Agri-Expo: Carruthers Elspeth leads the Angus show

Paraded by fourteen-year-old son, Jack, was Carruthers Elspeth, a daughter of Halbeath Kitemark, which the Grahams bought privately for their 50-cow herd from Martin McCornick, Boreland, Newton Stewart. She is one of the first daughters bred from the Mowen Kilogram-sired Carruthers Elspeth and stood second in her class at Moffat Show and third at the breed's summer national show at Westmorland.

Regular show winners, Richard and Carol Rettie who run 25 females in their herd at Methven, Perth, took the reserve overall honours with their male champion, Retties Lord Harvey, having stood first in its class at the summer national. This April 2017-born bull is by Gretnahouse Blackpot, a bull which made 10,000gns at Stirling in February 2016 when sold to John Gilmour, East Lothian. Bred from the McCornick Eventer dam, which first son is stock bull at the Haymount herd, he is destined for Stirling, next year.

Donald Rankin's Kilmaluag herd from Portree, Isle of Skye, also enjoyed a good day when Kilmaluag Lady, a November 2017-born heifer stood reserve among the females. Second prize to the overall champion, she is one of the first calves by the privately purchased, Retties Euromillions. Brought out by Richard and Carol Rettie, she is out of Mosston Muir Lady Iris, which daughter stood reserve champion at Grantown Show, this year.

The long journey north for the Shadwell Estate team from Thetford, Norfolk, proved all the more sweet, when they scooped the reserve female championship with the 10-month-old bull calf, Shadwell Blue Diamond. Brought out by stockman Robert Clarke and his daughter Maddie, was an AI son of Weeton Diamond Mine – a bull which sold for 14,000gns at Stirling. This youngster is the first calf bred from Shadwell Blue Belle, the 80-cow herd's unbeaten show heifer from last year.

LEADINGawards:

(Judge: JR Elliot, Rawburn herd, Roxburgh Mains, Kelso).

Bulls – Yearling bull born January 1 to July 31, 2017 – 1, yearling male champion, male champion, reserve yearling champion and reserve overall champion, R and C Rettie's Retties Lord Harvey; 2, MR McCornick's McCornick Evander; 3, G Gray's Ettrick Eagle. Yearling bull born August 1 to December 31, 2017 – 1, M and HD Currie's Kingholm Real Deal; 2, M and HD Currie's Kinghom Big Deal; 3, Shadwell Estate Company's Shadwell Evolution. Bull calf born Jan 1 to Feb 28, 2018 – 1, bull calf champion, calf champion and reserve male champion, Shadwell Estate Company's Shadwell Blue Diamond; 2, AS Hodge's Rulesmains Kentucky; 3, Temple Farm's Temple Furdinand. Bull calf born March 1 to March 31, 2018 – 1, reserve bull calf and reserve calf champion, H and E Duncan's Longback Jack Eric; 2, W and M Taylor's Crook Hill Duster; 3, D Walker's Galcantray Elite. Bull calf born April 1, 2018 onwards – 1, Brailes Livestock's Brailes Black Bonanza; 2, Miss JH Swires' Cragg Lord Laurence; 3, RW Dick's Hardlawbank Mr Holywood.

Heifers – Heifer born Jan 1 to July 31, 2017 – 1, MR McCornick's McCornick Kerry; 2, D Rankin's Kilmaluag Lady Ruth; 3, WD Allen's Stouphill Lady Rose. Heifer born August 1 to December 31, 2017 – 1, yearling female champion, yearling champion, female champion and overall champion, Messrs Graham's Carruthers Elspeth; 2, yearling female champion and reserve female champion, D Rankin's Kilmaluag Lady Iris; 3, R and C Rettie's Retties Pam. Heifer calf born January 1 to February 28, 2018 – 1 and heifer calf champion, R and C Rettie's Retties Evita; 2, Temple Farm's Temple Erica; 3, O Tunney's Morpheus Rosie. Heifer calf born March 1 to March 31, 2018 ­– 1, CAH Rodger's Comlongon Joylady Erica; 2, H and E Duncan's Longbank Ethel; 3, JH Swires' Cragg Minnea Belle. Heifer calf born April 1, 2018 onwards – 1, D Evans' Tree Bridge Estella; 2, D Walker's Galcantray Lassie; 3, O Tunney's Morpheus Kristina.

Pair – Champion – D Rankin. Reserve – D Henry.