AFTER A washout across parts of the country, the poor weather didn’t stop the public turning out for a grand day at Newmilns Show, complete with a quality livestock showing and a new education barn for children to learn about food and farming.

The weather turned out for the best in the end, with the sun shining down on the main ring when Jimmy Sinclair, Crookston, Midlothian, tapped out his overall champion in Craig Cochrane’s three-year-old Holstein cow, Maverick Alf Licorice. It was a hat-trick for the Maverick herd, taking champion for their third show in succession, having secured the top ticket at Ayr and Kilmaurs.

This home-bred cow is sired by Knowlesmere Alf and is out of Rhala Gerard Licorice.

Reserve overall colours were awarded to Jennifer Hyslop, Balluskie, Barrhill, with her home-bred Limousin cross heifer, Queen of Hearts, which is by Waindale UFO and out of a Charolais cross cow.

She has had a successful season so far picking up the accolade of reserve overall at beef expo and winning champion at Dalry.

Over in the sheep lines, the ‘big’ ticket went to John and Glen Patterson, Oxenshaw, Mauchline, for their home-bred Texel ewe hogg, by Sportsman Astar and out of a ewe by Castlecairn Vavavoom. She stood reserve inter-breed champion at Ayr show.

The Clydesdale section was won by Jim Rochead, Malcolmwood, Blantyre, with his one-year-old filly Gar-cal-fra Sweet Iona, by Dillars Ollie and out of Gar-cal-fra Sweet Chloe. She heads again to the Highland this year after winning there as a foal in 2018.

Offsite, one of the biggest cow and calf competitions across the country took place the weekend before the show with 21 farms entering from the local vicinity. Colin Wight, Carwood, Biggar, had the job of judging the competition and viewed a total of 36 entries across five categories.

Champion for the second-year in succession was Morris Wyllie, 23 Skeldon Drive, Dalrymple, with his Limousin cross cow, a third calver, with an April-born calf at foot, Marydoll. “The top cow and calf were an outstanding pair, well balanced and an easy overall winner,” said Mr Wight. “However, I was pleased to find that the whole competition was of a very high standard.”

Leading awards

Holstein (Judge: R Templeton, Pocknave, Hurlford). Overall and dairy inter-breed champion – C Cochrane, Maverick Holsteins, Nethercraig, with his three-year-old cow Maverick Alf Licorice. The home-bred second calver is by Knowlesmere Alf and out of Rhala Gerard Licorice. She is giving 46 litres daily with a projection of 10,400 for the year. She stood champion at Ayr and Kilmaurs. Reserve was the same home with the two-year-old milking heifer, Maverick Diamondback Mahala. She is by Mister Apples Diamondback and out of Wormanby Schottle Mahala. Heifer born on or after June 1, best heifer in milk, best dairy cow in milk and best pair – C Cochrane. Best calf born after Nov 1, 2018 – G Borland, Mauchline. Bred by exhibitor – Hendrie Bros.

Ayrshire (Judge: R Templeton). Champion and reserve dairy inter-breed – DM Lindsay, Harperfield, Sandilands, Lanark, with his five-year-old home-bred cow, Harperfield Sandyrose. Taking the championship for the second year running, this third calver is by Harperfield Coral Reef and out of Barr Sandyrose 56, and is producing 48 litres daily. She was reserve at the Great Yorkshire show in 2018 and will be going to the Highland later this month. Reserve – G Borland, Mossbog, Mauchline, with his five-month-old calf, Mossbog Arizona Lola. She is out of a dam bought at the Changue dispersal sale, Changue Wisconsin Lola and sired by Desire Arizona. Heifer born on or after June 1 and best Ayrshire bred by exhibitor – Hendrie Bros. Best dairy cow in milk and best pair of animals – DM Lindsay. Best calf born after Nov1, 2018 – G Borland.

Continental beef (Judge: C Wight, Carwood, Biggar). Champion – W Young, Skerrington Mains, Hurlford, with his 11-month-old Simmental bull, Skerrington Juniper, by Woodhall Glencoe and is out of Skerrington Rhona 32, which stood reserve female champion at the Highland in 2015. Reserve – M Goldie, Meikle Farms, Darvel, with the six-week-old Charolais calf, Yondercroft Penelope. This home-bred heifer is by Davally Illusion and out of Yondercroft Millie, which is by Dooley Lewis. Cow any age, heifer and calf under six months – M Goldie. Bull any age – W Young.

