Peebles show has been marred by some horrendous weather since it moved to it's new site outside the town at Nether Horsburgh, Cardrona, but exhibitors and spectators enjoyed a glorious day and as a result, increased attendance at last weekend's event, where the lead light legged horse was crowned overall champion of champions.

Supreme was the massive 17.1hh Balinkill, a 12-year-old bay gelding, ridden by Cheryl McVay, Dumfries, who has owned the horse for six years. Just qualified for HOYS, having won the side-saddle championship at the Highland Show in June, Ballinkill was bred in Ireland and is by Stormhill Miller and out of Ballinakill Popsey.

"The horse is full of class and so well behaved. He's also bright and very much looks the part," said the overall judge, Willie Dunlop, Elmscleugh, who was most impressed by his choice of champion after presenting the reserve honours to his choice of supreme sheep, the park-type North Country Cheviot.

Adding yet another title to Willie Thomson and his father Jimmy's already impressive haul of breed and indeed inter-breed trophies for the Hownam Grange flock, Kelso, was a two-crop ewe by the £4800 Lockerbie purchase, Ilam Tops 545. She stood champion at the Great Yorkshire in 2015. Notably, the duo also picked up hill-type championship with the four-shear ram, Newbank Spitfire, in what was only the second year of North Country Cheviot classes at Peebles.

Just pipped at the post, the blue and white sash amongst the sheep was presented to the champion Blackface, a stylish two-crop ewe from Jack Kay and his mother Sheila, from Hartside, Lammermuir, who were winning their first breed title here. Their show stopper, christened Sophie after Jack's six-month-old daughter, is a regular prize winner here and is by a £10,000 Dalwyne.

Mr Dunlop found his champion and reserve winners in the cattle lines from the two strongest sections, the British Blue and the Highlanders which both saw increased entries on the year.

Tops was Ian McGarva's all white beefy Blue heifer, Abington Lily, a 22-month-old by the AI sire, Tenace, from Nether Abington, Abington, which stood ahead of Jim and Cathrine McKechnie's three-year-old Highland heifer, Kirsty 2 of Gartocharn, from France Farm, Gartocharn.

Abington Lily has already been placed at several shows and won the senior championship at the Stars of the Future Show, last year, while Kirsty stood reserve at Perth Show and runner up female at the Highland.

There were more celebrations to come for the two breeds when they scooped the exact same awards in the pairs too with two young blue bulls from Blair and Shona Comrie, Stonebyres and Tom and Alison Cockburn, Kingside, scooping the tri-colour. This was made up of Stonebyres Minstrel, an 18-month-old son of Kersay Geronimo that was reserve in his section and reserve inter-breed at Stirling and Kingside Mr Harvey, by Cromwell Fendt.

Jim and Catherine's winning Highland pair comprised the champion and their breed leader from Perth and Drymen, Catriona 3 of Gartocharn.

LEADING awards

Highland (Judge: A Fitzsimon, Tregallon). Champion – J and Catherine McKechnie, France Farm, Gartocharn, with the reserve winner from Perth Show, Kirsty 2 of Gartocharn, a three-year-old heifer by Brogach 1 of Balmoral out of Kirsty Morag of Ubhaidh. Reserve female champion at the Highland, she was also reserve at Drymen and made up part of the winning inter-breed pairs at Peebles. Reserve – A Prentice, Westbank, Ravenstruther, with June 21 of Hyndford, a two-year-old heifer that was champion and reserve overall champion of champions at Beith and first at Dalry. She is by the Alexander of Glengorm son and show bull, Alexander of Hyndford, out of a previous home-bred June by Jacobite of Benmore. Bull – G Hyslop, Glentewing, Crawfordjohn. Cow, three-year-old heifer, calf, pair – J and C McKechnie. Heifer under three years – A Prentice. Eight-20month-old heifer – T Swan, Coach House, .

Charolais (Judge: W Wight, Whitrighill). Champion – A and JJ Forrest, Hillend, Roberton, with the nine-month-old heifer calf, Ladygill Naughty But Nice, a daughter of the Kelton Trident-sired Ladygill Henacy, bred from Edenhurst Jenny, which was bought as a heifer. The calf was first at Carnwath, Biggar and Lesmahagow. Reserve – J Wight, Townfoot, Symington, with Midlock Newman, a 16-month-old bull by Blelack Jerrylee, that was champion of champions at East Kilbride. Bull – J Wight. Yeld heifer – CJ Wight, Carwood, Biggar. Calf – A and JJ Forrest.

