Show exhibitors new and old enjoyed a cracking day for the judging of the non MV-accredited sheep breeds, where the judge, Jim Robertson, Becks, Langholm, found his supreme in a classy crossing-type Bluefaced Leicester ewe lamb, with the reserve rosette going to the leading North Country Cheviot.

"What a champion, what a ewe lamb. She's an easy winner and just what a breeding sheep should look like," said Mr Robertson, who was most impressed by the line-up of winners in for the overall. "The ewe lamb has got so much spark and she is perfect on her legs, plus she's got a good top line and backside."

Show stopper was a February-born ET lamb from Andrew McQuistin and son, Euan, Barnshangan, New Luce, who run 20 ewes in the flock. Backed by the best of breeding, she is the result of a flush from the L21 Barnshangan ewe by the £5500 J14 Blarnavaid. The sire is G34 Midlock, a son of the top breeding Midlock Mustang. Notably, a maternal sister to the ewe lamb, also bred the reserve Blue champion, a tup lamb also from Barnshangan.

North Country Cheviots from Roderick Runciman and son, Lewis, Allanshaws, Galashiels, were also on form, with the breed leader standing reserve overall, and going on to make up part of the supreme pairs.

Standing next in line to the Bluefaced Leicester ewe lamb to lift the inter-breed reserve was Allanshaws Jo, a three-crop ewe by Allanshaws Triple Twenty, which goes back to the former champion here, Allanshaws Pam.

Earlier, she had teamed up with male champion Allanshaws Ammarillo, a two-shear ram by Synton Vital Spark, to land the overall pairs.

While it was a crossing Blue that bagged the supreme, two traditional Bluefaced Leicesters made their presence felt to scoop the reserve in the inter-breed pairs. This was made up of Kate and Alan Smith's champion, a home-bred gimmer by a Lowes Fell sire from Low Arkland, Castle Douglas, and the reserve, a two-shear ram from Lindsay and Robert Currie's Braegarrie flock from Pinclanty. This Whinnyhall-bred ram was bought at Hexham last year for £7000.

Joanna Dale (13), Biggar, had her work cut out for her in the young handlers, exhibiting a Blackface gimmer, but she impressed the judge, Carol-Anne Warnock, to land the supreme honours. No stranger to the prizes, she is a former champion at Peebles and class winner at Biggar.

Blackface

Clinching the championship title at the Royal Highland Showcase was a 'dream come true' for father and son duo' Stuart and William Heads, Aitkenhead, Fenwick, who although regular class winners here, had failed – up until 2021 – to land the big one.

Reserve in their first year of exhibiting in 2013, the 750-ewe flock this time went on to take the top two awards in the gimmer class with the red ticket holder then going on to lift the female champion and supreme overall. Taking centre stage was a gimmer by a Lurg tup used on loan by the £22,000 Dalchirla, out of a dam by a £13,000 Gass.

Standing next in line for the overall was the reserve female, a five-crop rough ewe from Alastair and David MacArthur, Nunnerie, Elvanfoot. She is a twin sister to a 4500gns female sold at the in-lamb sale, at Lanark, to Dalwyne, a few years ago, being sired by a £20,000 Auldhouseburn. Her dam, a former show ewe that stood first in her class here in 2015, is by the £50,000 Pole.

Bluefaced Leicester – crossing type

Quality over quantity was the name of the game in this section, with the champion, an extremely stylish ewe lamb, from one of the smallest line-ups, going on to be crowned non-accredited inter-breed sheep.

It was also an extremely good day for her owners, Andrew and Euan McQuistin, Barnshangan, New Luce, who not only won their first breed title at Ingliston, but also the reserve honours, following some 15 years 'chappin at the door' at the Royal Highland.

Star of the show for their 20-ewe pedigree flock was a late February-born ET lamb bred from a flush from the L21 Barnshangan ewe by the J14 Blarnavaid tup bought at Stirling for £5500. Her sire the G34 Midlock, is a top breeding ram and the son of the equally well known breeder, Midlock Mustang.

A full sister to the dam, produced the male champion and the reserve overall for Barnshangan, which is also home to 1100 Blackface ewes kept to breed Scotch Mule ewe lambs. This was a ram lamb that also goes back to the G34 Midlock, being a son of Highberries N10 Golden Boy – a ram of which a half share was bought privately from his breeder, Neil Marston.

Bluefaced Leicester – traditional type

In contrast to the select number of crossing type Blues on show, competition amongst the traditional Blues was particularly fierce, with a cracking line-up of sheep going on to produce the reserve inter-breed pair.

