FOR the second consecutive year, Northern Ireland breeder, Duncan McDowell who has the Castlemount herd at Newtownards, took the senior Shorthorn title with his female champion, Castlemount Matrix Zipy. 
Making the trip across the water more than worthwhile for the 30-cow was a September, 2016-born daughter of Elliot Matrix, a sire whose first three bull calves sold in February at Stirling to average 9500gns. 
Having scooped more than one inter-breed title in Northern Ireland, Matrix Zipy is out of Castlemount Raeburn Zipy and is a full brother to the junior champion at Stirling in February, which sold for 13,000gns. 
Reserve to Mr McDowell was the second prize heifer, Shawhill Rosebud Kool, from the Thomson, Roddick and Laurie team, who run 40 cows in their Shawhill herd at Eaglesfield, Lockerbie. 
Shown by John Dick, she is an August, 2016-born daughter of Shawhill Freedom, a Canadian sire which was imported as an embryo. On just her first outing, this rising star is out of the Yorkshire-bred Albion Rosebud Beatrice. 
The same home produced the junior championship in the shape of Shawhill Leroy, a March-born bull calf which recently stood supreme at the Agri-Expo. He is among the first crop by the home-bred Shawhill Henderson, whose grand-sire is K-Kim Freedom, while his dam Shawhill Dewdrop Jasmine traces back to some strong Canadian bloodlines. 
Just pipped to the post was Jack Ramsay’s female champion, Millerston Irania Linnet, an April-born daughter of Meonhill Charlie Chaplin, a sire which bred both the 12,000gns champion at Stirling’s February bull sale and the 7500gns champion at Carlisle, in May, as well as the breed champion at this year’s Highland. Out of Millerston Irania Flame, she is a full brother to the junior male champion from last year. 


LEADING awards:

(Judge: D Biggar, Grange, Castle Douglas). 
Seniors – Bulls born Jul 7 to Oct 16, 2016 – 1 and senior male, J Wood’s Wells Kane by Barnaigh Loch Awe. 
Heifers born Aug 16 to Oct 22, 2016 – 1, senior female and senior champion, D McDowell’s Castlemount Matrix Zipy, by Elliot Matrix; 2, reserve senior female and reserve senior, Thomson and Laurie’s Shawhill Rosebud Kool, by Shawhill Freedom; 3, J Wood’s Wells Naiomi 6, by Castle Patent Ace. 
Juniors – Bulls born Mar 1 to Mar 24, 2017 – 1, junior male and junior champion, Thomson Roddick’s Shawhill Leroy, by Shawhill Henderson; 2 and reserve junior male, J Ramsay’s Millerston Lynchpin, by Meonhill Charlie Chaplin; 3, T Riley’s Stoneyroyd Lancastrian, by Chapelton Havana. 
Bulls born Apr 23 to May 18, 2017 – 1, J Ramsay’s Millerston Lawman, by Meonhill Charlie Chaplin; 2, R and F McKeown’s Ashvale Loverboy, by Elliot Matrix. 
Heifers born Jan 3 to Mar 29, 2017 – 1 and reserve junior female, D McDowell’s Castlemount Matrix Princess 2, by Elliot Matrix; 2, E Paterson’s Benmore Clare, by Coldrochie Hank; 3, E Paterson’s Benmore Clarice, by Coldrochie Hank. 
Heifers born Apr 3 to Apr 17, 2017 – 1, junior female and reserve junior champion, J Ramsay’s Millerston Irania Linnet, by Meonhill Charlie Chaplin; 2, J Ramsay’s Millerston Gretta Lovebug, by Meonhill Charlie Chaplin; 3, B and S Slater’s Queenamoan Foxy, by Rownberry Donatello.