A quality gathering at Doune and Dunblane

Despite a noticeable decline in livestock numbers, quality was very much in abundance, with the supreme champion to be found in Stephanie Dick’s three-year-old Limousin heifer, Stephick Mistique, which has swept up red tickets on the show circuit this season, taking the same title at Gargunnock, Stirling and Drymen show.

The winner, from Westerton, Stirling, is from a successful breeding line, with her granny winning the breed championship at the Royal Highland Show three years in succession.

Former dairy farmer and Limousin breeder, Jim Mitchell, judged the champion of champions and said Stephanie’s heifer had ‘tremendous character and correct legs.’

He awarded the reserve ticket to the sheep winner, Robert Bryce, Chalmerston, Stirling, with his home-bred one-crop Suffolk ewe by a Sitlaw tup and out of a Slackadale ewe.

In a competitive cattle section, reserve inter-breed beef champion was awarded to the 13-month-old Limousin cross heifer, Queen Bee, belonging to Stewart and Lynsey Bett, Newmills Farm House, Stirling. She has accumulated four other championships this season at Ayr, Stirling, Gargunnock and Drymen.

It was the Beltex breed which took the reserve ticket in the sheep inter-breed section with Andrew Morton, Lochend Farm, Denny, taking the prize with his home-bred gimmer, Mortons Donna. He also took the championship in the inter-breed group of three, with Robert Bryce taking the reserve spot with Suffolks.

Securing the dairy championship was the Hamilton family’s Hawkland herd, Meldrum, Blair Drummond, with Golden Boy Rosary, a seven-year-old Holstein cow which is producing 60 litres daily.

An excellent Clydesdale turnout was led by Roughlands Alana, from Alana Johnston, Kirkton. The four-year-old mare was taking the top ticket for the second consecutive year.

Topping the goat section was the Campbell family, from Brunton Farm, Bathgate, with their three-year-old British milker, Capitol Artemis. This home-bred goat also took champion at Ayr show earlier this year.

LEADING awards

Dairy (Judge: W Baillie, Hillend of Covington). Champion – Hawkland herd, Meldrum, Blair Drummond with their seven-year-old Holstein cow, Golden Boy Rosary. This fifth-calver is by JMZ Golden Boy and is producing 60l, having calved last December. Reserve – T and J Gilliland, Nyadd Farm, Blair Drummond with a Holstein second-calver, Craigforth Zeber Princess. She is sired by Gofarm Zeber and is yielding 50l. She stood reserve champion in 2018 here and this year won the new competition, best udder on show. Heifer-in-calf, junior cow-in-milk – T and J Gilliland. Heifer-in-milk, senior cow-in-milk, pair of cows – Meldrum.

Aberdeen-Angus (Judge: K Brown, Ledlanet). Champion – R and C Rettie, Craigend Farm, Perth with a home-bred 18-month-old heifer, by Rettie JFK and out of Idvies Evita, which was inter-breed champion at Dunblane in 2008. She was led out by Charles Rettie and previously stood reserve calf champion at the Black Beauty Bonanza in 2018. She was at this week’s Great Yorkshire and set for the Royal Welsh. Reserve – A Mylius and Partners, St Fort, Fife, with the 18-month-old bull, St Fort Eskylock. He is home-bred by St Fort Popstar, which stood male champion at West Fife in 2016 and is out of St Fort Primula Mary. Bull – A Mylius and Partners. Cow or heifer in calf or milk, heifer – R and C Rettie. Bull calf, heifer calf – WD Brown.