Native beef (Judge: C Wight). Champion and reserve beef inter-breed – W Young, Skerrington Mains, Hurlford, with his rising two-year-old Aberdeen-Angus heifer, Skerrington Ellen Erica T292. She is by Rawburn Double-O Seven and out of Skerrington Ellen Erica P799. Her dam lines go back to embryos imported from America. Reserve – G Dunbar, Drumboy, Springburn, Drumclog, with his three-year old home-bred Hereford cow, Drumboy Olivia. She is by Venture Nightime and out of Baldinnie 1 Cathy and stood champion Hereford at Ayr Show in 2018 and champion native at Catrine this May. Cow any age – G Dunbar. Heifer – W Young. Calf under six months – Ross.

Prime cattle (Judge: C Wight). Champion, beef inter-breed and reserve champion of champions – J Hyslop, Balluskie, Barrhill, with the home-bred Limousin cross heifer, Queen of Hearts. The rising one-year-old is by Waindale UFO and out of a Charolais cross cow bought from David Henderson, Auchenrivoch. She recently stood reserve overall at Beef Expo and was champion at Dalry. She will be shown at the Royal Highland Show and Great Yorkshire this summer. Reserve – M Wyllie, 23 Skeldon Drive, Dalrymple, with his 16-month-old Limousin cross heifer, Back 2 Black, by Ickle Joker and out of a Limousin cross cow. She was bought from Gary Bell, Haas-side, Lockerbie, in October, last year and stood champion at Catrine. Calf under six months – S Stevenson, Carbello. Bullock over six months – J Scott. Heifer over six months – J Hyslop. Any animal confined to the parishes of Loudon and Galston and any animal shown by a member of SAYFC – S Anderson.

Cow and calf championship (off show ground) (Judge: C Wight). Champion – M Wyllie, 23 Skeldon Drive, Dalrymple, with a Limousin cross cow and her April born calf, Marydoll, which is by Huntershall Gladiator. Reserve – I Lammie, Longhouse, Cumnock. Cow and calf born between August 1 and December 31, 2018 – I Lammie. Cow and calf born after January 1, 2019 – M Wyllie. Cow and native breed calf – S Anderson, Galston. Pure bred continental cow and calf – W Robb, Mauchline. Pure bred native cow and calf – G Dunbar, Springburn, Drumclog.

Blackface (Judge: I Renwick, Corsebank, Sanquhar). Champion – Brisbane Glen Estates, Outerwards, Largs, with a ewe hogg by a Auldhouseburn tup off of a £160,000 Dalchirla and out of a home-bred dam by a son of a £16,000 Loughash. She stood first at Dalry. Reserve – J and A Boswell, Burnhead, Darvel, with the April-born tup lamb, Twin Atlantic. He is off a £1400 Dalblair sire and his dam is by a £5000 Elmscleugh tup. He stood first at Lesmahagow. Tup two-year-old and upwards, ewe hogg, ewe lamb and group of five – Brisbane Glen Estates. Shearling tup – G Donald, Windhill. Tup lamb – J Boswell, Burnhead. Ewe with lamb at foot – D Shedden, Burnfoot, Muirkirk. Wool class – W Thomson, Tulloch, Darvel.

Bluefaced Leicester (Judge: B Wight, Midlock, Abington, Biggar) Champion and reserve – R McInnes, Greystoneknowe, Grassyards, Kilmarnock, with his February-born ewe lamb. Sired by a £5500 Blarnavaid tup, which won the Royal Highland Show as a lamb, she is out of a home-bred ewe off Midlock H40. Reserve was his rising one-year-old hogg by Midlock H40 tup and out of a home-bred ewe by Midlock E25. Tup and tup lamb – J Murdoch. Ewe – A MacLarty. Ewe hogg, ewe lamb and group of three – R McInnes.

Border Leicester (Judge: B Wight) Champion and reserve inter-breed sheep – M Laidlaw, Kennelmount, Galston, with her home-bred two-crop ewe by Kilphin Kipling and out of a home-bred ewe by Walton Winner. She stood champion at Ayr Show in May and was placed at the Highland in 2017. Reserve was her three-year-old stock tup, Alticane Altins, which was sired by Knowehead Prospect and out of a dam by Atok Atomic. All classes – M Laidlaw.