Stepping up to the mark here to secure a first Ingliston championship ticket was a home-bred gimmer from Kate and Alan Smith, Low Arkland, Castle Douglas. Their show stopper from their 20-ewe flock, is by a £1700 Lowes Fell sire bought at Kelso and bred from a Kirkstead ewe by the show-winning Burndale ram, bought at Carlisle as a gimmer some years ago.

A two-shear ram from Lindsay and Robert Currie's Braegarrie flock, from Girvan, notched up the male championship and the reserve overall before going on to make up the inter-breed reserve pairing.

This big boy, which was bought at Hexham last year from Fife breeder, Martin Quinn, is by the £12,000 Bonvilston K30 and bred from a ewe by the Mendick D14. The tup was also bagging a second breed championship title for the 15-strong ewe flock, having last lifted the spoils 10 years ago in 2011.

Commercial sheep

The Mortons, from Lochend, Denny, are no strangers to the limelight in prime lamb competitions, having regularly landed the championship in this section at Ingliston. This year, however, their winners went one better to take the supreme commercial ribbons.

In recent years, it has been the breeding champion that stood top of the podium, but the Mortons' – Andrew and Hilary, daughter Kirsty and son Andrew – 15/16 Beltex lambs, this time proved a star turn for the judge, Bill Hedley.

Scaling 41kg, they are sired by Gyffin Dexter, a tup bought in partnership with the Buckles, at Carlisle, last year, for 10,000gns, while the dams are home-bred 7/8 Beltex.

First time exhibitor, Robert Bryce, Chalmerston, Stirling, was also in the tickets, when his home-bred Suffolk cross gimmer was crowned breeding champion and reserve overall.

Mr Bryce, Genus' national field support technician for the UK who runs 60 pure Suffolks and 140 Suffolk, Beltex and Texel cross ewes at home, topped the section with an entry by a home-bred Suffolk sire that will be sold at Stirling later in the year. The dam is a Suffolk cross Beltex ewe.

Hebridean

In contrast to all the other breed sections, it was two males that topped the leader board here, with the champion, a five-shear ram from John and Caroline Mosley, Blyth Bridge, West Linton, boasting a star studded career.

Their two-horned Brightside Wiay was bought at Lanark in 2017 from Bolton-based breeders Charles and Kath Heeley, and has since then stood champion at the Border Union in 2018; champion at Peebles and male champion at the Highland, in 2019. He is by Cinderhill Jotun, a former champion winner here, and bred from Brightside Morrone.

A four-horned shearling ram from Jack and Morna Cuthberts, Crook of Devon, Kinross, scooped the blue and white ribbons. Ardoch Indiana Jones, a home-bred entry is by Sycamore Knight Errant and bred from the 10-year-old ewe, Ronas Voe Quitaria, which is still going strong and rearing twins this year.

Outwith breeding a select number of pedigree Hebrideans, the couple run 700 sheep of which 240 are of the black, extensively run traditional island breed to sell meat from to high class restaurants.

North Country Cheviot

A cracking line-up of Northies was forward for the judge, Ritchie Strawhorn, Broomhillbank, who not only saw his choice of top winners scoop the supreme inter-breed pairs but also the reserve individual.

Breed champion and reserve overall in the prestigious inter-breed competition was Roderick and Lewis Runciman's Allanshaws Jo, a three-crop ewe from Allanshaws, Galashiels, which was providing a sixth breed title here for the father and son duo. Backed by generations of home-bred genetics, this previously unshown star performer is by Allanshaws Triple Twenty, a tup retained for breeding that goes back to Allanshaw Pam – a former breed leader here in 2010.

Notably, she also produced the second prize ewe lamb at the show, by Knockcocker Almighty.

Reserve overall was the second best female, a gimmer, also from Allanshaws. A daughter of Sebay Excitable – a three-shear tup bought at Lockerbie, that stood first in his class at the show – she is bred from Allanshaws Sweetpea, a show ewe by a Pengroes ram, and also goes back to Allanshaws Pam.

Adding to the family's celebrations was an Allanshaws-bred ram from George Milne, Kinaldy, St Andrews, bagging the male championship and then going on to make up part of the inter-breed winning pair, along with the female champion. This two-shear ram was bought last year at Lockerbie and is by Synton Vital Spark.

Ryeland

A good show of Ryelands saw a home-bred gimmer from Turriff breeders, Raymond Aitken and his daughter Beth, crowned supreme, by judge Susan Bryden.

