Lesmahagow Show: Knap Texel gimmer rules supreme for Robert Cockburn

Local legend, Davie Armstrong, was tasked with finding a supreme overall from the inter-breed beef, dairy, sheep, Clydesdale and dog winners and gave the winning tap to the best from a strong sheep section – a Texel gimmer from Robert Cockburn.

Taking centre stage was Foxxy Cleopatra, from his Knap flock at Errol, Perth. A daughter of the 24,000gns New View Electrifying, she is bred from Daisy Duke – the champion at Textravaganza National Show at Carlisle in 2021, and a daughter of the 17,000gns Sportsmans Cannonball.

Taking the blue and white sash was the Clydesdale champion, Doura Sorrento, from the Dunbars, East Fairybank, Newhouse. This two-year-old, bred by Charlotte Young, stood champion at Biggar, reserve at Strathaven and champion of champions at East Kilbride, last year.

The beef supreme was the British Blue winner from G Scott, Gateside

Inter-breed beef judge, Steven Renwick, Peebles, found his champion in the 27-month-old British Blue heifer, Thistle Rosetta, from Gavin and Gillian Scott, Gateside, Linlithgow. Junior female champion at the Royal Highland last year, she is by Dodou De St Remacle, and out of Drumlone Lindsey.

Following her was the Limousin champion from Archie and John MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth. Allanfauld Sunqueen, a two-year-old heifer by Carrickmore Maximus, stood first at the National Show, at Carlisle.

Runner up in the sheep lines, selected by inter-breed judge, Liz Vance, Newton Stewart, was the one-crop Rouge ewe, Knighton Wagamama, from Ali and Hannah Jackson, Maulscastle. Supreme in the sheep lines at Ayr, she was bred by the late Percy Tait and was purchased at his flock dispersal.

Grangehall Pepper Whiterose, took the top ticket in the dairy lines for Andrew and Euan Lawrie, Grangehall, Lanark. This second calved Holstein is a daughter of Delaberge Pepper and bred from the VG87 Grangehall Ponder Whiterose. Calved in February, she is projected at 12,000kg.

Leading Awards

The dairy winner came from the Lawrie family of Grangehall

Young handlers – Senior – 1, Blair Lawrie; 2, Thomas Goldie; 3, Jamie Boyd. Juniors – 1, Blair Lawrie; 2, Matthew Gray; 3, Murray Lawrie.

Dairy (Judge: J Montgomerie, Kilmaurs). Champion – A and E Lawrie, Grangehall, Lanark, with the second calver, Grangehall Pepper Whiterose VG89, which calved in February. First at local shows last year, she is a daughter of Delaberge Pepper and bred from the VG87, Grangehall Ponder Whiterose. She is giving 45kg and projected at 12,000kg. Reserve – J Boyd, Lettrickhills, with the second calver, Lettrickhills Casper Rose VG85, which calved in March and is giving 56 litres. Second at Ayr, she is a daughter of Claynook Casper and out of Lettrickhills Paradise Rose. Calf – M Gray. Heifer, cow – A and E Lawrie. Pairs – J Boyd.

British Blue (Judge: L Vance, Newton Stewart). Champion – G Scott, Gateside, Linlithgow, with the 27-month-old heifer, Thistle Rosetta, which stood junior female champion at the Royal Highland last year. Her pedigree features the sire, Dodou De St Remacle, onto the dam, Drumlone Lindsey, which was bought out of Carlisle. Reserve – A and H Jackson, Maulscastle, Cummertrees, Annan, with the May, 2022-born bull calf, Topgun Splash. He was first at the Expo and is by Engin D Hontoir out of Solway View Oesha. Bull – A and H Jackson. Cow – K Watret. Heifer – G Scott. Pairs – I McGarva, Nether Abington.

Limousin (Judge: L Vance). Champion – A MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth, with the two-year-old heifer, Allanfauld Sunqueen, that was first at the National Show at Carlisle. Her pedigree sees Carrickmore Maximus onto Goldies Onedream, which was bought privately as a heifer. Reserve – I Nimmo, Bogside, Newmains, with Maraiscote Tangerine, a 13-month-old heifer, by Sliabh Felim Mourinho, out of the Bassingfield Machoman daughter, Maraiscote Orange. Bull, two-year-old heifer, pairs – A MacGregor. In calf female – I Nimmo.

