Exhibitors and spectators were out in force to celebrate Gargunnock Farmers' Club's 225th anniversary show which this year saw increased entries in both the sheep and the cattle lines.

The club which is thought to be one of the oldest in Scotland, being founded in 1794, attracted a cracking line-up of stock for occasion too.

Taking the beef-inter-breed trophy was Stephanie Dick, Westerton, Cowie, with a Limousin cow whilst in the sheep, Willie and Ewan Bennie, Merkins triumphed with a Blackface tup.

Inter-breed judge, Jimmy MacGregor, Milton of Campsie, found his winner in the three-year-old home-bred cow, Stephick Mistique, which was shown with calf at foot, Stephick Princton. Overall champion of champions at Drymen Show, Mistique is by Rathconville Eugene, out of Ronick Voici and last year stood reserve at the Great Yorkshire.

There was another roll over for Stewart and Lynsey Bett, Newmills Farm, Stirling, when their top commercial animal from Drymen and Ayr Show, lifted the reserve inter-breed beef honours. This was with Queen Bee, a one-year-old heifer by the Irish sire Derry Guillen Leing out of a Limousin cross British Blue cow. She has previously been champion at both Ayr and Drymen Shows.

Over in the sheep lines, Mr MacGregor tapped out the Blackface champion from Willie and Ewan Bennie, Merkins as his top choice. Their two-shear Glenrath-bred ram which stood reserve at Drymen the previous week, was bought last year for £12,000 at Lanark, and is by an £85,000 Elmscleugh, out of a Glenrath ewe by a £20,000 Midlock.

Amongst the dairy cattle, W Hamilton, Meldrum, led the way, with a three-year-old heifer in milk shown by Angus McMillan. Hawkland Allstar Kashmer is producing 35litres a day having calved in December and is by Kashmer.

James Patterson, Borland lifted the top award amongst the Clydesdales with the three-year-old filly, MacFin First Lady, a Bratlach Ballintoy daughter out of MacFin Crystal Gail that stood reserve at Kinross last year and third at Ayr, last month.

LEADING awards

Dairy (Judge: R Johnston, Cumbernauld). Champion – W Hamilton and Sons, Meldrum with a three-year-old heifer in milk. Hawkland Allstar Kashmer was shown by Angus McMillan and is producing 35litres of milk a day. She is sired by Kashmer while her dam is by Allstar. Reserve – W Hamilton, Meldrum with a five-year-old home-bred cow in milk. Hawkland Gerard Diana is sired by Gerard and is out of a previous home-bred Diana. She calved in November, is producing 65litres a day and stood champion at Drymen. Cow in milk, quey, heifer – W Hamilton and Sons. Cow in calf – W Brewster, Boclair.

Native breeds (Judge: R Reid, c/o United Auctions). Champion – G and S Harvey, Balfron, with the 14-month-old Hereford heifer, Harvey Bros 1 Crocus Rose, by Norminton 1 Ieartes, out of a Harvey Bros 1 Crocus Enone. She was champion at Drymen Show. Reserve – S Dick, Westerton Farm, Stirling, with the second prize winner to the champion, in the 14-month-old Aberdeen Angus heifer, Crew Destiny, by Hallington Evo, out of Crew Dakota. She was reserve Aberdeen Angus champion at Drymen. All classes – G and S Harvey.

Continental breeds (Judge: R Reid). Champion – A Hornall, Falleninch, with a heifer born in February 2018. Falleninch Orla was shown by daughter Jessica anbd is by Falleninch Imperator and out Border Iona. Reserve – A Burnett, Upper Spittalton with the two-year-old heifer, Spittleton Nikita, by Whitecliff Highlight out of Elrick Adille. She was first in her class as a calf here. Two-year-old heifer – A Burnett. Three-year-old heifer, calf – A Hornall.

Limousin (Judge: R Reid). Champion and inter-breed beef – S Dick, Westerton, with the three-year-old cow, Stephick Mistique shown with calf, Stephick Princton at foot. Mistique is sired by Rathconville Eugene, out of Ronick Voici and stood overall champion at Drymen and reserve at last year's at Great Yorkshire. Reserve – A Burnett, Upper Spittalton, with Barrons OJ, a 15-month-old bull bought at Carlisle in May. He is by Loosebeare Fantastic, and out of a Mereside Godolphin daughter. Bull – A Burnett. Cow, calf – S Dick. Heifer – D McBeath and SJ Jessop.

Commercial (Judge: R Reid). Champion and reserve inter-breed beef – S and L Bett, Newmills, with Queen Bee, a one-year-old heifer by the Irish sire Derry Guillen Leing out of a Limousin cross British Blue cow. She has previously been champion at both Ayr and Drymen Shows. Reserve – S Dunn, Willowbank, with Haggis Bomb, a Limousin cross bullock bought from J and S Baillie, Orkney. Champion at Lesmahagow, he is destined for the Royal Highland Show. Cow with calf, calf – A Dunn. Heifer – S and L Bett. Bullock – S Dunn.