Limousin (Judge: W Wight). Champion – J and Fiona Smith, Old Greentowers, Cartland, with the 61/2-year-old cow, Roundhill Hgiroflee, a daughter of the French sire, Acojou, out of Roundhill Egiroflee, shown with heifer calf at foot by Powerful Irish. Champion at Lesmahagow, Carnwath and reserve at Biggar, she was bought privately from Norman Cruickshank, four years ago. Reserve – I Nimmo, Bogside, Newmains, with the 16-month-old home-bred bull, Mariascote Neil, a Millgate Jukebox son out of Mariascote Foxy, that stood champion at Biggar and second at the Great Yorkshire. He is bound for the breed sale at Carlisle, in October. Bull, pair – I Nimmo. Cow, heifer – J and F Smith.

Simmental (Judge: G Clark, Broombrae). Champion and reserve – G Brown, Springfield, Penicuik. Supreme was Springfield Ice, a 14-month-old bull by the Irish sire, Shiloh Freedom, bout of Cleenagh Eliza, which was bought at Stirling in 2015. Reserve for the 15-cow Springfield herd was Springfield Iconic, a yearling heifer by the same sire but out of a Hazeldene-bred cow bought as a calf at foot at a former herd sale. All classes – G Brown.

British Blue (Judge: P Halhead, Norbreck Genetics). Champion and inter-breed beef champion – I McGarva, Nether Abington, Abington, with the white heifer, Abington Lily, a 22-month-old daughter of the AI sire, Tenace, bred from Tamhorn Grace which was bought as a heifer at the herd dispersal. Senior champion at the Stars of the Future, last year, she has been placed at this year's events. Reserve – A and CS Comrie, Stonebyres Mains, Stonebyres, with Stonebyres Minstrel, an 18-month-old bull by the AI sire, Kersay Geronimo, out of Stonebyres Jazz. A big winner as a calf, Minstrel was reserve inter-breed at Stirling and first at the Highland. Minstrel and Tom and Alison Cockburn's Kingside Mr Harvey, a bull by Cromwell Fendt, picked up the inter-breed beef pairs championship. Bull – A and CS Comrie. Cow – Beth Hill, Crawfordwalls. Heifer – I McGarva.

Any other native breed (Judge: G Clark). Champion – I Watson and J Ford, Kelso, with Kersquarter Jo Erica, an April 2017-born Aberdeen Angus heifer by the 8000gns Carlisle champion, Gretnahouse KP, out of Kersquarter Jo Erica, a daughter of the 2006 foundation cow, Cheeklaw Jo Erica. Reserve – B McSporran, Eilean Farm, with the similarly aged Aberdeen-Angus bull, Eilean Extra, by Rawburn Enigmatic, out of Eilean Emma. He is destined for the breed sales at Stirling in October. Bull – B McSporran. Senior heifer, pair – A Jackson. Junior heifer – I Watson and J Ford.

Commercial (Judge: J Gibb, Toftcombs). Champion – Gillian Scott, Gateside, Linlithgow, with Doo Dah, a home-bred January 2017-born Limousin cross heifer by Melbreak Hero out of a British Blue cross cow. Champion at West Fife, she was also reserve at Dalkeith. Reserve – A Lindsay, Kepscaith, Longridge, with Ace, an 18-month-old stot by a Limousin cross British Blue bull and out of a pure Limousin cow. He was champion at Lesmahagow and Carnwath and reserve bullock at the Highland. Senior steer – A Lindsay. Senior heifer – G Scott. Cow and calf – I McGarva, Nether Abington. JAC halter trained calf – N Pate, Toxside, Gorebridge. JAC turned out calf – B Welsh, Hasswellsykes, Kirkton Manor. JAC calf – S Brotherstone, Wormiston Cotts, Eddleston. Three cows with continental cross calves, two in-calf heifers – A Smellie, Kailzie Mains. Three cows with native cross calves, three heifers and calves – W Aitken, Scotstounbank. Bull – F Smith, Cloverhill. Bulling heifer pair – D Gilchrist, Newmill. Young handlers calf – Mack Young, Dovecot Park, Selkirk.

