Lairdmannoch Shorthorn heifer triumphs at Wigtown Show

Champion of champions judge John Douglas, Mains of Airies, Ervie found his overall winner in the Beef Shorthorn heifer, Lairdmannoch Roxie Victoria, from Meghan Carson, Lairdmannoch Estate.

Brought out by Meghan’s partner, James Rea, this heifer is by Meonhill Firefox. Breed champion and reserve inter-breed at LiveScot, she was also champion at the Stewartry Show the previous week.

Reserve champion of champions was the Belted Galloway best from James Jack, Dornells Estate, Laurieston. His four-year-old, Dornells Kylie, a daughter of Machermore Lipwood was also breed champion at Wigtown last year and reserve at Stewartry and Dumfries this year. She was shown the Park Perseus-sired bull calf, Dornells Neptune at foot.

Reserve inter-breed went to the Belted Galloway champion from James Jack (Image: Rob Haining)

Commenting on his choice of winners, John Douglas said: “It was a very difficult task. Every champion out there deserved to be there – it was a tremendous line-up.

“The Shorthorn is a tremendous, correct animal with huge potential as a breeding female and the Belted Galloway is doing a tremendous job rearing her calf and is a worthy reserve.”

Taking the Cuil trophy for the best animal from the sheep sections was the Beltex leader from Ross Campbell, Carsewalloch, Creetown.

Ross’ home-bred four-crop ewe, Cree Glitz and Glamour was on first show outing since she was a ewe lamb.

LEADING awards

Belted Galloway (Judge: J Reebanks, Racy Ghyll, Matterdale). Champion and reserve champion of champions – J Jack, Dornells Estate, Laurieston with the four-year-old cow, Dornells Kylie, a daughter of Machermore Lipwood out of Glen Becky. Champion here last year and reserve at Stewartry and Dumfries this year. She was shown the Park Perseus-sired bull calf, Dornells Neptune at foot. Reserve – Katie Keiley, Carton Croft, Dalbeattie, with Croft Florence, a two-year-old heifer by Saltway Zebedee out of Croft Jubilation. Reserve at Stranraer and champion at Dumfries. Bull – B J Landers and Son, Bargally, Creetown. Cow, calf – J Jack. Two-year-old heifer – J Stoyles, Dalhanna Farm, Alton Road. One-year-old heifer – Katie Keiley.

Ross Campbell's Beltex ewe took inter-breed sheep champion (Image: Rob Haining)

AOB native cattle (Judge: J Reebanks). Champion and champion of champions – Meghan Carson, Lairdmannoch Estate, with her two-year-old Beef Shorthorn heifer, Lairdmannoch Roxie Victoria, by Meonhill Firefox. Reserve inter-breed at LiveScot, and champion at the Stewartry this year. Reserve – MMcCornick, Boreland, Kirkcowan, with McCornick Evensorrel, a two-year-old in-calf heifer by Wedderlie Valentine out of McCornick Evensorrel V585. Champion at Dumfries, she is due to calve to McCornick Playboy in October. Her full brother sold for £10,000. Bull LiveScot BJ Landers and Son, Bargaly, Newton Stewart. Cow – A and E Vance, Bridgehouse, Whithorn. Female (2yr) – MR McCornick. Yearling heifer – Meghan Carson. Heifer calf – Lily McShane, Smallmuir, Kirkcowan.

AOB continental (Judge: S Maginn, 129 Ballydugan Road, Downpatrick). Champion and reserve – N Goldie, Newbie Mains, Annan with Popes Ruffles, a two-year-old heifer by Clonagh Lucky Explorer out of Springfield Magic. She was bought in partnership with Ali Dodd at the Popes reduction sale in May and stood reserve at the Great Yorkshire. Reserve was Newbie Mains Sapphire, a February 2025-born bull by Islavale Jabba out of Newbie Mains Jem. Champion at Stirling and junior champion and reserve male at the Great Yorkshire. Bull – A Oxley, Druchtag. Young bull, female (2yr) – N Goldie. Female (1yr) – Gwynne, Castlewigg Farm. Calf – NH Gwynne, Castlewigg.

Commercial (Judge: S Maginn). Champion – A and E Vance, Bridgehouse, Newton Stewart, with Hot Stepper, a home-bred Limousin cross heifer by Maraiscote Regis out of Baby-Belle, born May 2024. Champion at Dumfries. Reserve – Shennanton Livestock with a cow and calf outfit. Bullock – Shona McKinnel, Garrarrie Farm. Heifer, calf (under eight months), calf (8-12 months) – A and E Vance. Cow with calf – Shennaton Livestock.