AOB beef (Judge: A Burnett, Spittalton Farm, Blair Drummond). Champion and reserve – R and M Patterson, Upper Auchenlay, Dunblane, with their home-bred British Blue a 14-month-old bull, Auchenlay Nimrod. He is by Sandyvale Jagerbomb, which stood champion at the Royal Highland in 2018 and out of Auchenlay Hope. He was junior male and reserve overall at the Highland this year. Reserve was the 14-month-old home-bred heifer, Auchenlay Naomi, which is by the same sire as the champion. She is out of Auchenlay Jessie and will join their 30-strong herd as a replacement. All classes – RM Patterson. Lincoln Red prize – Champion and reserve – A Mylius and Partners with the home-bred 18-month-old bull, St Fort Xerox, by Walmer Troy and out of St Fort Crocus. He was champion at West Fife and was at the Great Yorkshire. Reserve was the home-bred 23-month-old heifer, St Fort Elspeth, by St Fort Squire and out of St Fort Elspeth. She is in calf to the champion.

Charolais (Judge: A Burnett). Champion and reserve – A Hornall, Falleninch Farm, Stirling with their rising two-year-old, heifer Falleninch Nigella as champion. She was shown by Jessica Hornall and is by Falleninch Imperator and out of Falleninch Gabby. She stood reserve junior champion at the Highland this year. Reserve was there rising one-year-old bull, Falleninch Obby, by Fairway Jefferson and out of Falleninch Gabby. This was his first outing and he is heading for Stars of the Future show. All classes – A Hornall.

Herefords (Judge: K Brown). Champion and reserve – G and S Harvey, Balfron with the nine-month-old heifer, Harvey Bros Crocus S2. She is a home-bred by Normanton 1 Laertes, a bull which was previously inter-breed champion at the Royal Highland, Welsh and Great Yorkshire shows. She is out of Harvey Bros Crocus J1 and stood first at Gargunnock and Stirling. Reserve was the 20-month-old bull, Harvey Bros 1 Richard, by Parkhill Pompeii and out of a home-bred dam. All classes – G and S Harvey.

Highland (Judge: K Brown). Champion – W Lawson, Rahalloch, Windsole, Auchterarder, with his yearling heifer, Phiobaidh 3 of Cloan shown by Victoria Mailer. She was bought in November, 2018, from Richard Haldane, of Cloan Estate, Auchterarder, and is by Magnus of Cloan and out of Phiobaidh of Kinloss. She was first at West Fife and will be shown locally. Reserve – The Burns Family, Tippetcraig Farm, Bonnybridge, with their yearling bull, Lewis of Tippetcraig. He is by Donal 2 of Culfoich and out of Princess Mairi 8 of Gray Brae. He was junior bull champion at Drymen. Bull any age, senior heifer – Burns Family. Junior heifer – W Lawson.

Limousin (Judge: A Burnett). Champion, inter-breed and champion of champions – S Dick, Westerton Farm, Stirling, with her home-bred three-year-old calved heifer, Stephick Mistique, shown with her four-month-old bull calf, Stephick Princeton, at foot. She is by Rathconville Eugene, which has bred heifers up to 20,000gns, and out of Ronick Voici. Her grandmother was breed champion at the Royal Highland three years in succession and Mistique was inter-breed champion at Stirling, Gargunnock and Drymen this year. Reserve – D McBeath and S-J Jessop, Lower Greenyards, Bannockburn, with their 18-month-old heifer, Springsett Nancy. This home-bred heifer is by Woodroad James, which was male champion at the Great Yorkshire in 2018 and she is out of Springsett Fancy. Senior bull, two-year-old heifer, two-years-old – D McBeath and S-J Jessop. Junior bull – M Reid. Three-year-old heifer, calf – S Dick. Yearling heifer – W Lawson.

Commercial cattle (Judge: A Burnett). Champion – S and L Bett, Newmills Farm House, Stirling, with their 13-month-old Limousin cross heifer, Queen Bee, which was bought privately at the Welsh Winter Fair, from the Pabo herd. She is by Derrygullinane Kingbull and out of a Limousin cross British Blue dam. She stood champion at Stirling, Ayr, Gargunnock and Drymen. Reserve – W Peters, Cuilt Farmhouse, Monzie, with the 15-month-old Charolais cross heifer, Islay Mist. She was champion at West Fife and Fife.