Blackface (Judge: D Ferguson, Drannandow). Champion and reserve inter-breed sheep – J Kay and Son, Hartside, Lammermuir, with Sophie, a home-bred two-crop ewe christened after Jack's six-month-old daughter. Placed here in 2016 and 2017, she was on her first outing of the year and is by a £10,000 Dalwyne and bred from a ewe by a £55,000 Connachan. Reserve – J MacGregor, Dyke, Milton of Campsie, with a gimmer that was first at Campsie. A daughter of a £22,000 Dalwyne, she is bred from a ewe by a £24,000 Elmscleugh. Aged ram, shearling ram – A MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth. Confined shearling, confined tup lamb – DC and JJ Marshall, Gosland. Tup lamb – A MacArthur, Nunnerie. Ewe – J Kay and Son. Gimmer – J MacGregor. Ewe lamb, confined ewe lamb, three ewe lambs from the hill – JP Campbell and Sons, Glenrath.

South Country Cheviot (Judge: T Aitchison, North Shortcleugh). Champion – B and Morag Cockburn, Stirkfield, with Stirkfield Tess, a gimmer christened after Tess Gibson, who has been helping out all summer. Reserve here and at Abington last year, she is by Mountbenger Whisky Galore, out of a ewe by Mainside Ust and was on her first outing of the year. Reserve – Messrs Paton, Castle Crawford, with the reserve winner from Dumfries, a ewe lamb. Aged ram, shearling ram, tup lamb, tup lamb pair – JF Irving and Sons, Mountbenger. Ewe, gimmer, three ewe lambs off the hill, group, fleece – B and M Cockburn. Ewe lamb – Messrs Paton.

North Country Cheviot hill-type (Judge: Ms Ruth Allan, Humbleheugh). Champion and reserve – W and J Thomson, Hownam Grange. Supreme was the four-shear ram, Newbank Spitfire, by a Keppoch ram. Bought at Lockerbie, he was champion at the National at Kelso and at Yetholm last year and this year stood champion at the Highland and first at Kelso. Reserve was a tup lamb son of the champion bred from a ewe by Hethpool Nae Palm, on his first outing. Aged ram, tup lamb, group of three, ewe lamb – W and J Thomson. Shearling ram, three ewe lambs off the hill – Mrs CM Reid, Boreland, Eddleston. Ewe, gimmer – J Thomson, Kelsocleugh.

North Country Cheviot park-type (Judge: D Allan, Humbleheugh). Champion, supreme sheep and reserve overall champion of champions – W and J Thomson, Hownam Grange, with a two-crop ewe by Ilam Tops 545, a £4800 purchase at Lockerbie, out of a home-bred ewe. Champion at the Great Yorkshire, in 2015, she was also first at the same show last year. Reserve – S Turnbull, Swinside, Oxnam, with the Haddington and Dalkeith champion, a gimmer by Muirton Tip Top Top out of a ewe by Hownam Grange Wee Tam. Aged ram, tup lamb, ewe, ewe lamb – W and J Thomson. Shearling ram, group of three – R Runciman, Allanshaws. Gimmer – S Turnbull.

Suffolk MV accredited (Judge: J Pate, Marvingston). Champion and reserve – S and G Scott, Woodhead, Gorebridge. Supreme was a gimmer by Flodden Magician, out of a ewe by Pennan Finale. Full sister to Capielaw Marbleous that was sold privately to Jacobshall, she was first at Dalkeith this year and reserve there last year. Reserve was the dam of the champion, a previously unshown three-crop ewe bred from a Howeburn Last Laugh daughter. Tup lamb, ewe, gimmer, ewe lamb, group of three – S and G Brown. Fleece – Elaine Wilkie, Shaw Cottage South, Berryscaur.

Suffolk Non MV (Judge: J Pate). Champion – S Shaw, Smailholm Mains, with a previously unshown gimmer bred the same way as the champion shearling at Kelso. She is by a Soutra sire and out of a ewe that boasts 25% New Zealand genetics. Reserve – A Smellie, Kailzie Mains, with a tup lamb. Aged ram, tup lamb, ewe – A Smellie. Shearling ram, gimmer, group of three – S Shaw. Ewe lamb – JP Campbell and Sons, Glenrath. Fleece – JB Pate and Sons, Toxside, Gorebridge.