YF calves (Judge: S Maginn). Male beef calf – Stuart McKinnel, Garrarrie. Female beef calf – Craig McKinnel, Garrarrie.

Beef young handlers (Judge: S Maginn). 5-16 years – 1, S McKinnel, Garrarrie; 2, S Vance, Bridgehouse; 3, E Clark, Meikle Glengyre.

Holstein champion from A McKay, Broughton Mains (Image: Rob Haining)

Holstein (Judge: R McColm, High Boreland, Castle Kennedy). Champion – A McKay, Broughton Mains Farm, Sorbie, with Low Malzie Peach, a third-calver on her first outing and giving 50 litres a day. Reserve – K Forsyth, Baltier, Whithorn with Willsbro Harvest Lila B, a third-calver on her firt outing of the year giving 70 litres per day. Calf under six months – W McHarrie, Broompark, Auchenmalg. Calf up to a year old, heifer, cow – A McKay. Heifer – Louise Craig, Dairy Cottage 2, Garlieston.

Ayrshire (Judge: R Buchannan, Laigh Kilphin, Ballantrae). Champion – Firm of JM Howie, Wellhouse, Kirkcolm, with a home-bred second calver. Reserve – AC Clark, Fineview, Glenluce with a heifer. Calf, heifer, pair, group – AC Clark. Heifer stirk – WA McDowall, Culquhasen, Glenluce. Junior cow – I Service and Co, East Knockbrex, Newton Stewart. Senior cow – Firm of JM Howie.

AOB dairy (Judge: R Buchannan). Champion – A McKay, Broughton Mains, Sorbie with the Jersey cow, Olympic Victorious Bella. Reserve – Wellhouse Jerseys, Wellhouse, Kirkcolm with a heifer . Heifer – Wellhouse Jerseys. Cow – A McKay.

Clydesdales (Judge: S Leveratt, Pant Glas, Tyn y Morfa). Champion – B and C Marshall Burgess Outen, Whithorn with Burgess Outen Tom, a son of Eskechraggan Ernest out of Rashillhouse Jessica Jane. Reserve – H Ramsay, Millisle, Gairlieston with Millisle Blossom, a mare by Muirton Spirit out of Millie Minnie. Mare, brood mare, filly foal, gelding, colt (1yr) – H Ramsay. Filly (2yr) – S Cook, Shalloch Mill, South of Girvan. Filly (1yr) – W Gemmell, Holmhead of Boreland, Kirkcowan. Colt (2yr) – B and C Marshall.

Suffolk champion from James Wallace (Image: Rob Haining)

Suffolk (Judge: Jane Solsby, Williamsgill, Temple Sowerby). Champion – J Wallace, Claycrop, Kirkinner with the second prize ewe from the Royal Highland Show and inter-breed sheep champion here in 2024. Reserve – Jenni Cannon, Redbrae, Wigtown with a gimmer by Cairness Crafty, out of a home-bred ewe. First at Stranraer. Tup – Rebecca Wildman, Colfin, Stranraer. Tup lamb, gimmer, group – Jenni Cannon. Ewe, ewe lamb – J Wallace.

Beltex (Judge: R Rennie, 3, Attonburn Farm Cottages). Champion and overall sheep – R Campbell, Carsewalloch, Creetown with the home-bred four-crop ewe, Cree Glitz and Glamour. Her first show since she was a ewe lamb, she was third at the Royal Highland Show in June. She is by Callacrag Bullseye, out of Cree Erin. Reserve – W McMillan, Garheuch, Port William with the aged ram, Lurg Kenny Rodgers, that was first at the Royal Highland. Tup, gimmer – W McMillan. Shearling, tup lamb, ewe - R Campbell. Ewe lamb, group - I Bunting, Bridgestone Farm, Glenlochar.

Texel (Judge: D Fleming, The Cottage, Nisbet). Champion – D Hair, Cairnhandy, Ardwell with the home-bred gimmer, Drumbreddan Hair Raising. Reserve – A Campbell, Dinnans, Whithorn with a home-bred ewe. Tup, ewe – A Campbell. Tup lamb, gimmer, ewe lamb, group – D Hair.

A gimmer from High Bishopton took Zwartble champion (Image: Rob Haining)

Zwartbles (Judge: B Gibson, Three Views, Gartocharn). Champion – H and G Kirk, High Bishopton, Whithorn, with a gimmer Reserve – Rebecca Torbet, Whitecrook, Dunragit with a ewe lamb. Tup, gimmer – H and G Kirk. Tup lamb, ewe, group – J Thorburn, Holmlea, Eastriggs. Ewe lamb – Rebecca Torbet.