Blackface (Judge: J MacPherson, Balliemeanoch), Champion – D Rock, Knock-o-ronald, Gargunnock, with his April-born ewe lamb by a £2000 Crossflat tup and out of a £2800 Elmscleugh-sired dam. She is from a flock of 1000 Blackface ewes and was first at Gargunnock. Reserve – Tay and Torridon Estates, North Farm, Amulree, with a home-bred two-crop ewe shown by shepherd, Billy Brady. She is by a £38,000 Auchloy and out of a dam by a £11,000 Midlock tup. Ram, two shear and upwards – J Graham. Shearling, ewe in milk, ram lamb – T and T Estates. Gimmer, ewe lamb – D Rock.

Beltex (Judge: J Taylor, Easter Ochtermuthill). Champion, reserve inter-breed, and reserve – A Morton, Lochend, Denny, with a home-bred gimmer, Mortons Donna. She is by Hackney Braveheart and out of Mortons Angela, and stood second at Stirling. She runs alongside 60 pedigree Beltex in his flock of 1400 sheep, comprising of Blackface and Mules. Reserve was a home-bred gimmer, Mortons Diva, by the same sire as the champion and out of Mortons Aileen. She was first at Stirling and both gimmers will be going to the breed national show. All classes – A Morton.

Bluefaced Leicester (Judge: J Hunter, Wedderburn). Champion and reserve – J Pirie, Blarnavaid, Drymen, with his home-bred two-crop ewe, by Highberries Hotshot and out of a £7200 Firth B3-sired ewe. She is from a breeding flock of 25 ewes and stood third at the Royal Highland. Reserve was a home-bred one-crop gimmer on her first show outing. She is by a £37,000 Midlock tup and out of a ewe by Highberries Hotshot. All classes – J Pirie.

Border Leicester (Judge: S Kerr, Justenlees). Champion and reserve – E Mill, Shawsmill, Cardenden, with a one-crop ewe, Alticane Polly, bought in 2017 as a ewe lamb. She is by Eildon Mighty and is out of a dam by Lyham Lord Kelso. Dunblane was her first show and she will next be shown at Perth. Reserve was his Westforth-bred gimmer bought at Carlisle in January. She is by Alticane Uncle Mo and out of a dam by Ditton Lord Byron. Ram – A Grant. All other classes – E Mill.

Charollais (Judge: A Kennedy, Edmiston House). Champion – NR and S Henderson, Whitehouse, Stirling, with a Loanhead gimmer which had been bought in December, 2018. She is by Hollylodge Supreme and out of a home-bred ewe and is owned by one-year-old Struan Henderson. Reserve – D Brown, Sauchans, Doune with his three-crop ewe, Sauchans Precious. This home-bred sheep is by Knockin Oojamma Flip who was bought in 2014 from Abbie Mosely, in Shropshire, and is out of Sauchans Kylie. She stood champion Charollais at Stirling. Ram, ewe – D Brown. Gimmer, ram lamb, ewe lamb – NR and S Henderson.

Commercial sheep (Judge: A Kennedy). Champion and reserve – G Whyte, Pett Farm, Muthill, Crieff, with his three ewes having suckled lambs this season. Reserve went to three lambs, any cross, non-confined. All classes – G Whyte

AOB sheep (Judge: F Wight, Carwood). Champion and reserve – I Johnston, Kirkton, Falkirk, with his home-bred British Berrichon gimmer by a home-bred sire, Kirkton Nijinsky, and out of a home-bred ewe. She was shown once as a ewe lamb when she was reserve female champion at the Royal Highland. Reserve was a December-born home-bred ewe lamb which was first at the Highland Show. Ram, ram lamb – D Stainton. Ewe – D Green.Gimmer, ewe lamb – I Johnston.