Commercial cattle (Judge: L Vance). Champion – A Ireland, Feoch, Darvel, Ayrshire, with the British Blue cross bullock, Jack In The Box, bred by Michael Allinson and bought at Barnard Castle. He is by Hallfield Nixon and was reserve at Catrine Show. Reserve – R and J Hamilton, Mid Shawtonhill, Chapelton, with the 13-month-old Limousin cross British Blue heifer, Gypsy Queen, which stood supreme at Neilston. A daughter of Springfield Mason, she is out of a pure Limousin cow. Bullock – A Ireland. Heifer – R and J Hamilton. YF bullock – D Pinkerton. YF heifer – S Comrie.

Continental cattle (Judge: M Ross, Dalkeith). Champion and reserve – I and D Goldie, Solwayfirth, Dumfries. Supreme was the 12-month-old Charolais bull, Solwayfirth Tierney. A son of Glenericht Majestic, which has bred bulls to 15,000gns and out of the Solwayfirth Hannibal daughter, Solwayfirth Malibu. Runner-up was the 13-month-old Charolais heifer, Solwayfirth Tilly, by the same sire, but out of Solwayfirth Lilly, which also goes back to Solwayfirth Banker. All classes – I and D Goldie.

Native breeds (Judge: M Ross, Dalkeith). Champion – M Galbraith, Millmoor, Sandilands, Lanark, with the February-born Hereford bull, Craigdhu 1 Will It Do. Home-bred, he is a son of Gouldingpoll a Stockman, and bred from Craigdhu 1 Morag. He was reserve at Agri Expo and breed champion at Stars of the Future and LiveScot. Reserve – A Jackson, Headlind Partners, Kirkfieldbank, Lanark, with the two-year-old Beef Shorthorn heifer, Headlind Tansy Roxy. She is by by Dunsyre Horatio – a former champion of the Highland, Great Yorkshire and the Royal Welsh Shows – whilst the dam, Headlind Foxglove Tanzy Missy, stood junior champion at the Welsh as a yearling. She was paraded in calf to Strathendrick Rhinestone Cowboy. Bull – M Galbraith. In calf female, pairs – N Hynd. Maiden heifer – A Jackson.

Doura Sorrento took the Clydesdale champion and reserve in the champions of champions for the Dunbars

Clydesdale (Judge: M Barr, Eaglesham). Champion – W and J Dunbar, East Fairybank, Newhouse, with Doura Sorrento, a two-year-old bred by Charlotte Young that stood champion at Biggar, reserve at Strathaven and champions of champions at East Kilbride. Sired by Doura Magic Touch, she is a daughter of Collessie Flash Girl. Reserve – R Hamilton's yearling colt, Dillars Lenny, which stood champion at Lanark and Kilmarnock. Bred by James Irwin in Ireland, he was bought as a foal privately, being sired by Eskechraggan Ernest and out of Highcairn Gracey. Senior gelding – J Speirs. Male yearling – R Hamilton. Yeld mare – A Jackson and A Craig. Two-year-old filly – W Dunbar. Yearling filly – J and L Kennedy. Mare with foal, foal – A and E Campbell. Young handlers – Samantha Murray. Ridden – J Sheridan.

Suffolk (Judge: D Reid, Dumfries). Champion – R Gray, Langside, Kirkfieldbank, with a January-born ewe lamb on her first outing. She is by the 11,000gns Sportsman Director shared with Scrogton, and out of a home-bred ewe by Langside Evolution. Reserve – J Barclay, Mid Brockloch, Maybole, with a home-bred gimmer, by Roundacre Rocky out of a home-bred ewe. Ram, ewe, gimmer, pen of three – J Barclay. Ram lamb, ewe lamb – R Gray.

Border Leicester (Judge: D Reid, Dumfries). Champion – J Brown, Millmoor, Lanark, with a gimmer on her first outing. Sired by West Forth Boris she is bred from a home-bred ewe. Reserve – A Morton, Stobilee, Lanark, with a January-born ewe lamb on its first outing. She is by Eildon Echo and bred from an Ardstewart gimmer. Ram lamb, ewe, ewe hogg, wool – J Brown. Ewe lamb – A Morton.

AOB (Judge: D Reid, Dumfries). Champion – A Jackson with a one-crop Rouge ewe, Knighton Wagamama, which stood supreme sheep at Ayr Show. Bred by the late Percy Tait and purchased at his flock dispersal, she is by Tullyvallen Shumacher, out of Knighton Sugarbabe, and stood reserve inter-breed at the Royal Lancashire Show, and reserve overall at last year’s Great Yorkshire. Reserve – E Bell, Kinnelvally, Marchbank, Moffat, with the Blue Texel gimmer, CJ Go Girl, which was bought out of Skipton and stood fourth in her class at Ayr. Ram, tup lamb, gimmer – Kinnelvalley. Ewe, ewe lamb – A Jackson.