Mr Aitken, a potato inspector to trade with the Scottish Government, runs just 12 ewes in his Fetternear flock, with the breed leader being a daughter of the retained ram, Fetternear Yoffie, which was a son of Fetternear Viking. The dam, a bought in ewe is by a Michaelchurch ram.

New Cumnock breeders, Annette and David Mitchell, of the Wellhill flock, enjoyed their best Ingliston in three years exhibiting, winning the runner-up ticket with a two-shear ram by Bryn Caffo Zac, bought at Worcester, in 2019.

Shetland

A cracking entry of 77 sheep – all of which were forward for the day – was soon whittled down to size by Shetland and Scottish Borders-based judge, Bryden Nicolson, who found his champion in the white four-crop ewe, Kaimknowe Sorrel, from Patrick and Denise Playfair.

Producing a third win at Ingliston for the 45-ewe flock, which is based outside Kelso, was a previously unshown daughter of Kaimknowe Gold Plated, a ram retained for breeding that boasts Highland Show champions on both sides, being a son of Kaimknowe George out of Rench Dyna. Sorrel is out of the privately purchased Galtress Sorrel.

Kaimknowe also landed the male honours with a 2018-born white ram bred by Andrew Bain, Greenacre, that stood reserve here in 2019.

Reserve overall was the second prize ewe to the champion, a home-bred three-crop white from Biggar-based David Alcorn, who runs 15 ewes in his Annavale flock established in 2017.

Annavale Amelia is a daughter of Rigg Apache, a tup bought privately from Moira Morrison and John Bogue and bred from Mr Alcorn's foundation female, Stoneheap Amelie, purchased from Morven Macfarlane.

LEADINGawards:

Blackface

Judge: James Hamilton, East Lothian

Champion and female champion – Aitkenhead Farm’s shearling ewe.

Reserve champion – Colin C MacArthur and Co’s one-crop ewe.

Male champion – DC and JJ Marshall’s shearling ram.

Aged ram – 1, Conon; 2, Conon; 3, DC and JJ Marshall.

Shearling ram – 1, DC and JJ Marshall; 2, JB Pate and Sons; 3, JB Pate and Sons.

Ram lamb – 1, Colin C MacArthur and Co; 2, JB Pate and Sons; 3, Aitkenhead Farm.

Aged ewe – 1, Colin C MacArthur and Co; 2, DC and JJ Marshall.

One-crop ewe – 1, Colin C MacArthur and Co.

Shearling ewe – 1, Aitkenhead Farm; 2, Aitkenhead Farm; 3, Colin C MacArthur and Co.

Ewe lamb – 1, Colin C MacArthur and Co; 2, JB Pate and Sons 3, Aitkenhead Farm.

Bluefaced Leicester – crossing type

Judge: Bill Hedley, Scottish Borders

Champion and female champion – Andrew McQuistin’s ewe lamb.

Reserve overall and male champion – Andrew McQuistin’s ram lamb.

Aged ram – 1, Finlay Robertson.

Ram lamb – 1, Andrew McQuistin; 2, Andrew McQuistin; 3, Orchardton Farm.

Shearling ewe – 1, Finlay Robertson; 2, Millstone Moor; 3, Millstone Moor.

Ewe lamb – 1, Andrew McQuistin; 2, Robert D McInnes; 3, Andrew McQuistin.

Bluefaced Leicester – traditional type

Judge: Rodney Blackhall, Aberdeenshire

Champion and female champion – Low Arkland’s shearling ewe.

Reserve overall and male champion – DL and S Currie’s aged ram.

Aged ram – 1, DL and S Currie; 2, J and M Turner; 3, Leadburnlea.

Shearling ram – 1, RA McClymont and Son; 2, Leadburnlea; 3, Leadburnlea.

Ram lamb – 1, Low Arkland; 2, Leadburnlea; 3, Leadburnlea.

Aged ewe – 1, RA McClymont and Son; 2, Low Arkland; 3, Bollihope Shield Farm.

Shearling ewe – 1, Low Arkland; 2, RA McClymont and Son; 3, RA McClymont and Son.

Ewe lamb – 1, RA McClymont and Son; 2, J and M Turner; 3, Leadburnlea.

Commercial sheep

Judge: Bill Hedley, Scottish Borders

Champion – Andrew Morton’s pair of Beltex cross prime lambs.

Reserve champion – Robert Bryce’s Suffolk cross gimmer.

Native cross ewe with lambs at foot – 1, A Clark and Son (Half-bred).

Continental cross ewe with lambs at foot – 1, Logie Farm Partnership (Texel cross); 2, Messrs Sutherland (Texel cross).

