sired by Langoureux De Fooz and out of one of the 65 Limousin cross cows on the farm. Cow with calf; cow in calf – JJ and C McCallum, Strathnafanaig. Bullock calf born after August 2021; Bullock calf born after February 2022; Heifer calf born after February 2022 ­– D Semple, Dippen. Heifer calf born after August 2021; Pairs – John Lines, Killacraw.

Duncan Semple produced the overall beef champion with this Charolais cross heifer

Clydesdales (Judge: E Gunn, Hawthorn House, East Calder). Champion and reserve – T McMillan, Eskechraggan, Bute, with the top awards coming in the form of the two-year-old filly, Eskechraggan Lady Janet. A Glebeview Sir Charles daughter, out of Eskechraggan Lady Anita, she stood fifth at the Highland this year and second in her class at the Clydesdale Winter Fair last year. The runner up was awarded to the six-year-old mare, Redhill Alex, which was bought privately from Sandy Bruce as a three-year-old. Backed by Tom's genetics this one is sired by Eskechraggan Earnest and he was champions of champions here in 2019. Colt or filly foal; mare in foal – J McLatchie, Moy. Yeld mare four-year or older – L Bastow, Clachan. Filly, pairs – T McMillan. Gelding – M Ralston, Rhoin. Horse in harness – M Mayberry. Young handlers – 1, Sarah Bateman; 2, Lauren McMillan; 3, Conner McLatchie.

Blackface (Judge: A Wight, Midlock, Crawford). Champion – A Currie, Ballachlaven, Isle of Islay, with a Dalwyne bred gimmer which is part of the 200 ewe flock. This one was inside the dam when she was purchased from David Morrison, Dalwyne, with the dam being sired by a £22,000 Dalchrlia, and the champion today being bred by the Dalwyne Rhino tup. Reserve – J Ronald, Coulinlongart, with a home-bred two-crop ewe. This one is sired by a Dalmally purchase from Nunnerie and out of a Arnicle bred dam. Aged tup (open); aged tup (confined); two-shear tup (open); two-shear tup (confined); ewe (open); ewe (confined) – J Ronald, Colinlongart. Shearling (open); shearling (confined) – J and M Turner, Kildalloig. Tup lamb (open); gimmer (open); group of three – A Currie, Ballachlaven. Tup lamb (confined); ewe lamb (open); ewe lamb (confined) – T Welch, Kilwhipnach. Two-shear in milk (open) – R and I Shaw, Aucharonich. Two-shear in milk (confined) – C McMillan, Low Tirfergus. Gimmer (confined) – D and E McArthur, Dalmore.

AOB Native (Judge: A Fletcher, Laigh Hatton Farm, Bishopton). Champion – S Herraty, Low Ranachan, with a home-bred Dorset shearling tup. Reserve – M and C Ralston, Rhoin, with a home-bred two crop Jacob ewe. This ewe is sired by Willmars Nelson and out of a Cavers sired-ewe. Tup, tup lamb, group of three – S Herraty. Ewe – M Ralston. Gimmer – J McKendrick, Glenrioch. Ewe lamb – D Smith, Ballimore.

Jake MacDonald produced the Suffolk champion

Suffolk (Judge: A Fletcher) Champion – J MacDonald, Cruach, Islay, with a one-crop ewe which is part of the 15 ewe flock. She was purchased as an in-lamb gimmer from Graeme Christie's Balquhain flock at Carlisle, being a daughter of Crewlands King Pin. Reserve – T Cameron, Gartvaigh, with the second prized ewe, another one-crop ewe which was on its first outing. This one was also bought as an in-lamb gimmer this time in a private deal with Jonathan Watson, Bowsden Moor, Berwick Upon Tweed. Ewe; gimmer; tup lamb; group of three – J MacDonald. Shearling tup; ewe lamb – T Cameron, Gartvaigh.

AOB Pure (Judge: A Fletcher). Champion – T Welch, Kilwhipnach, with a home-bred Beltex gimmer on its first outing. Reserve – S Herraty, Low Ranachan, Campbeltown, with a Blue Texel ram lamb. Ranachan Glenside, is backed by home-bred genetics being sired by Ranachan Sam and out of Ranachan Bherch. Tup; tup lamb – S Herraty. Ewe; group of three – S Woodrow. Gimmer – T Welch, Kilwhipnach. Ewe lamb – J Parkhouse, Stewartfield.

Texels (Judge: I Minto, Townhead Farm, West Linton). Champion – S Woodrow, Newmains, Islay, with a one-crop ewe which was purchased from Usk Vale at Lanark. She is sired by Hope Valley C The Stars and out of a Knock-bred dam. She stood champion at Drymen Show earlier this year. Reserve – WA and D Robertson, Isle of Arran, with a gimmer that was purchased in Lanark from Andrew Neilson, Brackenridge. Part of the 15 ewe flock she is a daughter of Knock Diablo. Aged ram (confined); Shearling tup (confined); shearling tup (open) – I Mckendrick High Dalrioch. Aged ram (open); ewe (open); tup lamb (open); group of three (open) – S Woodrow. Ewe (confined) – M and C Ralston, Rhoin. Gimmer (confined) – G and J Gillespie, Crosshill. Gimmer (open); ewe lamb (open) – WA and D Roberston, Vellyview. Tup lamb (confined); ewe lamb (confined); group of three (confined) – J Pirie, Machrihanish.

This ewe took the Texel supreme

Commercial (Judge: I Minto). Champion – Z Prentice, Ballimore, with a pen of April born Beltex cross lambs. Reserve – Ian McKendrick, High Dalrioch, with a pen of three Suffolk crosses. Single prime lamb – D MacKinnon, Low Tirfergus. Three lambs – Z Prentice.

Bluefaced Leicester (Judge: A Gittens, Llanymynech, Wales). Champion and reserve – J and M Turner, Kildalloig, with a four-crop ewe taking the top ticket. This second prize at the Royal Highland Show is backed by home-bred genetics on both sides and is now destined for Mid Argyll Show this week. The blue and white rosette went to a home-bred gimmer. This one is a daughter of a Robelston tup onto a home-bred ewe. All classes – J and M Turner. Group of three – T Cameron, Gartvaigh.

Mule (Judge: A Gittens). Champion – M and C Ralston, Rhoin, with a three crop ewe which stood reserve champion as a gimmer here. She is sired by a Redhill tup and out of a gimmer that was bought in from Archie McCall. Reserve – J MacDonald, Islay, with a home-bred ewe lamb which is part of the 20 ewe lamb flock at home. Ewe; gimmer; group of three – M and C Ralston. Ewe lamb – J MacDonald.