SIMMENTALS attracted one of the largest sections and saw the top two titles go to Morayshire and Ayrshire-based herds.

Lifting the overall senior championship was the Stronach family's female champion, Islavale Cassie 6 from their well-known herd based at Berryleys and Maisley, near Keith. Brought out by Stewart jnr, his partner Fiona Sutherland, and their twin daughters, Aimee and Emma, was an October, 2017-born heifer on its first outing by the 15,000gns Atlow Dixon, a stock bull which has bred sons to 13,000gns, as well as an overall champion at Stirling Bull Sales. She is bred from one of the best breeding cows in the herd, another Islavale Cassie.

Jim and Patricia Goldie, who run 150 cows in their Newbiemains herd near Annan, Dumfries, took the reserve honours in the senior section with Newbiemains Interceptor. A July, 2017-born son of the privately purchased Woodhall Fantastic, which first sons sold to 7000gns this year and bred show winning heifers for the Goldies this summer, this lad is out of Newbiemains Eyecatcher. Paraded by Jim's son Niall, he was on his first outing.

Kennox Juggernaut from Ayrshire's David Craig, who runs his six-cow herd near Stewarton, came up trumps in the juniors. This January, 2018-born bull is an AI son of Woodhall Ferrari, a bull which has sold sons to 14,000gns at Stirling in October for another breeder. Bred out of Kennox Tara's Diva, a cow which stood overall champion for David when the event was staged at Forfar, as well as reserve junior champion at the Highland in 2014. The dam's first calf, Kennox Gina, sold to the Atlow herd in Derbyshire and has since won championships at local shows for the Donnellys. Juggernaut was on his second outing, having stood reserve champion at Strathaven Show along with the dam.

Michael Barlow and son John's 50-strong Denizes cow herd from Littlewood Hall Farm, Ridley Lane, Croston, Leyland, Lancs, stood runner up in the juniors with the five-month-old heifer calf Ashland Lucy Jezebel. Bought privately as an eight-week-old along with its twin heifer from the Ashland herd in Northern Ireland, this youngster is by Team Celtic 11, out of Ashland Lucy 5. She stood junior champion at the Agri-Expo, earlier this month.

LEADINGawards:

(Judge: Gerald Smith, Drumsleed, Fordoun, Laurencekirk).

Seniors – Bulls born July 1 to Aug 22, 2017 – 1, senior male and reserve overall senior champion, J and P Goldie, Newbiemains Interceptor, by Woodhall Fantastic; 2, N Shand's Woodhall Innerwick, by Islavale Frontier; 3, J and P Goldie's Newbiemains I'murman, by Woodhall Fantastic. Bulls born Sept 1 to Oct 30, 2017 – 1 and reserve senior male, W Stronach's Islavale Ignite, by Islavale Echo; 2, F Gwynne's Castlewigg Ifan, by Sterling Empire; 3, J Loftus' Blackpool Ivanhoe, by Blackpool Ely. Bulls born Nov 6 to Dec 31, 2017 – 1, A Wilson's Cairnview Isman, by Woodhall Ferrari; 2, R McCulloch's Overhill House Invictus, by Mohona Fletcher; 3, H Brunton's Crudie Invictus, by Drumlone Fabulous. Heifers born Aug 10 to Sept 20, 2017 – 1 and reserve senior female, M Barlow's Denizes Eve's Beauty, by Denizes Fantastic; 2, G Brown's Springfield Iconic, by Shilo Freedom; 3, N Shand's Cairnorrie Clarissa, by Cairnorrie Boomer. Heifers born Oct 6 to Dec 15, 2017 – 1, senior female and overall senior champion, W Stronach's Islavale Cassie 6, by Atlow Dixon; 2, S and K Smith's Forgeron Ivy, by Ranfurly Emperor; 3, H Brunton's Crudie Ingrid, by Drumlone Fabulous.

Juniors – Bulls born Jan 1 to Feb 23, 2018 – 1, junior male and overall junior champion, D Craig's Kennox Juggernaut, by Woodhall Ferrari; 2 and reserve junior male, A Wilson's Cairnview Jazz, by Woodhall Ferrari; 3, J Wightman's Coxhill Jager-bomb, by Team Celtic. Bulls born Mar 23 to Apr 20, 2018 – 1, A Ivory's Strathisla Jetstream, by Dirnanean Grafter; 2, B Grant's Dellfield Justice, by Kilbride Farm Goldstar; 3, A Ivory's Strathisla Justice, by Dirnanean Grafter. Heifers born Jan 2 to Mar 30, 2018 – 1 and reserve junior female, W Stronach's Islavale Cassie 7, by Islavale G.I. Joe; 2, B Grant's Dellfield Julia, by Kilbride Farm Goldstar; 3, R McCulloch's Overhill House J-Eternal, by Mohona Fletcher. Heifers born Apr 5 to June 19, 2018 – 1, junior female and reserve overall junior, M Barlow's Ashland Lucy Jezebul, by Team Celtic; 2, R and P McAlister's Bruchag Juicy MD, by Denizes Gallant; 3, R and P McAlister's Bruchag Jewel, by Denizes Gallant.

Young handlers – 11 to 14 years – 1 and overall young handler, Emma Smith; 2, Aimee Stronach; 3, Robin McAlister. 15 to 18 years – 1, Frank Gwynne; 2, Dayfedd Gwynne.