A VETERAN show cow came out of retirement to beat all-comers at this year’s Houston Show, which was held within the village, last weekend.

Tom and Sheena Gatherer’s Alwent Broom is now 13 years old and was notching up her fourth title at this Renfrewshire show. But, as Tom said: ‘Broom was looking so well, we thought we’d wash her up for the show ... and it paid off.” But, she’s not got a lot to prove, for as well as a glittering show career, the matriarch of their Barnsford herd also produced Barnsford Fernie, a former record-breaking bull which sold for 70,000gns.

From the sheep section, the leading contender was a Texel gimmer from UA auctioneer, Richard Close. His star turn is by Crailloch Action Man and out of a home-bred ewe by a Forkins sire– and she was making her show debut for this year.

Winning the lowground native sheep section was a ‘true Blue’ Bluefaced Leicester from Sandy MacIntyre, from Lochwinnoch, who was in the mix with a ewe hogg by Woodcroft J4, as was Andrew Fletcher, from Bishopton, with his hill breeds champion, a six-week-old ewe lamb by Pole-R-Bare which was bred out of a Pole-bred dam he’d bought at Dalmally last year.

From the Clydesdale classes, the overall contender was the two-year-old filly Pacemuir Elizabeth, by Dillars Jura and out of the Millisle Perfection daughter, Rashillhouse Betty, which had also been champion at Dalry and reserve at Kilmacolm for Alan and Evelyn Campbell.

LEADING awards:

Dairy (Judge: G Welsh, Garpel, Muirkirk). Champion – R Baxter, Gibblaston, Bridge of Weir, with a third calved cow in milk that was also champion at Kilmacolm. Reserve – R Baxter’s in calf cow which was bred at Wellees, by the Stewart family and was shown carrying her fourth calf. She’s by Pictston Shottle. All classes – R Baxter.

Pedigree beef (Judge: G Welsh). Champion – T and S Gatherer, Barnsford, Inchinnan, with Alwent Broom, a 13-year-old Charolais cow which was winning her fourth championship at this show, having come out of a five year retirement. She was also the dam of the 70,000gns record-breaking bull, Barnsford Fernie. She was shown due at the end of August to Maerdy Ignition. Reserve – the Gatherers’ Barnsford Naquira, a 17-month-old grand-daughter of the champion and by Goldies Icon. All classes – T and S Gatherer.

Commercial beef (Judge: G Welsh). Champion – A Young, Towncroft, Houston, with an 11-year-old British Blue cross Limousin dam shown with a 2½-month-old Angus cross calf at foot. The cow has been a regular winner for the herd and was reserve champion of champions as a calf. Her calf is by Lorabar Micha Prince. Reserve – E Laird, Kilmacolm, with an eight-week-old Charolais cross calf out of a British Blue cross dam. Cow and calf – A Young. Beef calf – E Laird. Children’s calf – D Wright.

Lowland native breed sheep (Judge: E Blackwood, East Auchenlongford, Mauchline). Champion – A MacIntyre, Knowes, Lochwinnoch, with a Bluefaced Leicester ewe hogg by Woodcroft J4 and out of a dam by Burndale E5; first show. Reserve – T and E Paterson, Beith, with a Suffolk ewe lamb by Rigfoot Third Time Lucky and out of a Solwaybank ewe; first show. Ewe, ewe lamb, tup lamb, group – T and E Paterson. Ewe hogg – A MacIntyre. Tup – A and C Paterson, Hardridge, Kilmacolm.

Continental sheep (Judge E Blackwood). Champion and inter-breed sheep – R Close, Houston, with a Texel gimmer by Crailloch Action Man and out of a home-bred dam by a Forkins sire; first show this year. Reserve – T and E Paterson’s Charollais ewe lamb by Elmwood MacGregor and out of a home-bred dam; reserve at Kilmacolm. Ewe, group of three – L Daff, Greenside, Uplawmoor. Ewe hogg, tup – R Close. Ewe lamb – T and E Paterson. Tup lamb – A Wright.

Native hill sheep (Judge: E Blackwood). Champion – A Fletcher, Laigh Hatton, Bishopton, with a six-week-old ewe lamb by Pole-R-Bare and out of a Pole-bred dam, bought at Dalmally, by a £5000 Crossflatt. Reserve – A and C Paterson’s two-shear Arnicle-bred tup which had been bought at Dalmally for £550. Ewe, ewe hogg, ewe lamb, group of three, collie – A Fletcher. Tup, tup lamb – A and C Paterson.

Clydesdale (Judge: Mrs J Farley, Carluke). Champion – A and E Campbell, Kilmacolm, with Pacemuir Elizabeth, a two-year-old filly by Dillars Jura and out of the Millisle Perfection daughter, Rashillhouse Betty; champion at Dalry and reserve at Kilmacolm. Reserve – A Fletcher, Laigh Hatton, Bishopton, with the Kilmacolm champion, the second prize two-year-old filly, Fordelhill Wild Flower, by Doura Master Eddie and out of Fordelhill Jubilee Princess, a mare which had been reserve at the Winter Fair. Yearling or two-year-old – A and E Campbell. Mare gelding – Miss H Steel, Pannel Farm.