Blackface sheep (Judge: R Patterson, Creiff). Champion – W and E Bennie, Merkins, Gartocharn with a two-shear ram bought for £12,000 from Glenrath at Lanark, last year. He is bred from a £20,000 Midlock-sired ewe, by an £85,000 Elmscleugh, and stood reserve at Drymen Show. Reserve – D Rock, Knock-o-Ronald, with a ewe by £2800 Elmscleugh, out of a £2400 Auldhouseburn-sired ewe. She was champion last year at Fintry. Ewe nursing cross lamb, ewe nursing Blackface lamb, ewe lamb, shearling tup, fleece, group of three – D Rock. Tup lamb, gimmer – D Willison. Rough ewe hogg – W and E Bennie.

Bluefaced Leicester (Judge: S Hunter, Huntly). Champion – J Pirie, Blarnavaid, Drymen, with a tup lamb. He is by a K20 Midlock and stood third at Drymen Reserve – A McArthur, Cretlevane, with a ewe lamb by a £9000 Dalpeddar sire on her first outing. Ewe, tup lamb – J Pirie. Ewe hogg – R Steel. Tup, ewe lamb, group of three – A McArthur.

Cross sheep (Judge: J Hamilton, Linlithgow). Champion – RH Steel, Western Mye with a Texel cross ewe with Beltex cross lambs at foot that stood champion at Drymen. Reserve – R Bryce, Chalmerston with a pen of three ewe hoggs. They are out of a pure Suffolk ewes and by a Beltex tup. Cross ewe and single lamb and twin lamb – RM Steel. Cross ewe and triplets – G Duncan. Cross ewe hogg and single lamb – F and A Young. Three ewe hoggs – R Bryce. Three prime lambs, single prime lamb – T Buchanan.

Scotch Mule (Judge: S Hunter). Champion – J Pirie, Blarnavaid with a ewe lamb, by a home-bred son of the £37,000 K20 Midlock, that was second at Drymen. Reserve – R Steele, Kepculloch, with a Mule ewe hogg bought from Tinnis. She was second in her class at Drymen. Ewe – I Watt. Ewe hogg – R Steel. Three ewe hoggs, three ewe lambs – D Rock. Single ewe lamb – J Pirie.

Suffolk (Judge: M Black, Coupar). Champion – R Bryce, Chalmerston with a four-crop ewe. She is sired by Cairnnorrie Olympic Bolt and is out of ewe by Cairnnorrie Campbell. This was her second outing after taking champion at Drymen . Reserve – R Bryce with a gimmer, a daughter out of the champion and on her first outing. All classes – R Bryce

Texel and any other continental (Judge: M Black). Champion – D Allan, Ballochneck with a Beltex gimmer bought from S Wood for £1000. Woodies Daydreamer is sired by Woodies Bojangles and is out of Clary show ewe bred by Jock McMillan. Reserve – C Little, East Bracklinn, with a Texel shearling ram shown by daughters Eilidh and Iona Little. He is by a Strathbogie ram. Ewe, group of three – S Allan. Ewe lamb – H Harrower. Tup lamb – A Baird. Ewe hogg – D Allan. Tup – C Little.

Zwartbles (Judge D Miskelly, Afford). Champion – A Baird, Greystone, with the gimmer Greystone Fauna, a daughter of the Dutch sire 290, bred from Greystone Willow. She was champion at Ayr and reserve at Drymen. Reserve – N Rowan and S Henderson, Whitehouse, with Aquila Everest, a one-crop ewe by Duplicate, out of Aquila Canada. She was second as a lamb at the Great Yorkshire and the Royal Highland.

Any other sheep breed (Judge J Hamilton). Champion – B Steel, Powblack, Thornhill, with a Hampshire Down ewe by Ashley Jackpot. Reserve – C White, Kippin with a three-shear Ryeland ewe. She is by Nettleskye Thomas and was on her first outing. Ewe, ewe lamb – B Steel. Ewe hogg, group of three – G Duncan. Tup – A Little.

Clydesdales (Judge: P Keron, Creiff). Champion – J Patterson, Borland, with MacFin First Lady, a three-year-old filly, bred from MacFin Crystal Gail and sired by Bratlach Ballintoy. She was reserve at Kinross last year and stood third at Ayr, last month. Reserve – M Carrick, Littleward farm, Thornhill, Stirling with a yearling filly, Littleward Rebecca. She is sired by Jacktons' Discovery and is out of a Littleward Venus. She has previously received first prize in her class at Kilpatrick foal show. Yeld mare – IN Christie. Filly – H Carrick. Pairs – J Patterson.

Highland ponies (Judge P Grey, Wallyford). Champion – A Mitchell, Dunedin Stud. Dunedin Tiger Lilly a six-year-old mare sired by Dunedin Marksman. This is her first show season. Reserve – V Fletcher, Fourmerk, with Fourmerk Marilla, owned by J Alexander. She is also by Dunedin Marksman, out of Owl's end Harmione and stood first at Drymen. Yeld mare – J Coull. Gelding – J Richardson. Filly – V Fletcher. Yearling – L Wright.