Scotch Mule (Judge: J Hunter). Champion – H Gray and L Smith, Drumnessie Farm, Kilsyth, with a gimmer which had been bought at Castle Douglas in 2018 from Alec Brown. She is by a Macqueston tup and was champion Mule at Stirling. Reserve – J Pirie, Blarnavaid, with a home-bred March-born ewe lamb who is by a son of a £37,000 Midlock tup and out of a home-bred ewe. She stood champion at Drymen. Ewe having suckled a lamb this season and ewe, one-year-old – H Gray and L Smith. Ewe lamb and pen of three lambs – J Pirie.

Shetland Sheep (Judge: A Hill, Cedar Lodge). Champion – F and A Hipwell, Wester Cockairney, Kinross, with their home-bred shearling tup, Lomond of Cockairney. He is out of a home-bred ewe, Inky of Cockairney and by Koko of Cockairney. She was first as a lamb at Biggar in 2018 and was on her first outing of the 2019 show season. Reserve – A Wilson, Summerside, Shotts, with his home-bred white gimmer, Summerside Daisy. She is by an island ram and out of a home-bred ewe, and she had the best fleece at Straiton in 2018. Ram, ram lamb, ewe lamb – F and A Hipwell. Ewe – F Frame. Gimmer – A Wilson.

Suffolk (Judge: F Wight). Champion, inter-breed sheep and reserve champion of champions, and reserve – R Bryce, Chalmerston, Stirling, with his home-bred one-crop ewe by a Sitlow tup and out of a Slackadale ewe bought at Stirling in November, 2016. She was shown successfully as a gimmer and Dunblane was her first outing of 2019. Reserve was his home-bred February-born ewe lamb by Rhaeadr Rambo and out of a home-bred ewe by Cairnorrie Campbell. She was first in her class at Stirling. All classes – R Bryce.

Texels (Judge: J Taylor). Champion and reserve – A Smith, Braco, with his previously unshown home-bred gimmer by Teiglum Abracadabra and out of a home-bred ewe. Reserve was a February-born ewe lamb by a home-bred tup, Feddleroad Bosshog and out of the same home-bred ewe as the champion. All classes – A Smith.

Zwartbles (Judge: K Cowin, Craigiehall Bungalow). Champion – BH and D Gibson, Conic Flock, Gartocharn, with his two-crop ewe, Summerwood Daphne, which was bought two-years ago from Joan Rolands,in Worcester. She is by a East Middle ram and is out of a Summerwood ewe and stood champion at Drymen. Reserve – McLaren and Baird, Greystone, Dunblane, with their home-bred gimmer, Fauna, by a 290 tup and out of a Greystone ewe. She stood champion at Ayr and Gargunnock and reserve at Drymen. Aged ram, shearling ram – NR and S Henderson. Ewe – BH and D Gibson.Gimmer, ram lamb, ewe lamb – McLaren and Baird.

Clydesdales (Judge: T McMillan, Eskechraggan Farm). Champion – I Johnston, Kirkton, Falkirk, with his home-bred four-year-old mare, Roughlands Alana. She is sired by Arradoul Balvenie and is out of Barlauchlan Jubilee Princess. She stood champion last year and was placed first at the Highland in the yeld mare class in June. Reserve – S Greenhill, Leuchars Lodge, Leuchars, with his two-year-old colt, Fordelhill Fascination. He is by Glebeview Sir Charles and out of Fordehill Jenny Anne and stood champion at Perth.

Goats (Judge: M Cairn). Champion and reserve – The Campbell Family, Brunton, Bathgate, with their three-year-old British milker, Capitol Artemis. She is a home-bred by Guilden Tiger and out of Lovellsglen, producing 1457 litres of milk in 283 days at 3.9% BF. Reserve went to mother of the champion, Lovellsglen Donner, a seven-year old British milker by Ladeside Carrick and out of Lovellsglen Comet. She producing seven litres daily and had a lactation of 2000 litres in 2018.