AOB native sheep (Judge: B Wight). Champion and reserve – N McDonald, West Black Byres, Waterside, champion with his North County Cheviot sheep, Daisy. The home-bred gimmer is by Broomhill Titanic and out of a home-bred ewe by a Nun Cote Nook sire. She stood first as a ewe lamb at the Highland in 2018. Reserve was his home-bred North Country Cheviot ram, also by Broomhill Titanic and out of a home-bred ewe. Ram any age and ewe hogg – N McDonald. Ewe, ewe lamb and group of three – W Thomson. Tup lamb – J and J Scott.

Beltex (Judge: R Hamilton, Mid Shawtonhill, Chapelton), Champion was awarded to A Ireland, Feoch, Darvel, with a nine-week-old home-bred tup lamb, Everest, which was reserve champion at Catrine. He is by a Matt Ducati tup and out of a home-bred ewe. Reserve – J Cousar, Howcommon, Craigie, with a home-bred gimmer, Dream Girl. She was sired by Cromwell Call of Duty and out of an Aviemore-bred ewe bought in 2017. This was her first show outing and she will be shown at the Royal Highland Show. Ram any age, ewe, tup lamb and group of three – A Ireland. Ewe hogg – J Cousar. Ewe lamb – J and D Hodge.

AOB continental sheep (Judge: R Hamilton). Champion and reserve – D Smith and E Shearer, Burnockstone, Ochiltree, with their home-bred Blue Texel ewe lamb, Burnockstone Diva. The February-born lamb is from a Dutch imported ewe and is sired by Burnockstone Comet. She was champion at Cumnock. Reserve was their two-shear Blue Texel tup, sired by Hackney Yardsman and purchased from the Corra flock. He stood reserve at New Cumnock. All classes – D Smith and E Shearer.

Commercial (Judge: R Hamilton). Champion – A and R Crerar, Meadowhead, Craigie, with a pair of home-bred Texel cross Lleyn ewe hoggs. Their sire is a purchased Texel tup from Pirntaton and they are out of home-bred ewes. They will now join the breeding flock of 200 ewes. Reserve – S Anderson with a pair of cross-bred prime lambs. Ewe with a pair of cross-bred lambs and pair of crossbred prime lambs – S Anderson. Pair of cross-bred ewe hoggs – A and R Crerar.

Suffolk (Judge: Fiona Wight, Carwood, Biggar). Champion – P Gray, Sornbeg, Galston, who runs the Scrogton flock, taking the top prize with his home-bred gimmer on her first outing. She is by Brijon Black Magic and out of Crookstead Class Act. Reserve – A Bothwell, Smithston, Patna, with a January-born tup lamb on its first outing. He is by Benedy Glen Black Magic and out of a £4000 Lakeview gimmer. He will be shown at the Royal Highland Show and Stirling. Ram any age, tup lamb and ewe lamb – A Bothwell. Ewe – D Tulloch, Rigfoot. Ewe hogg and group of three – P Gray.

Texel (Judge: A Laird, Cambwell farm, Biggar). Champion and inter-breed sheep – J and G Paterson, Oxenshaw, Mauchline, with a ewe hogg out of home-bred ewe by Castlecairn Vavavoom and by Sportsman Astar. She stood reserve inter-breed champion at Ayr. Reserve – G Gatherer, Fairlynne, Stair, with a three-month-old tup lamb, sired by Freedom Buoy and out of a home-bred ewe and stood champion Texel at New Cumnock. Shearling ram, group of three and sheep inter-breed group of three – P Gray. Aged ram – C Hamilton. Ewe and ewe hogg – J and G Paterson. Tup lamb – G Gatherer. Ewe lamb – A Johnstone.

Clydesdales (Judge: A McMillan, Isle of Bute.) Champion – J Rochead, Malcolmwood, Blantyre, with his yearling filly, Gar-cal-fra Sweet Iona, which won as a foal at the Royal Highland Show in 2018. She is by Dillars Ollie and out of Gar-cal-fra Sweet Chloe and will be attending the Royal Highland Show again this year. Reserve – I Nisbet, Lainshaw, Stewarton, with the four-year old gelding, Thorn Royal Blue. He is by Doura Woodhouse Real Deal and out of Thorn Blue Velvet. Yeld mare, three years old and over – R Hamilton. One-year old filly – J Rochead. Gelding, three year old and over and pair of Clydesdales – I Nisbet.