Charollais (Judge: G Maxwell, Melrose). Champion and reserve – H Jackson, Rigghead, Dumfries. Champion was a one-crop ewe bought at the Logie Durno reduction sale. First at Ayr, she is by Foxhill Va Va Voom. Runner was a home-bred gimmer by Carnew Wisecrack, out of an Arbryn-bred ewe bought in Hereford. All classes – H Jackson.

Beltex (Judge: G Maxwell, Melrose). Champion – A and W Padkin, Drumcork, with a home-bred shearling tup, on its first outing. A son of the Carlisle purchase, Aviemore Furore, he is bred from a home-bred ewe. Reserve – R Wood, Kingledores, Broughton, with a home-bred gimmer on her first outing. She is by the 30,000gns BorderEsk Finders Keepers and out of a home-bred dam. Aged ram, ram lamb, ewe, group of three – A Taylor. Shearling, ewe lamb – A Padkin. Gimmer – R Wood.

Blackface (Judge: D Brown, Thankerton). Champion – J and A Boswell, Burnhead, Darvel, with a gimmer on its first outing, by a £4000 Auldhouseburn tup, out of a ewe by a £4500 Gass. Reserve – M Hamilton, South Cobbinshaw, with a tup lamb, by a £32,000 Glenrath and out of a Crossflat show gimmer. Senior ram, ewe lamb – Firm of Shawhead. Shearling – A Campbell. Ram lamb – M Hamilton. Ewe with lamb, ewe hogg, group – J Boswell.

Commercial (Judge: D Brown, Thankerton). Champion – R Gray, Langside, Kirkfieldbank, with a pair of March-born Beltex cross Texel lambs. Reserve – A Muirhead, Wolfcrooks, Douglas, with a Cheviot Mule ewe, with a pair of Suffolk cross lambs at foot. Ewe and lambs – A Muirhead. Pair of lambs – R Gray.

Texel (Judge: S Renwick, Peebles). Champion – R Cockburn, Errol, Perth, with the previously unshown gimmer, Foxxy Cleopatra. A full sister to a 16,000gns gimmer sold at Lanark, she is by the 24,000gns New View Electrifying, shared with Ettrick and out of Daisy Duke, the champion at the Textravaganza National Show at Carlisle in 2021. Reserve – A and K Wight, Midlock, Crawford, with a February-born ewe lamb on her first outing. She is by the 34,000gns Claybury Dunkirk, and out of a Sportsmans Cannonball sired-ewe. Senior ram, ewe, gimmer, pair of home-bred gimmers, group of three – R Cockburn. Shearling, ram lamb – G Gray. Ewe lamb – A and K Wight. Young handlers – 1, Oscar King; 2, Alfie Storry; 3, Megan Clark.

Shetland (Judge: G Meikle, East Lothian). Champion – F Frame, Hawthornebank, Douglas, with a home-bred four-crop coloured ewe. Reserve – A Maclarty, Crawford John, with a white shearling, that was bought in as a tup lamb, being sired by Woodpark Ultra. White shearling, white ewe, white ewe lamb, white group of three – A Maclarty. White gimmer, coloured ram lamb, coloured ewe, gimmer, coloured ewe lamb, coloured group – F Frame.

Ryeland (P Hunter Blair, Castle Douglas). Champion and reserve – S Bryden, Broomwell, Lochmaben, Lockerbie. Supreme was a February-born ewe lamb on her first outing, by Wellside Beano, out of Broomwell Bea – the reserve champion. Bea, a one-crop ewe is by Broomwell Wallander, and won here last year as well as best bred by exhibitor at the Highland. Ram, ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb, group of three – S Bryden. Shearling – D Mitchell. Ram lamb – D Stainton.

Coloured Ryeland (P Hunter Blair). Champion and reserve – J Fisher and M Hoggarth, Greenlea, Southwaite. Supreme was the three-shear ewe, Greenlea Alison, a daughter of Stardust Xanthos, out of a home-bred ewe. Runner up was the second prize ewe, bought privately from the Stardust flock, by Ryeside Vortigern out of a Gracewood ewe. Group of three – C and K Smith. All other classes – J Fisher and M Hoggarth.

Runner up in the sheep lines was this Rouge gimmer from Ali Jackson