Native cross gimmer –1, Robert Bryce (Suffolk cross); 2, Robert Bryce (Suffolk cross); 3, Logie Farm Partnership (Suffolk cross).

Continental cross gimmer – 1, Robert Bryce (Beltex cross); 2, Robert Bryce (Beltex cross).

Native cross ewe lamb – 1, Robert Bryce (Suffolk cross); 2, Iain Wilson (Suffolk cross).

Continental cross ewe lamb – 1, A Clark and Son (Beltex cross); 2, Messrs Sutherland (Texel cross); 3, Robert Bryce (Beltex cross).

Pair of prime lambs (continental cross), 80kg and over –1, Andrew Morton (Beltex cross); 2, Andrew Morton (Beltex cross).

Hebridean

Judge: Gordon Johnston, South Lanarkshire

Champion: Kirkdean Farm’s aged ram.

Reserve champion – J and M Cuthbert’s shearling ram.

Aged ewe – 1, J and M Cuthbert; 2, Kirkdean Farm; 3, Sandholm.

Shearling ewe – 1, Earnieside Hebrideans; 2, J and M Cuthbert; 3, Kirkdean Farm.

Aged ram – 1, Kirkdean Farm; 2, J and M Cuthbert; 3, SRF Cuthbert.

Shearling ram – 1, J and M Cuthbert; 2, Kirkdean Farm; 3, Slipperfield Croft.

North Country Cheviot

Judge: Richie Strawhorn, Dumfries and Galloway

Champion and female champion – J Runciman and Sons’ ewe.

Reserve overall – J Runciman and Sons’ shearling ewe.

Male champion – Kinaldy Farm’s two-shear ram.

Aged ram – 1, J Runciman and Sons; 2, Kinaldy Farm; 3, Innergellie.

Two-shear ram – 1, Kinaldy Farm; 2, Andrew Polson.

Shearling ram – 1, Andrew Polson; 2, Andrew Polson; 3, Kinaldy Farm.

Ram lamb – 1, C Jackson; 2, Kinaldy Farm 3, J Runciman and Sons.

Aged ewe – 1, J Runciman and Sons; 2, J Runciman and Sons; 3, Andrew Polson.

Shearling ewe – 1, J Runciman and Sons; 2, Jennifer Cowan; 3, J Runciman and Sons.

Ewe lamb – 1, Jennifer Cowan; 2, J Runciman and Sons; Andrew Polson.

Ryeland

Judge: Susan Bryden, Dumfries and Galloway

Champion and female champion – Raymond Aitken’s shearling ewe.

Reserve overall and male champion – Wellhill Steadings’ shearling ram

Aged ram – 1, Wellhill Steadings; 2, Raymond Aitken; 3, Wellhill Steadings.

Shearling ram – 1, Raymond Aitken; 2, Wellhill Steadings.

Ram lamb – 1, Cragg Ryelands; 2, Raymond Aitken; 3, Wellhill Steadings.

Aged ewe – 1, Cragg Ryelands; 2, Wellhill Steadings.

Shearling ewe – 1, Raymond Aitken; 2, Cragg Ryelands; 3, Dessland Flock.

Ewe lamb – 1, Dessland Flock; 2, Wellhill Steadings; 3, Raymond Aitken.

Shetland

Judge: Bryden Nicholson, Scottish Borders

Champion and female champion – Kaimknowe Flock’s ewe.

Reserve champion – David Alcorn’s ewe.

Male champion – Kaimknowe Flock’s ram

Aged ram – 1, Kaimknowe Flock; 2, Kate Sharp; 3, David Alcorn.

Shearling ram – 1, Arbuckle and Meikle; 2, Cronklea; 3, A and F Hipwell.

Ram lamb – 1, Kaimknowe Flock; 2, A and F Hipwell; 3, Cronklea.

Aged ewe – 1, Kaimknowe Flock; 2, David Alcorn; 3, John, Carolyn, Rebecca and Rowena Steven.

Shearling ewe – 1, Joan Brunton; 2, Arbuckle and Meikle; 3, David Alcorn.

Ewe lamb – 1, Drum Flock; 2, Cronklea; 3, Kaimknowe Flock

Non-MV young handlers

Judge: Carol Anne Warnock, South Lanarkshire

Champion – Joanna Dale.

Reserve champion – Alexander Clark.

Young handler 5-9 years – 1, Alexander Clark; 2, Ewan Clark; 3, Orin Cuthbert; 4, Emily Morris.

Young handler 10-14 years – 1, Joanna Dale; 2, Sienna Nisbet; 3, Kelsie Prentice; 4, Struan Cuthbert.