Any other continental breed sheep (Judge: J Nisbet, Orchardton, Kilmarnock). Champion – A Brisbane. Little Tongue Castle, Castle Kennedy with a Blue Texel ewe by Pistyll Elite bred from a Saltire Future Star-sired dam. Third at the Highland. Reserve – Jenni Cannon, Redbrae, Wigtown, with the Blue Texel gimmer, Barallan Khaleesi, by Conniston Jonah Lomu and out of a home-bred ewe. Tup, tup lamb, ewe – A Brisbane. Ewe lamb – J Cannon.

Any other native sheep (Judge: G Irving, Mountbenger, Yarrow). Champion – Gemma McCornick, Boreland, with a North Country Cheviot park-type gimmer by Gilston Dark Knight out of a home-bred ewe by Overachievers Amorous. Champion at Dumfries. Reserve – A Marshall, Eastlands, Crocketford with a South Country Cheviot tup. Tup, tup lamb, ewe lamb – A Marshall. Ewe, gimmer – G McCornick.

Bluefaced Leicester (Judge: Fiona Gilligan, High Creoch, Gatehouse of Fleet). Champion and reserve – A McQuistin, Barshangan, New Luce with a gimmer by the P56 Dawyck bought privately from Neil Marston. First at Stranraer. Reserve – A McQuistin, R Ridley, A Lawson and A Reed with a ewe lamb by an £18,000 New Hatrigg and out of a home-bred dam by a G34 Midlock. Reserve at Stranraer. Tup, tup lamb, ewe – WD Barrowman, Mid Knockglass, Stranraer. Gimmer, ewe lamb – A McQuistin. Group – A and E Vance, Bridgehouse, Whithorn.

Scotch Mule champion went to the gimmer from M Ross (Image: Rob Haining)

Scotch Mule (Judge: F Gilligan). Champion – M Ross, 28 Birchwood Way, Summerpark, Dumfries with an Allanfauld-bred gimmer of Allanfauld that was first at Stranraer last year. Reserve – A McQuistin, Barnshangan, with a ewe lamb. Ewe lamb – A McQuistin. Gimmer, ewe – M Ross. Group – WD Barrowman, Mid Knockglass, Stranraer.

Ryeland (Judge: A Frazier, Cellardyke, Fife). Champion and reserve – C and R Smyth, Urrall, with the home-bred coloured gimmer, High Bishopton Nala. First at Stranraer class and reserve here last year. Reserve was the ewe lamb, Lucebay Penelope. White champion – A and D Mitchell, Wellhill, New Cumnock with Wellhill Fern, a gimmer by Bryncaffo Celt out of a home-bred ewe. Champion at Dumfries, Scottish National champion at Stirling, reserve female at the Royal Highland and full sister to the Royal Highland champion in 2025. White reserve – Mya Hunter-Blair, Barscobe Cottage with the shearling, Streethead Fantastic, bought at Carlisle as a lamb. First at Ayr. Coloured ram, coloured ram lamb, coloured ewe, coloured gimmer, coloured ewe lamb – C and R Smyth. White tup – M Hunter Blair, Barscobe Cottage. White ram lamb – K Burns, Glenside. White ewe, white gimmer, white ewe lamb – A and D Mitchell.

Blackface (Judge: R Stevenson, The Stell, Hartside). Champion – D Ferguson, Drannandow with a home-bred shearling. First at Stranraer, he is by a Peroni-bred sire and out of an Aberuchill-sired dam. Reserve – C McClymont, Cuil, with a ewe that was champion here last year. Tup, gimmer, ewe lamb – R Hannah, High Balyett. Shearling, group – D Ferguson. Tup lamb, ewe – C McClymont. Pair of tup lambs, pair of ewe lambs – D Hair, Cairnhandy, Ardwell.

A Drannandow shearling took champion in the Blackface section (Image: Rob Haining)

Commercial sheep (Judge: J Nisbet, Orchardton). Champion – M and R McCornick, Barquhill, Wigtown with three Beltex cross Texel lambs. Reserve – P Hunter Blair, Nether Cleugh. Pen of three lambs, continental breed – M and R McCornick. Pen of three lambs, native breed – P Hunter-Blair. Pen of three lambs, hill breed, pen of three Young Farmers prime lambs, of any breed or cross – K Adams, Torhousekie Farmhouse.