In comparison to the rather sparse selection of faithful regulars in its cattle section, the sheep section at this year’s Kilbarchan Show was positively jumping with entries.

This featured lengthy judging for the Blackies in particular and healthy showings of the ‘any other’ continental and native breeds. It was only proper, then, that the overall sheep champion was duly declared the show supreme.

It was Rigfoot Suffolks who took the day, with a home-bred gimmer by Pyeston Phantom, that was champion at Kilmalcolm, and a full sister to the overall sheep champion at Dalry.

A worthwhile reserve sheep championship went to Sandy McIntyre, of Knowes, for his Bluefaced Leicester ewe hogg, by Woodcroft J4 out of a ewe by a Barndene sire, that was previously champion at Houston.

David Carruth’s Ayrshire section champion topped Kilbarchan’s dairy contest on her first show outing. The three-year-old heifer in-milk, Auchensale Burdett Rose 2, was by Burdett out of a show-winning cow by Stadel Classic. High Auchensale also took the Holstein Friesian championship a second-calver in-milk, by a Semex sire, on her first show outing.

Tom and Sheena Gatherer, of Barnsford, had brought along their timeless show Charolais, Alwent Broom, enjoying what will probably be her last outing following her recent return to take the champion of champions ticket at Houston.

At the grand old age of 13 years, she is due to calf at the end of August to Maerdy Ignition, but at Kilbarchan, she stood reserve in the pedigree beef section reserve to the Gatherers’ Barnsford Naquira, a December-born Charolais heifer, by Goldies Icon out of Barnsford Jonquil, that followed her at Houston.

Naquira was then chosen as overall beef champion, and show reserve overall, while the reserve overall beef was from Ally Young, showing a cow with a bit of history herself, having quite probably rubbed shoulders with Alwent Broom last decade. Aly’s 11-year-old British Blue cross cow, shown with calf at foot, was previously reserve champion of champions at Kilbarchan as a three-month-old calf back in 2008.

LEADING awards

Ayrshire (Judge: W Chalmers, Muir Laught Farm, Saltcoats). Champion – D Carruth, High Auchensale, Kilbarchan, with Auchensale Burdett Rose 2, a three-year-old heifer in-milk, by Burdett out of a show-winning cow by Stadel Classic, on her first show outing. Reserve ­— D Carruth with a home-bred second calver shown in-milk, on her first time out having calved three months ago. Yearling quey – A Steel, Kibbleston. Quey in-milk, cow in-milk, pair – D Carruth.

Holstein Friesian (Judge: W Chalmers). Champion – D Carruth’s second-calver in-milk, by a Semex sire, on her first show outing. Calved six weeks ago, she is currently giving 40 litres a day. Cow in-milk – D Carruth.

Pedigree beef (Judge: G Scott, Meikle Ittington Farm, Ardrossan). Champion – T and S Gatherer, Barnsford, Inchinnan, with the December-born Charolais heifer, Barnsford Naquira. Reserve – T and S Gatherer’s veteran show cow, Alwent Broom. Yearling heifer, cow in-calf – T and S Gatherer.

Commercial beef (Judge: G Scott). Champion – A Young, Towncroft, Houston, with an 11-year-old British Blue cross cow, shown with calf at foot, that was previously reserve champion of champions at Kilbarchan, as a three-month-old calf back in 2008. Reserve ­– D Carruth. Cow and calf, pair – A Young. Calf – R Gatherer, Mackiesmill, Elderslie.

Bluefaced Leicester (Judge: L Currie, Pinclanty Farm, Pinmore, Girvan). Champion – S McIntyre, Knowes, Lochwinnoch, with a ewe hogg by Woodcroft J4. Reserve – S McIntyre with Woodcroft J4, sire of the champion, that was champion at Largs in 2018. Ewe, ewe hogg, ewe lamb, tup hogg, tup, group of three – S McIntyre.

Cheviot (Judge: A Blackwood, Boghead Farm, Cumnock). Champion – W and J Howie, Auchentiber, Kilmacolm, with a ewe hogg shown by A Laird, sired by the reserve champion out of a home-bred ewe, that was reserve champion at Kilmacolm. Reserve – J and C Barbour, Murdieston, with a three-shear tup by Instack Woody. Ewe with lamb at foot, ewe hogg, ewe lamb, tup lamb, tup hogg, group of three, bred – W and J Howie. Tup – J and C Barbour.

Blackface (Judge: A Blackwood). Champion – A Fletcher, Laigh Hatton, Bishopton, with a one-crop-ewe that was bought from Balrazzie at last year’s Scot Sheep, by a £4000 Whelphill out of a Dalchirla bred ewe, that was reserve champion at Largs. Reserve – E Robertson, Mid Linthills, Lochwinnoch, with a tup hogg. Ewe with lamb at foot, ewe hogg, ewe lamb, tup lamb, group – A Fletcher. Tup – A Paterson. Tup hogg, bred champion – E Robertson.

Suffolk (Judge: A Johnstone, Meikle Carleith, Galston). Champion – Rigfoot Suffolks, Uplawmoor, with a home-bred gimmer by Pyeston Phantom. Reserve – T and E Paterson with a first-time-shown ewe lamb, by Third Time Lucky out of a homebred ewe. Tup, ewe, tup hogg, ewe hogg, group, bred – Rigfoot Suffolks. Tup lamb, ewe lamb – T and E Paterson.

Texel (Judge: A Johnstone). Champion – R Close, Nethermill, Houston, with a home-bred tup hogg, by Crailloch Action Man out of a ewe by a Sportsman bloodline. Reserve – A Wright, Laverock, Kilmacolm, with a ewe lamb. Tup, ewe, – B Carruth, High Auchensale, Kilbarchan. Tup hogg, ewe hogg, group, bred – R Close. Ewe lamb – A Wright. Tup lamb – A Mitchell

Any other breed sheep (Judge: L Currie). Champion – L Daff, Greenside, Uplawmoor, Renfrewshire, with Bleu du Maine tup, Maximum Obama, which was bought at Carlisle last year, and will now head to the Highland and the Royal Welsh. Reserve – T and E Paterson’s Charolais ewe hogg. Tup, ewe – L Daff. Ewe hogg, ewe lamb, tup lamb, group – T and E Paterson

Clydesdale (Judge: W Craig, Rashillhouse Farm, Stewarton). Champion – A and E Campbell, Pacemuir Clydesdales, with Pacemuir Elizabeth, a two-year-old filly, by Dillars Jura out of Rashillhouse Betty, that was champion at Dalry, Houston and Largs, and reserve at Kilmacolm. Yeld mare or gelding – J Craig. Pair of mares or geldings – A Barnes and A and E Campbell. Young Handlers 12-16 years old – H Coyle. Yearling or two-year-old colt or filly, bred, female champion – A and E Campbell. Ridden – C McBrain. Dressed Harness – G Robertson.

Children’s classes. Ayrshire calf – A Sharp. Holstein Friesian calf, fancy dress calf – A Douglas. Beef calf – P McKenzie. Young handler under 13 years – E Laird. Young handler aged 14-26 years – F Steel.13 years and under best presented accredited sheep – D Paterson/Tulloch jnr, Rigfoot. 13 years and under best presented non-accredited sheep – H Knight. 14-26-year-old best presented sheep – L Meikle.