Bluefaced Leicester traditional-type (Judge: S Thomason, Seaview Riding Centre). Champion – A McClymont, Kirkstead, Yarrow, with the four-shear Burndale G1 ram that has twice won the Highland Show and this year also made up part of the winning inter-breed pairs. A son of Bunvailston C1 out of a ewe with a Myfyrian sire, this big tup was bought at Castle Douglas as a lamb for £2000. Reserve – M and N Gray, Low Espley, Morpeth, with a home-bred one-crop ewe by a home-bred son of an Ashes F2 that sold at Kelso, for £2000, out of a ewe with a Redcottage sire. She was first in the progeny class at Penrith on her sole previous outing. Aged ram, gimmer, ewe lamb, progeny class – A McClymont. Shearling ram, tup lamb, ewe – M and N Gray.

Bluefaced Leicester crossing-type (Judge: J Pirie, Blarnavaid). Champion – J Wight and Sons, Midlock, with a ewe lamb on her first outing. She is by J6 Hewgill, a £5500 purchase at Hawes in 2016 that was last year's Sire of the Year, bred from a ewe by E1 Bull and Cave. Reserve – C Campbell, Easter Happrew, Stobo, with a home-bred shearling ram by an H2 Carry House, out of a ewe by an A10 Townhead. Prviously unshown, he is bound for the Kelso Ram Sales. Aged ram – S McClymont, Tinnis, Yarrow. Shearling ram – C Campbell. Tup lamb, ewe lamb – J Wight and Sons. Ewe – MR Thornborrow and Sons, Easter Dawyck. Gimmer – J and Wendy Bell, Highfield, Auchengray. Progeny class – RD Archer, Carryhouse, Wark.

Scotch Mule (Judge: J Park, Dalpeddar). Champion and reserve – Finlay Robertson (15)The Beeches. Supreme was a ewe lamb that was champion at Biggar, a daughter of a K4 Midlock bought at Hawes last year for £2200, out of a Crosswoodhill-bred ewe. Reserve was the section champion from Carnwath, a home-bred gimmer by a G84 Midlock, out of another Crosswoodhill-bred ewe. Both are to be retained for breeding. Ewe, pen of three ewe lambs – J Wight and Sons. Gimmer, ewe lamb – F Robertson.

Texel MV accredited (Judge: D Clark, Lee Meadow). Champion – Renwick Family, Legars, Kelso, with the breed leader from Kelso, a home-bred gimmer that was also champion at the same event last year. She is by the shared Strathbogie You're a Tup, bred from a ewe by Castlecairn Presentation and was shown by Fabienne, Zara, Fletcher and Ritchie Renwick. Reserve – G Gray, Sunnycroft, Selkirk, with the reserve winner from Kelso, a one-crop ewe by Shannagh Won O Won, out of a ewe by Ettrick Rainbow Warrior that has bred gimmers to 10,000gns and 7500gns. She was also champion at Biggar and second at the Great Yorkshire. Aged ram – C Connell, Wanton Walls, Lauder. Shearling ram – G Brown, Springfield. Tup lamb, group of three – D Preacher, Holylee, Walkerburn. Tup lamb pair – A Barr. Ewe – G Gray. Gimmer, ewe lamb – Renwick Family.

Texel non-MV (Judge: H Porksen, Gallowshill). Champion – Mary Hall, New Blainslie, Lauder, winning her first championship with a home-bred one-crop ewe by the Kelso purchase, Brijon Sherlock, out of a home-bred ewe from the 30-ewe flock. She was placed here last year. Reserve – JB Pate and Sons, Toxside, Gorebridge, with a shearling ram by Midlock Winger, out of a home-bred ewe, on his first outing. He is bound for the Kelso Ram Sales. Aged ram – J Glasgow, Felton, Dolphinton. Shearling – JB Pate and Sons. Tup lamb – A Lambie, The Cottage, Flemmington. Ewe, gimmer, group of three – M Hall. Ewe lamb – J and P Anderson, Headshaw, Oxton.

Beltex (Judge: IA Wainwright, Todhall). Champion – R Wood, Kingledores, with Withytrees Champagne, a gimmer bought last year at Carlisle for 2000gns. The first female sold from the 4200gns gimmer, Kingledores Wendylene, she is by Buckles Boxer. Reserve – A Dunlop, Corstane, with the runner up from Biggar Show, Broughton Cherry Tutti, a home-bred gimmer by Woodwick Alpha, that goes back to the family's Highland Show champion, Broughton Tutti Fruiti. Ram, gimmer, group of three – A Dunlop. Tup lamb, gimmer, ewe lamb – R Wood.

