A cracking turnout of young handlers and calves for the Royal Highland Showcase dairy showmanship competition, saw Ayrshire-based Neil Sloan score a hat-trick for his first time exhibiting at Ingliston.

Neil (25), who works for the Templeton family at Knowe, Ochiltree, first won the supreme showmanship, before taking the top award in the Holstein calves and then the overall calf championship.

Judge Claire Swale, Lancashire, was most impressed by the large turnout of young handlers, the quality of their work and calves on parade, with the supreme overall calf described as being "an exceptionally well balanced heifer calf that always looks on form."

Commenting on the standard of the young handlers she added: "All the kids were really good and the standard at the top end of the classes was exceptional. It has been a really tough 18 months for everyone without shows to prepare cattle for, but it has been a great show of young handlers and calves, which is so important for our industry. Neil was just that one step ahead, and knew how best to show off his calve."

Taking all the plaudits was Neil's Blydale Chief Lynn, an August 2020-born ET heifer bred from the VG89 Blydale Fitz All and sired by Stantons Chief. She was bought privately from her breeder, Sam Wake.

Reserve overall calf was the coloured champion, Parkend Dice Starlet Red, a six-month-old red and white heifer by the German sire, Dice Red, from Brian Weatherup and son also Brian, Parkend, Crossgates, Fife. She is bred from a home-bred champion winning grand-dam, and was paraded by Calum Gray.

Regular showmanship winner, Alison Hunter, who now lives in Ayrshire, landed the reserve overall title, exhibiting the August 2020-born home-bred calf, Arranview Doc Lawrie Sheik.

For full report and pictures see this week's Scottish Farmer