Hebridean (Judge: J Cuthbertson, Ardoch House). Champion – J James, Slipperfield Croft, West Linton, with an April-born ewe lamb by Ronasvoe MacSpock, a ram bought at Lanark, in 2015, out of Slipperfield Florie. She was reserve at Kelso. Reserve – J Mosley, Kirkdean, Blyth Bridge, with the breed leader from Kelso, Brightside Wiay, a two-shear ram that was first at the Great Yorkshire and third at the Highland. He is by Cinderhill Jotun. Aged ram, shearling ram, ewe, group of three – J Mosley. Tup lamb, gimmer, ewe lamb – J James.

Shetland sheep (Judge: N Spenceley, Prospect Fields). Champion – Susan Russell, Irvine, with the white home-bred shearling ram, Woodpark Ruiridh, on his first outing. He is by Greenacre Jack and out of Ivydene Maralyn, which bred this year's Highland Show champion. Ruiridh is destined for the breed sale at Carlisle. Reserve – P, D and A Playfair, Stichfield, Kelso, with the reserve coloured champion at Duns which also stood reserve at Dalkeith. Kaimknowe Leilani, a home-bred gimmer is by Kaimknowe Eustace and out of Riverdell Surprise. White ram, white gimmer – S Russell. Coloured ram – F Frame, Hawthornbank. White tup lamb, coloured tup lamb, white ewe, coloured ewe, coloured gimmer, white ewe lamb, group of three – P, D and A Playfair. Coloured ewe lamb – H Hill, Low Whiteside, Lesmahagow.

Fleece on the hoof (Judge: D Swinton, Stuart and Ramsdens). Champion – Alex Patrick (11), Stichfield, Kelso, with a black two-shear Shetland ram and a son of last year's champion, Hillend Cauldron, out of a home-bred ewe. Male, female – A Patrick. Lamb – S Pollock, Kirknewton.

Novelty class (Judge: J Sinclair, Crookston). Champion – A Grant and T Wright, Fife, with the any other native champion from Perth, a two-crop Border Leicester ewe bought from Neil Howie, Lyham, at Carlisle. She is by Didcot Dreamboat and also won at Perth in 2017. Black lamb, black sheep – S Turnbull, Swinside. Male, female – J Glasgow. Gimmer – H Anderson, Headshaw. Ewe – A Grant and T Wright.

Commercial sheep (Judge: J Reid, Bengalhill). Champion – JP Campbell and Sons, Blythbank, with a pen of three lightweight continental-bred lambs. Reserve – J and P Anderson, Headshaw, with a pen of three heavyweight continental-bred lambs. Three heavyweight continental lambs – J and P Anderson. Three lightweight continental lambs, three heavyweight down cross lambs – JP Campbell and Sons. Three lightweight down cross lambs – D Gilchrist, Ingraston, West Linton. Three Blackface wedder lambs – S Barr and Son, Woodhouse. Three any other cross – P White, Fallahill. Cross ewe and lambs, cross-bred gimmer pair – A and P Glennie, Threeburnford, Oxton. Single lamb – Barrie Farmers, Howeburn. YFC lightweight pair, YFC heavyweight pair – S Gilchrist, Ingraston. Non-MV ewe lamb pair – N Pate, Toxside.

Young handlers (Judge: B Renwick, Craig Douglas). Champion – Fletcher Renwick, Legars. Reserve – Findlay Forster. Under 10 years MV or non MV – 1, Findlay Forster; 2, Zara Wood; 3, Lacy Wood. 10-16 years Non MV – 1, Declan Brown; 2, Lara Barnes; 3, Liam Irvine. 10-16 years MV accred – 1, Fletcher Renwick; 2, Richie Renwick; 3, Fergus Mason.

Clydesdale (Judge: J McMillan, Greenan Bay). Champion – Agnes Jackson, Covington Mill, Thankerton, with Boat Lady Victoria, a three-year-old yeld mare by Dillars Top Gun, out of Boat Lady Bethany. She was reserve at Dalkeith. Reserve – Annette Noble, Peggyslea, Penicuik, with the seven-year-old riding and driving gelding, Andrew, a Millisle Solway Bay son out of Ingleston Princess that qualified for HOYS in 2017 and 2016. He also won the ridden class with Ailsa Noble. Senior gelding – Annette Noble. Junior colt or gelding – D Scott, Wester Middleton, Gorebridge. Yeld mare – A Jackson. Two-year-old filly – Joan Sheridan, Wester Place. Brood mare, foal – G Gray, Linlithgow. Ridden – Ailsa Noble.